Statement by SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon Organising Committee

The Organising Committee of the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon (SSBR & AHM) 2011 would like to thank all participants for supporting the event. From all the feedback that has been gathered, we would like to clarify a few which have been commonly raised over the past week.

Discrepancy in Gun Start Timing
We have investigated the discrepancy in the gun start timing with our vendor, ESG, and have verified that the flag-off time for the competitive 21km AHM as recorded by the system is 1 minute 40 seconds earlier than the actual flag-off. This was caused by a false trigger just before the flag-off of the category when a runner prematurely stepped on the starting mat. The preliminary timings of the competitive runners displayed immediately after the race were therefore all 1 minute 40 seconds slower than their actual timings. The gun start timings and gun finish timings for all participants of the competitive 21km AHM have been corrected accordingly. There are no changes to the rankings of participants.

21km AHM Route Distance
Several measurements of the 21km AHM route were carried out prior the event by the Organisers using a range of devices and we have confirmed a distance of 21km. Planning the race route to the exact distance in urban Singapore is a challenge but we have spared no effort in ensuring that the route was as close as possible to the stipulated distance. Distances clocked by each runner in any race may also differ slightly depending on their running approach and how they negotiate bends and turns. Distance markers were placed at every kilometer to aid runners in tracking their progress.

Road Safety
Feedback touching on areas related to route safety, for example, lighting at Bay East at Gardens by the Bay and the stretch just after the Marina Barrage; inconvenience caused by stilt walkers at the start point and park benches at Tanjong Rhu; undulated road surfaces and hole nearing Marina Bay Sands, will all be taken into our review and consideration. We are committed to making improvements to these areas next year.

Categorisation of SAF Army Formation Runners
The Organising Committee has also looked into the categorisation of SAF Army Formation runners who have registered for the 21km Army Half Marathon through their respective NS units.

We have checked and confirmed we have issued their race bibs correctly, in accordance to registration details received. In addition, no official appeal for re-categorisation was received, and there was no protest lodged officially against the race results within the designated appeal period of 30 minutes after finishing a race, as stated in the race procedures. According to the event’s rules and regulations, no appeal would be entertained thereafter. As such, the list of winners for the race is final.

However, the Organising Committee has noted that the registration details submitted by a few units’ representatives might have inadvertently omitted runners’ choice of category. While it is always the onus of individual runners and units who participate in the event to ensure that submissions are accurate, the Organising Committee has decided to award token prizes to those few runners out of goodwill, in line with the aim of the SSBR & AHM to promote fitness among national servicemen and Singaporeans.

We note the following runners who would have been ranked among the top 10 placings had their registration been accurately submitted for the 21km AHM Men’s Closed category. They are:

Soh Rui Yong (01:12:57.25)*
Ashley Liew (01:13:01.65)*
Devathas Satianathan (01:14:40.45)*
Colin Tung (01:14:53.55)*
Ang Chee Yong (01:15:10.15)*
Low Yeah Kher (01:20:13.60)*
Evan Chee (01:20:31.05)*

*Gun Finish Timings

We congratulate them for their outstanding performance and hope that this will serve to encourage them to keep up their good performances.

Lastly, the Organising Committee will collate all feedback pertaining to all areas of the SSBR & AHM and look forward to ensuring an even better race experience and event next year.