Bandar Seri Begawan - A record-breaking 270 people have joined the Bukit Markucing Challenge Run held in conjunction with the 28th National Day celebration yesterday morning at Tasek Sarubing Recreational Park, Kg Belimbing, where one of the participants was YAM Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu'min.

The guest of honour, who also officiated the run, was Awang Hj Jamain bin Momin, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Meanwhile, YB Awang Hj Gapor @ Hj Md Daud bin Karim, Village Head of Kg Belimbing, who is also a member of the Legislative Council, in his speech outlined the aim of the Bukit Markucing Challenge Run, which was to enliven the National Day celebrations as well as to encourage the community to actively participate in recreational activities, especially in hiking, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Furthermore, the competition also served to introduce Bukit Markucing to the public and foster closer ties among the participants.

There were six categories being contested in the men's event and five for the women.

In Category K for Female Open, Jenny Tan was the winner, and was presented with her prize by YAM Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu'min. In addition, YAM Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu'min also presented a prize for the oldest participant, which was won by 66-year-old, Dayang Hajah Aisah binti Bagol from Kg Subok.

Meanwhile, Awang Hj Jamain presented the prizes to the rest of the winners from all the other categories.

In Category J in female aged 40 and above, Noorizah binti Hj Md Kassim walked away with the first place. Second place went to Cecilia Maksimon, while the third place was won by Nansy Kiew Lee Fen. Rosmawati binti Hj Omar and Haliza bind Aliakbar won the fourth and fifth place respectively.

As for Category I, the group for females aged 26 to 39-year-old, Linda binti Ali was the winner of the first place, followed by Syfunah in second, and Sharidan binti Mohammad in third. Fourth place went to Haryatie bind Mohd Antin, whereas the fifth place was won by Nor Salam binti Kalong.

Meanwhile, in Category H in females aged 13 to 25 years Akbar Azemah was placed first, with Nurul Munirah binti Miramid at second and Siti Nur Raihana

Syazwani binti Rizal at third. The fourth place was won by Marlinawat binti Hamdan Tan, and in the fifth place was BiBi Marcella binti Kula.

Category G for females aged 12 years and below saw Siti Nur Razlina Syalini finishing in the first place. Second and third place were claimed by Siti Bur Razwina Syazvvini and Nur Haziqah binti Yahya respectively, while the fourth place went to Julia Susani binti Mohd Asli and Syahirah binti Awang Muhammad.

Brunei's top half-marathon runner, Sefli Ahar remains as the man to beat in local tournament as he was crowned the winner of the men's Open Category. Awang Rahime bin Hj Hassan came in second place, with Mohd Sofiian bin Serudin claiming the third, while Aminur Rashidin bin Hj Mohd Zaini finished in the fourth place, with Selamt bin Sehari claiming fifth place.

132 Hj Osli bin Hj Md Nor won in the Men's Category E in ages 54 years and above. Second place went to Ibrahim bin Hj Sura, while Advis bin Hj Abd Rahman bagged the third place, followed by Hj Yubus bin Hj Tengah in fourth and Idris bin Hj Asmad in fifth.

In the men's 40 to 55-year-old category, Abdul Ramain bin Maarup finished in the first place followed by Danial bin Abu Bakar in second place, and Muhammad Azmi bin Abdullah in third. Hj Mohammad Azmi bin Hj Suhaili, meanwhile, was placed fourth while Faizal bin Hj Marusop was placed fifth.

The Category C in men aged 26 to 39 years saw Mastani bin Mohd Yussop wining the first place. Md Azahar took the second place, Zainor Sam bin Md Zain grabbed the third place, Mazly bin Abd Ghani bagged the fourth place, and Busu bin Hj Nudin claimed the fifth place.

In category of men in 13 to 25 years saw Azman bin Amir seizing top place.

Mohd Norliham bin Hj Hamidon was close behind at second place, while third place went to Ahmad Yazid bin Awang Hidup.

As for the fourth and fifth place, Mohd Abdul Matin Chua and Abdul Malik bin Hj Md Zain were the winners respectively.

Muhd Rizauddin Sukarmie bin Rizal won the under 12-year-old category for crossing the finish line first. Behind him was Abdul Matin bin Matshah who finished in second. Third place went to Md Yazed bin Yussof and Mohd Hardi Raffizan bin Mohd Saifullah came in fourth, while Rahmat bin Abdullah came in fifth.