Note:
If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Blip over Bay Run Bib?
I remember coming in first in somewhere around 2008 Army marathon in veteran closed race, I was supposed to win $1000. I lost it as I had to run under a different category. People who were slower than me collected the prize. I was already 40plus years old then. I was categorised under men open. A year back before this, nothing did really go wrong. The race organiser kept changing the rules. Now Soh Rui Yong and Ashley Liew, who are aspiring to be top runners in the region, are going unrewarded for their valour and personal best time in their running.
Their hard work and tough training that they have done to achieve to run fast have gone unnoticed and unheeded.
In psychology, if we do a good action we are usually rewarded. Wrong actions, we will be penalised. Here for doing well, we are penalised. I believe that the organisers are rewarding slower runners and not the top runners.
The race clearly shows that the faster runners should be rewarded and the organisers have to do something instantly rather than delaying the verdict. This is a situation where instantly a man can make a decision. In Singapore, my experience is the organisers may want to find a reason on how not to give the prizes to the two gentlemen. I hope that they don't do this.
Organisers should inform courageously that they have done a mistake and also do something on the timings this year and then talk about next year.
Straits Times report on Ashley Liew and Soh Rui Yong. (By Chan U-Gene)
When Soh Rui Yong and Ashley Liew crossed the finish line at Sunday’s SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon, they were sure they had secured a place on the podium.
After all, only their compatriot Mok Ying Ren, who won the Closed category (for Singaporeans and permanent residents) in 1hr 12min 10sec, was ahead of them in the 21km race.
But the duo were “dumbfounded“ when second and third place, along with cash prizes of $1000 and $500 went to Alex Ong (1:18:08)and Girider Swaminathan (1:19:52) respectively.
They had finished more than five minutes behind Soh and Liew, who ran with Open category bibs that put them in the company of international runners.
Soh, who is serving his national service at the Armour Training Institute received his bib only on the morning of the run.
Said the 20-year –old, who has been taking part in road races since 2008: ‘I asked my team manager, and he said that it was an error and we were given the wrong tags. But we would be correctly categorized after the run.”
But after the results were posted up, he “suspected something was wrong”. He added: “We all appealed but we were not even informed of the outcome.“
Singapore Management University runner and triathlete, added, “ Rui Yong and I watched as our prizes were awarded to Alex and Girider. We are not demeaning their efforts in any way, but to be faster locals should get the prizes.
“We assumed we would be correctly categorized when the results came out but it wasn’t the case”.
“The race website clearly stated that the Closed category is for all Singaporeans and PRs.”
The 24-year–old had signed up through the team manager of his former army unit and received his bib just a day before the race.
He also claimed that the manager had submitted the forms correctly but was issued the Open category tag “at the last minute.”
In an e-mail response t The Straits Times, the organizers said they will be considering the pair’s appeals. “We hope to reach a resolution with them within the next week,” the statement added.
In another matter, the two runners also wondered why there was more than a minute’s difference between their gun times and the times they recorded using the race chip. Since they started from the front of the pack, the times should be similar.
The organizers replied: We are still reviewing the matter: we will post all corrected timings on www.safra.sg/sbr once evaluations are completed.
“We apologies for the inconvenience caused. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to ensuring an even better race experience next year.”
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
