Around 200 participate in safety training, as contestants aim to 'challenge themselves' in Bun Scrambling Competition

Over 200 participants of the annual Bun Scrambling Competition on the outlying island of Cheung Chau took part in a training session on Sunday.

This year, 118 men and 82 women aged from 18 to 62 signed up for the iconic activity of the Bun Festival. Among them, 11 are living, working or studying on the island.

During the session - a qualifying requirement, the competitors learned the safety protocols for climbing the 14-meter bun tower at the Pak Tai Temple Playground.

Six-time women’s champion Angel Wong Ka-yan will return this year, after skipping last year’s competition due to her pregnancy.

She noted that having children has indeed taken a toll on her physical strength. “I tried it just now and was a little out of breath because my fitness still isn’t at an athlete’s level.”

Wong’s goal this year is simply to finish successfully, as she wants to enjoy the experience.

This year, the eldest female contestant, a 58-year-old marathon runner, is a first-timer at bun scrambling.

She said her family was shocked when hearing about her participation in the Bun Scrambling Competition.

She believes that enjoying the experience is more important than the results, with her goal being to “challenge herself.”

Yip Kin-man, who won in the men’s category last year, hoped to make the most of the practice session to get familiar with the size and width of the bun tower.

“Every year, it’s a chance to gather with friends—whether or not there’s a prize doesn't matter. The goal is to reach the final.”

The selection contest next Sunday will see 12 climbers, including at least three female participants, shortlisted for the final, which will be held from 11.30pm May 5.

The 12 finalists will scramble for buns on the bun tower within a time limit.

The buns carry scores varying with their locations on the tower, with the buns closest to the top of the tower carrying nine points each, and those lower carries three points and one point respectively.

The competitor with the highest total score will win, while the one who bags the most buns within the specified time will be the prize winner of “Full Pockets of Lucky Buns”.

The event is one of the highlights of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, rooted in island rituals to thank deities for ending a plague, which have been practiced for more than 100 years.

The bun tower will be open for members of the public to climb on April 27 during the Bun Carnival.

(Jamie Liu)