Late but never last, gone but not forgotten: how 'Mr Yip' inspired scores of Hong Kong runners
The 'grand old gentleman' of Hong Kong road running, who died aged 93, was a familiar face at events and an inspiration to all
Yip Lun-ming, or Mr Yip as he was known to expatriate runners and (uncle Yip) to locals, was an inspiration to scores of runners for his total dedication to the sport he loved.
Younger and less experienced runners would often target the grey-haired man in front of them and put on a turn of speed to run past, but often their foolish exuberance and lack of consistent pace would let them down and the sun-bronzed form of Yip would simply cruise right past them.
While he was often late, he was never last - he could run for hours and would usually finish ahead of many competitors young enough to be his grandchildren
Yip died on his 93rd birthday last Sunday having suffered from a chronic respiratory disease. His final three years were spent in and out of hospitals and nursing homes, a situation that would have been distressing for a man who loved nothing better than to run for hours on the trails and catchwaters around his home in Chai Wan.
He was a regular competitor in distance races and would often turn up late, pinning his number to his running vest as he went through the start line to catch the already departed field.
While he was often late, he was never last - he could run for hours and would usually finish ahead of many competitors young enough to be his grandchildren.
As a passenger on the ill-fated ocean liner Taiping that sank in 1949 after a collision with another vessel en route to Taiwan, Yip was one of just 36 survivors. Some 1,500 others lost their lives.
