Eco-friendly marathon - Winners rewarded during gala dinner |24 February 2015

Female and male winners of the 8th Eco-friendly marathon and half-marathon raced on Sunday morning received their prizes during a special Korean gala buffet dinner that same evening.
The Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel hosted the event which was graced by Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, Health Minister Mitcy Larue, Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange, former minister Patrick Pillay, Dong Chang Jeong, the Seychelles’ honorary consul general in South Korea and marathon’s initiator, principal secretaries, chief executives, invited guests and some athletes who took part in the marathon.

After Mr Jeong had said he was happy to see some 2,800 runners take the start of the marathon, Minister Meriton said the 5,000 runner target for the 10th race in 2017 is achievable.

“This marathon is one which is out of the ordinary. It is also a good form of sports tourism and it shows us how much we can sell Seychelles,” said Minister Meriton who added that we should all encourage 10 of our friends to register and take the start of the race next year.

He also congratulated all those who took part including himself for smashing five minutes off his personal best in the 10km race.
Tourism and Culture Minister St Ange described the Eco-friendly marathon as “the marathon one should not miss”.

He also thanked the ministries of sports, tourism and foreign affairs for working in partnership to make the marathon happen.

On her part, Seychelles Tourism Board chief executive Sherin Naiken, who did the 10km, said she is happy the marathon is going from strength to strength.
‘Marathons form part of a niche market and are popular events around the world, but few can compare with that of Seychelles,” she said.

The evening also saw the official opening of an arts exhibition by female Korean artists Song Shi Ja and Kim Tai Yeon.

Competing for the first time in the Eco-friendly marathon, Kenyan Shadrack Tanui and Finnish Mari Kauri took the male and female top prizes in this year’s eighth race. There were also performances by Korean musicians.

Competing in her 51st marathon, Kauri reached the finish line at Beau Vallon in 3 hours 46 minutes 30 seconds (3h46:30).
“I did not expect to win as I only wanted to cross the finish line. It was tough as the weather was very hot,” said 46-year-old Kauri.

Her husband Roni Kauri was ranked fifth in the men’s race with a time of 3h22:09. The couple’s two children took part in the 10km races.
With a personal best of 2h18, Kenyan Shadrack Tanui took the honours in the men’s race with a winning time of 2h38:22.

“This is my third marathon and it is the toughest I’ve run. It’s very hilly and humid here, but I hope to be back again next year,” said the 28-year-old.

As prizes, Kauri and Tanui received R7,000, one night for two at Raffles on bed and breakfast, and one night for two on bed and breakfast at le Domaine de L’Orangeraie including transfers on Cat Cocos and excursion on Oplezir catamaran. They also got sports equipment from Puma China.
Altogether 33 runners – 9 females and 24 males – completed the energy-sapping 42km marathon.

The following are the results of the top five finishers in all the races:
Male marathon: 1. Shadrack Tanui (2h38:22), 2. Paul Simbolei (2h45:25), 3. Moses Mbugua (3h08:48), 4. Roberto Veneziani (3h09:00), 5. Roni Kauri (3h22:09).
Female marathon: 1. Marie Kauri (3h46 :30), 2. Nadege Yates (5h02:24), 3. Maggy Harray (5h14:00), 4. Florisse Ernesta (5h21:47), 5. Miklos Zsakin (5h23:28)
Male half marathon: 1. Jemmy Anacoura (1h27:50), 2. Keddy Moustache (1h30:06), 3. Simon Brierley (1h30:28)), 4. Andrew Gardiner (1h37:01), 5. Benjamin Lin (1h38:13).

Female marathon: 1. Lydie Dodin (1h43:31), 2. Petrie Ehlers (1h49:53), 3. Vivienne Vadivello (1h57:09), 4. Jodie Bamforth (2h09:35), 5. Lina Abram-Novitski (2h16:41)

Male 18-40 years old 5km: 1. Geno Belle (19:32), 2. Mervin Monthy (19:49), 3. Sylvio Estico (20:02), 4. Chanel Augustin (20:04), 5. Bruno Asba (20:25)
Female 18-40 years old 5km: 1. Emelie Philoe (21:48), 2. Anisa Rabat (2:38), 3. Maura Raoul (22:56), 4. Vanessa Cherry (24:09), 5. Naomie Barra (24:53)
Male master 40+ years old 5km: 1. McDonald Pierre (24:04), 2. Emmanuel Freminot (26:09), 3. Michel Commettant (27:19), 4. Jude Chang-King (28:50), 5. Anthony Valer Payet (29:10)

Female master 40+ years old 5km: 1. Amanda Didon (32:05), 2. Olga Fedorova (33:14), 3. Josianne Medor (33:22), 4. Lucy Talbot (34:22), 5. Inah Vel (34:30)
Male master 60+ years old 5km: 1. Selwyn Medor (33:31), 2. James Pillay (36:39), 3. Francis Jeremie (40:04), 4. Philip Henriette (42:01), 5. Walter Labrosse (1h04:33)

Female master 60+ years old 5km: 1. Georgette Marengo (47:45), 2. Juliana Jeremie (48:11), 3. Mitcy James (56:18), 4. Violette Renaud (59:42), 5. Laurette Philoe (59:42
Male under-18 years old 5km: 1Learoy Didon (18:27), 2. Rolfgang Cupidon (19:50), 3. Hubert Nourria (19:53), 4. Adrian Choisy (19:56), 5. Darius Rachel (20:01)

Female under-18 years old 5km: 1Charlotte Passon (23:40), 2. Zoe Barois (28:47), 3. Anna Liza Mondon (29:14), 4. Amy Andre (29:17), 5. Leyla Rigamonti (29:25)

Male under-12 years old 5km: 1. Harryson Henriette (24:58), 2. Thierry Payet (25:11), 3. Neil Azemia (25:24), 4. Adrian Hoareau (26:14), 5. Jean-Paul Barreau (26:17)

Female under-12 years old 5km: 1. Charlaine Lafortune (28:07), 2. Lutra Elizabeth (30:11), 3. Jacqueline Andre (31:10), 4. Angelica Chionni (32:10), 5. Anai Lagalisse (34:33)

Male 18-40 years old 10km: 1. Dino Bamboche (37:56), 2. Nicholas Paillasson (38:42), 3. Benjamin Kilindo (39:00), 4. Eddy Bonne (41:03), 5. Anil Paulin (41:24)

Female 18-40 years old 10km: 1. Meryle Rabat (46:37), 2. Annarita Stravens (53:16), 3. Aurore Arcambal (55:38), 4. Flora Arnphey (58:46), 5. Fabien Bristol (58:57)

Male master 40+ years old 10km: 1. Simon Labiche (39:01), 2. Egbert Cesar (50:10), 3. Vincent Van Heyste (53:53), 4. Paul Mondon (55:08), 5. Damith Weligepola (56:23)

Female master 40+ years old 10km: 1. Delia Mondon (59:39), 2. Therese Ferrari (1h02:10), 3. Jeannette Accouche (1h08:24), 4. Lian Xiao (1h10:26), 5. Susanne Rosemann (1h11.31)

Male master 60+ years old 10km: 1. Georges Rath (1h06:57), 2. Georges James (1h33:58), 3. Wesley Didon (1h33:59), 4. Oh Jaerang (1h50:20)
Female master 60+ years old 10km: 1. Celestine Gedeon (1h14:51), 2. Silvana Torsi (1h36:00), 3. Julie Fayon (1h52:44)

Male under 18 years old 10km: 1. Felix Creter (48:20), 2. Gabriel Bordino (51:43), 3. Leevi Kauri (53:46), 4. Anish Vikaria (53:48), 5. Alessandro Bordino (57:58)

Female under 18 years old 10km: 1. Marie Noella Larue (52:58), 2. Lydia Kauri (53:58), 3. Martina Ceccato (1h16:37), 4. Coralie Frichot (1h17:01), 5. Anastasia Flegontova (1h19:50)

G. G.