This weekend’s Simpur 50 ultra is the first ATM points race in Brunei in six years. A long-awaited return to the scene of the smallest country on Borneo island after the demise of the Beach Bunch Trail Challenge. Taking place in and around capital city Bandar Seri Begawan, aka BSB, Simpur has a treacherously tough course, which it has in common with its predecessor. Last year’s Candidate Race edition showed us that many runners were caught by surprise. Brunei lacks the high altitude mountains, but its hill zone goes up and down continuously and often very steeply so. In the past we made the comparison with the Tour of Flanders in cycling, and that remains valid for Simpur Ultra as well. Apart from a very enthusiastic local running community, the organising team of Passion Ku and Team Anakpanyuand is also happy with the presence of Sabah’s biggest trail stars on the start list: Milton Amat, Wilsen Singgin and the two best-known Lintanga sisters are all due to race this weekend.

Season 9 of the Asia Trail Master Championship has a big Borneo stamp on it, with points races in Brunei and both Malaysian States Sabah and Sarawak, before the big ATM Final at Borneo TMBT Ultra in Sabah on 14 September. It is testimony of and in celebration of the great trail running communities on the large island. Running at home, Milton Amat, meanwhile 40+, has a fantastic opportunity this season to finally win the ATM Championship title after two podiums in 2019 and 2022. He has already collected 950 points this season, winning BUTM 50 and scoring 2nd in Lantau 70, and in Brunei he starts as the man-to-beat for his 9th ATM points race victory.

Let’s see whether his younger compatriot Wilsen Singgin can put up a challenge. From a purely competitive point of view, Singgin went a bit through the motions last year, but has appeared refreshed and refocused in 2024. The gap between him and Milton Amat seems to have decreased. Singgin certainly has a bigger reputation on the long ultras, but Simpur 50 might just be tough and technical enough for him to stay with Milton. From peninsular Malaysia, Mohd Sulhan from Team Scott will also be a serious podium contender. Relatively new on the scene, Sulhan has been taking podiums at BUTM and Silabur already.

There’s also several local Bruneian candidates for a podium finish. Alexander Chung has a wealth of experience, but also Hidayat Metussin and Baharuddin Haji have shown good form this season. Ibni Nudin, who knows? Let’s also keep an eye out on the Thailanders, amongst whom 2023 ATM Finalist Amorn Kimnguan.

The women’s race features in-form and busy bee Adelinah Lintanga and Jassica Lintanga. Adelinah has just finished 3rd on the podium in Tioman 50 last week and is the #1 in the Malaysian ATM points ranking at the moment. She will be the first runner to score four results this season, and will normally speaking have her place in Team Malaysia at the ATM Championship Final fully secured this weekend. Her elder sister Jess will be doing her third race of the season and is also a potential qualifier for the final. Arguably the most competitive Sabahan female runner at present, Rejlen James, has her eyes set on Mantra in Indonesia next month.

ATM will be reporting live from Simpur 50 on our usual channels, with our facebook page being the one to get the latest updates on the race situation.

Simpur 50: Milton Amat chasing 9th win on Brunei's return