5th IPOH International Waiters Race 2017
Precariously balancing a tray that carried two glasses of water and an opened bottle of mineral water, participants of the 5th IPOH International Waters Race had to navigate a 1.2km route in Kinta River Walk.
The course posed great challenges for the men and women, with the many stairs to navigate, undulating ground and even a bridge to cross!
The winners did not only have to be quickest to the finishing line, they also had to ensure that their tray of bottle and glasses remained filled. It was indeed not only a test of speed but also one of agility and balance.
Into its fifth year, IPOH International Waiters Race 2017 attracted 300 participants, representing leading hotel groups and F&B outlets from Ipoh and beyond. International delegates were from Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal, China, Bangladesh and Kazakhstan.
Classic Tray was open to individual professionals working in hotels while Sportive Tray was for waiters in restaurants, pubs and bistros, as well as students from hospitality colleges. Cash prizes were awarded to the top five winners per category and gender groups. The first prize winner took home RM2,000 for Classic Tray and RM1,500 for Sportive Tray. A total of RM17,900 in cash was given away.
Members of the public were able to participate in the Sunday morning activity as well, by joining the Fun Tray category, where attractive prizes of hotel accommodation vouchers were given away to winners.
Ipoh International Waiters Race (IIWR), first organised in 2013, is aimed at improving service delivery and customer care in the hospitality industry as well as to garner respect for those working as waiters. The competition is used to recognise the Best Waiter (or Best Waitress) in the country, and even the world.
Ipoh International Waiters Race was hosted by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Perak Chapter, in collaboration with Perak Tourism Association and supported by Tourism Perak.
Its success was made possible by efforts of the hardworking committee plus sponsorship in cash and kind from these parties:
1. Tourism Perak
2. Mariwasa Kraftangan
3. Spritzer Malaysia
4. Malaysian Association of Hotels (Perak)
5. Malaysian Association of Hotels
6. Syeun Hotel
7. Tower Regency Hotel & Apartments
8. Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Suites
9. Peerapat (Thailand)
10. Telekom Malaysia
11. MH Hotel Ipoh
12. Golden Century Tour & Travel
13. Spurway
14. Andaman Engineering
15. HorecaBid
16. Concept H. Solution
17. YLL
18. Wanita MCA chief Dato Heng Seai Kie
19. MCL Neon & Electrical Sdn. Bhd.
20. Mr. Ong Koon Lin
21. Element Builder Sdn. Bhd.
22. Graphic Print
23. Top Vision
24. Emcee K.T. Pillai
25. De Pine Cafe
26. Lost World of Tambun
27. Cititel Express Ipoh
28. Impiana Hotel Ipoh
29. Belum Rainforest Resort
30. Symphony Suites Hotel
31. Where2
32. G Too Resources
33. Chang Jiang White Coffee
34. Weil Hotel
35. Sri Maju
36. Ipoh Overland
37. Cherish Flowers
Here is the list of winners for 5th Ipoh International Waiters Race 2017:
Classic Tray (Male):
Champion: M. Burhan Bin Matli (Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur)
1st Runner-up: Donald Mislan (Pullman Kuching)
2nd Runner-up: Mohd Hanafi Bin Ghali (Belum Rainforest Resort)
3rd Runner-up: Chan Soon Wei (MH Hotel Ipoh)
4th Runner-up: Ragadevan A/L Ananthan (Eastin Hotel Penang)
Classic Tray (Female):
Champion: Amelia Anak Jona (Pullman Miri)
1st Runner-up: Ponmalar A/P Vijian (Marina Island Pangkor Resort)
2nd Runner-up: Shahruirina Anak Entering (Pullman Kuching)
3rd Runner-up: Hien (Vietnam)
4th Runner-up: Chew Mei Peng (The Banjaran Hotsprings Resort)
Sportive Tray (Male):
Champion: Surenthren A/L Ganesan (Royal Ipoh Club)
1st Runner-up: Tan Wei Siong (TAR University College)
2nd Runner-up: Pinto (Healy Mac’s Irish Bar)
3rd Runner-up: Akash (Healy Mac’s Irish Bar)
4th Runner-up: Niaz Mohammad (STG)
Sportive Tray (Female):
Champion: Thorn Srey Mao (Healy Mac’s Irish Bar)
1st Runner-up: Leong Kai Wen (TAR University College)
2nd Runner-up: Lee Yi Ying (STG)
3rd Runner-up: Kang Yi Qian (TAR University College)
4th Runner-up: Joan Loo Kit Yee (TAR University College)
Fun Tray:
Champion: Xavier Philip Andrew Peter
1st Runner-up: Amirul Syafik
2nd Runner-up: Roslan
Congratulations to all winners. For those who did not win, let’s try again next year!
Event: 5th Ipoh International Waiters Race 2017
Venue: Kinta River Walk, Ipoh
Date: 14th May, 2017
Time: 9am
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Its all about balancing. If me? sure all fall out even before the race start. lol
eye opening! never came across competition like this before (usually only see barista competition la). will definitely hope i can catch the next one.
I find so much humour in events like this. So cute!
hahaha…bestnya…kalau saya da bersepai la gelas tu
Omg i didnt know there is a waiters race!!! What if they accidentally tripped off??? Its exciting!
Oh that’s such a fun and Creative way to race! The participants sure look very serious and intense during the race. It must have been fun to watch
This sounds like a fun event for the public to participate in and to learn about the hospitality industry. Sometimes I am really amazed by the waitress/waiter that can memorize the whole table’s order without writing it on paper.
omg! i didn’t know got such thing! looks so fun and interesting!
This is such a great idea to attract more people towards healthy live. Who would think waiters also got marathon. haha
wa many ppl enjoyed there. nice event for all
Wa so cool, there is a special day to honor all the waiters.