" FIERCE RIVALRIES "
Posted On New Sabah Times, Dated Wednesday November 4, 2009 By Fred Leong.
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KOTA KINABALU : Top contenders were neck-to-neck at the 19th International Borneo Safari 4x4 Challenge which concluded in Sandakan on Sunday.
However, the well-matched teamwork from the Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu partnership of veteran driver Liew Siak Kiong and co-driver PangKet Vui, was enough to edge out their rivals.
There were 18 man-designed special stages (SS) by chief marshal Peter Liew @ Ah Chit held throughout the entire 7-day hardcore event inside the Deramakot Forest Reserve, Tongod and in Sandakan.
When the action began so did the fierce rivalries. But Liew and Pang had the upper hand in the final two SS held in Sandakan after recording full points to emerge as the overall open champion with a total of 1440 points.
Liew, who had earlier quit competitive events before taking it up again last year, showed his driving skills in course management and in overall off-road skills while Pang's fitness and brilliant navigation propelled them to the top.
Reigning two-year champ (2007-2008), the Papar team of Chong Horng Ru and Minion Kotidis, fell short in some of the SS (Special Stage), like the last final SS in Sandakan and they had to settle for the second best with 1418 points.
They were skillful with their souped-up Suzuki and had champion ingredients all over but only in the initial stages.
In third place with 1365 points, was also a combined team of Chang Hiew Shen of Sandakan and Yap Swee Siong of Kota Kinabalu in their Toyota BJ 43.
The 2009 winners, Liew and Pang admitted that all the SS were indeed very though especially he entry of three heavily modified Volvo axle vehicles from Peninsular Malaysia.
They attributed their feat through their experience, endurance, competitiveness, good cooperation, teamwork and driving skills, but was quick to say that they were just lucky to finish top because of the strong challenges coming from the rest.
The champion returned home with a cash price of RM10,000.00 plus sponsored goodies worth RM30,000.00, the second place winner went home with RM5,000.00 plus almost similar worth of goodies and the third with RM3,000.00 and goodies.
Yee Yong Chung and Chin Set Yeung came in 4th with 1353 points, followed by Tanjung Malim's Lo Fui Siong and Wong Yeow Fee with 1328 points.
Meanwhile, about RM80,000.00 of sponsored items were shared between the top eight placing.
TOP EIGHT FINISHERS
- Lo Fui Min and Wong Chi Ping - 1271 points
- Chang Ket Kiun and Chang Jet Vui - 1260 points
- Philip Chai and Edward Benggon - 1166 points
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORY
First was foul-up of the year award winner Tomohiro Oitate and Toshimi Moto with 697 points; 2nd Haruhiko Yoshida and Kenichi Ohnishi with 673 points and 3rd Masato Miura and Takatooshi Inagaki with 529 points.
The Jungle Man Award went to former Borneo Safari and Rainforest champion Voo Ken Yin based from his qualities, while the Isuzu Malaysia Dura Man's Award went to Tuaran's Mohd Zaki @ Abu, who was nicknamed 'Gorilla Man' by journalists.
OTHER AWARDS
Team Spirits Award -----> Liew Siak Kiong & Pang Ket Vui
Environmet Award ------> Edward Benggon
Foul-Up of the Year Award ------ > Tomohiro Oitate & Toshimi Moto
Best Car Of The Year Award -----> Tiew Tiam Bok ( a chopped-up Ninja )
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