Courtesy of The Brunei Times
Monday, August 2, 2010

Ubaidillah Masli
BRUNEI-MUARA

The first of the month turned out to be a challenging start for more than 270 individuals yesterday as their physical and mental endurance and health were tested in Telekom Brunei Berhad (Telbru) and Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation's cycling contest.

Kicking off from the vicinity of Telbru's headquarters at Old Airport road, the cycling contest was divided into four categories, namely the Men's Elite Team, Men's Novice Team, Ladies Team and Expedition.

A total of 27 competitive teams raced over 120 kilometres for the "Elite" category, which saw the participation of a number of Malaysian teams, and 86 kilometres under the "Novice" category.

The "track" required the cyclists to race down the Sultanate's major highways, reaching Tutong district and doubling back to the Telbru headquarters.

Over 150 cycling enthusiasts joined in the fun under the non-competitive, 50-kilometre "Expedition" category.

Communications Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, who was one of the Expedition cyclists along with Telbru Managing Director Song Kin Koi, flagged off the first batch of Men's Elite Team and Ladies Team cyclists, before leading off the "Expedition".

The Men's Novice Team started last, with the Communications Minister's brother, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar as one of the category's participants.

Despite falling and scraping his right arm and leg as he passed Tungku beach, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, who is known to cycle regularly to work, pressed on to finish the race.

"It was a tough race and I had a bit of a fall," Pehin Dato Hj Yahya told The Brunei Times after completing the race.

But another "Novice" category cyclist proved that age was not a barrier when it came to keeping fit. Fifty-nine year-old Hj Osli Hj Md Noor was no stranger to cycling competitions, having participated in similar tourneys in Limbang, Kuching, Sabah and Miri. However, he remarked that it was the first time that he participated in a Telbru race.

"I'm probably one of the oldest out here, but I didn't have any problems with the race. At the last part, I sprinted to the finish and I think I managed to finish in the top 10," said the ex-army pensioner, who also goes mountain-biking and used to run 10 kilometres everyday.

When asked how he felt competing with cyclists many years his junior, Hj Osli said, "It's all about keeping fit and keeping healthy".

Winners of the races were assessed on each team's overall performance. Under the Men's Elite Team category, Brunei's national teams 'A' and 'B' nabbed the top spots, with Team Brunei National B emerging as champions. Team Indra Wijaya came in third place.

Telbru's own cycling team won first place under the Men's Novice Team category, with Team Tutong and Team B Green coming up second and third respectively.

Cycling for the opposite sex, Team Cyclone whizzed through and came in first, with Team Terengganu Pico Bikelabz and Team Wasabi coming in second and third respectively, in the Ladies Team category.

Pehin Dato Hj Yahya presented cash prizes to the winners.