The Mount Daisetsu Trail on Japan’s northern Hokkaido island witness a great dual between long-time ATM Championship protagonists Jeff Campbell and Hisashi Kitamura. Campbell had just looked amazing in beating John Ray Onifa at UTSG 50 two weeks ago, but the ever battle-ready Kitamura was not intimidated and took his second consecutive victory at Daisetsu ahead of the Hong Kong Canadian by a considerable margin of 15 minutes in 6h40!

Now based in Tokyo, the UGLOW Asia athlete had said before the weekend he felt in great shape and has been doing well on the Japanese domestic trail circuit over the past couple of months. The big goal is to finally get the ATM Championship title, and at the same time that win at Borneo TMBT Ultra that has eluded him so far despite several attempts. Daisetsu was also his 9th career victory already in ATM. Jeff Campbell himself has collected no fewer than 8 ATM points race wins over the years, but has never managed to get into the championship Top 3 podium. Also for him, it is a serious objective - the varied TMBT course should suit him better than high, long mountains Mt Apo or Mt Lawu of previous years. It was therefore fantastic that these two stars of the regional scene squared off in Hokkaido.

For Kitamura, winning the race by a margin over Campbell proved to be a confirmation of his own feelings of having returned to peak form this year. He is scheduled to race once more on the ATM circuit at The Punisher in Philippines in August, before the Championship title race in Sabah. For Campbell, who returned from injury to beat reigning ATM Champion John Ray Onifa in Singapore - inflicting the Filipino’s first defeat on our circuit in over six years - , it was perhaps a reminder there may nevertheless still be some work to do before September. As he himself stated after the race: “He crushed me today”.

Third place on the podium, but amazingly very much in a by-role, was Suguru Seo, 47 minutes behind Kitamura. The women’s race was dominated by Naho Kotani in 9h01. She finished a full hour ahead of Shibuya Chie. Third on the podium was Nagisa Yamaji .

The next Japanese points race will be next season, the famous Izu Trail Journey on the second Sunday of December. Registration opens next week!

Kitamura defeats Campbell at Mt Daisetsu Trail !