Nic Tinworth, Hong Kong trail running community legend, dies aged 44 after long battle with brain tumour

Nic Tinworth, trail race organiser, has died aged 44 after battling a brain tumour for almost two years. Tinworth was the centre of the trail running community in Hong Kong, and so many runners were introduced to the sport through his efforts.

Tinworth was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018. He underwent chemotherapy but entered a hospice in January. He passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning and is survived by his son Danny and his daughter Aelwen.

Tinworth founded a trail race company, RaceBase, in 2015 along with Steve Carr and Michael Ormiston. For Tinworth, the most important aspect of the sport was the community, and his love of the comradeship in trail running was reflected in the races he organised.

Each RaceBase founder has their own “baby” and Tinworth’s was the 30km Country of Origin. The race format reflects Tinworth’s approach to trail running – it is a three-member team race, all from the same country, in fancy dress representative of their home nation. And while it is a light relief amid a serious season, the course is an extremely difficult 30km around Lantau, over steep peaks like Tiger’s Head; it is relaxed and community focused, but tough – Tinworth in a nutshell.

As trail running’s popularity exploded in recent years, Tinworth was always on hand to welcome newcomers. He not only put on races, but organised more casual events like night hikes followed by drinks, open to all. His friends have described him as “magnetic” and as the centre of the community, though this is a tag the humble Tinworth rejected.