• Press Report 23rd July 2007

    Newman Hilly 5.
     
    Over 30 athletes from the host club made up a field of over 120 runners as Ilford AC held their annual "Newman Hilly 5 mile off-road" race last Wednesday evening. Blessed with some welcome evening sunshine the traditional scenic Hanault Forest course had to undergo some eleventh hour modifications this year as runners had to share the Foxburrow's section with some 150 mountain bikers holding their own event.
     
    It was fitting that both the male and female titles went to two Ilford athletes in cracking form at the moment . In the men's race Malcolm Muir saw off a spirited challenge from Thrift Green's Ryan Prout in a very impressive time of 26minutes 43 seconds. Muir held a 50 metre lead at the half way mark and try as he might Prout was unable to close. The Ilford man had extended this to 100 metres as he sped through to the finish on The Common some 16 seconds ahead. Not far behind Karen Sindall was mixing it with some top male veterans and some  very experienced campaigners in the guise of John Barker of Thrift Green, Loughton's Tony Cummings and Ray Dzikowski of Woodford Green. Improving her best time on this extremely challenging course by nearly a minute (30.09) she stormed home in 5th place overall for an emphatic victory in the women's race. 
     
    Ilford's President Elect John Mackenzie presented the prizes which also included veteran victories for Mel Jones (FV35, 36.37), Micky Herring M60, (37.27) and Bree Nordin (FV45, 35.23). Race director Peter Spelman thanked officials,marshalls and all helpers plus the local clubs for their support which added to the success of the event held in memory of late club favourite Newman Sargeant and raising a substantial amount of money for St Frances Hospice, Havering-atte-Bower.
     
    Other Ilford times were (Matt Maple 30.23, Darren Bottrill 30.43, Neil Crisp 32.09, Robin McNelis 32.09, Rohan Alexander 33.04, Abdi Berleen 33.58, Stuart Phillips 34.38, Iain Macdonald 34.49, Duncan Turner 34.54, Neil Keane 35.15, John Platt 35.18, Alan Lattimore 36.07, Iain Burdin 37.22, Keelie Brooks 37.54, Peter Spelman 37.58, Steve Cheal 38.54, Ernie Forsyth 39.02, Alun Jones 39.39, Owen Phipps 39.58, Sally Gillam 40.31, Sharon Honey 41.08, Lyndsey Barker 42.18, Graham Williams 43.14, Roger Honey 43.17, Sukhbindar Jandhu  43.32, Pete Whiting 43.44, Pam Jones 43.57.  
     
    Woodford Green Open Graded  
    On the same evening Ilford coach Ian Gains took 3 of his up and coming middle distance youngsters to compete in the Woodford Green open graded meetng to gain some invaluable experience. 14 year old Jack Webb ran the 1500m targetting a time of 4.45. Going through 800 in 2.32 he finally finished just outside in 4.50.4 but nevertheless this was a PB for the strong Ilford youngster. Emma light, 13 years old, put in a good solid performance in her 1500 to record 5.28.3. Emma's times will soon be tumbling once she learns to control the pace of the first 800 metres. Michael Wang at 14years old is another showing great promise for the future clocking 60.6 for 400m.
     
    Vets AC 5000m 
    Elsewhere seasoned veterans John Batchelor and Pam Jones competed in Battersea Park over 5000m on Tuesday evening. Batchelor started too fast in his race dropping to fifth, then taking Vic Wilson of Woodford Green with 500m to go and gaining 14 seconds in that distance.  He was a bit disappointed with his time, as he was looking for around 18:40 just now, but it seems times were generally slow on a coolish, breezy evening.  The Ilford man was credited with equalling Steve Charlton's M65 record, but in fact broke it last year, without acknowledgement, with 19:04.  Pam Jones did rather better in breaking the W70 record running 25.00 dead. It goes without saying that Pam's own watch probably showed a time in the 24's. 
     
    Both Ilford campaigners will now be targetting the forthcoming BMAF Champs in Birmingham.
                 
    Corus Elite Super Sprint Triathlon - Hyde Park
     
    Ilford triathlete Karen Sindall was in the prize money once again on Sunday when she competed amongst the world's best in the Corus Elite Series Triathlon in Hyde Park, the proposed venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games.In a new super sprint race format, which included heats and a final over a 300m swim, 7km bike, 2.5km run course in and around The Serpentine. World Champion Tim Don won the men's race whilst Australian Erin Densham took the women's honours with Britain's Hollie Avil and Anrea Whitcombe in 2nd and 3rd.
    Sindall, struggling with her swimming at the moment, battled through her heat as one of the fastest losers. The final comprising the top 20 athletes of the day once again saw Sindall well off the pace in the swim and slipping down to last position just after the bike/run  transition. However the Ilford athlete did not give up and pulled herself together to produce a stormer of a run picking off 5 athletes in front to finish in 15th position. With the prize money going down to 15th place she was content with her days work and will be back in the pool on Monday to regroup in preparation for the prestigious London Triathlon in two weeks time.

     
    HOW ZATAT FOR A THROW - report by Paul Cheal
     
    On a thankfully dry day of late Ilford Athletic Club Juniors took a squad of 29 athletes a short journey down the A13 to Newham & Essex Beagles for the final round of the UKYAL.
     
    There were many PB's again but in the U/15 Boys Youcef Zatat was in great form today. In the Shot putt he did - 9m 18cm, a PB in the Javelin by over 3metrs and a superb discus throw of again 3m's plus to come just short of the CLUB RECORD that has stood for 30 years plus with a distance of - 33m 18cm it is only a matter of time before he surpasses the distance. Andrew Townsend did the shot as well with - 7m 09cm and the discus - 21m 05cm. Aaron Akisanya the Javelin with - 26m 47cm and the Long Jump - 4m 89cm. Ayokunle Adekeye achieved a PB in the Long Jump with a distance of - 5m 45cm, whilst running the 100m in - 12.9s. Jerrell Alleyne did the 100m with a PB of - 12.5s and the 200m with - 25.5s. Jacob Ansong competing for Ilford for only the second time also did the 200m with a fine run of - 25.5s and the 400m with a time of - 62.2s for another PB. Liam Leddy ran the 800m - 2m 33.3 and recorded a PB in the 400m with - 67.5s. Final member was Jack Webb, he ran the 1500m in - 4m 56.3s and cleared a respectable height of - 1m 35cm in the High Jump. The team of (Ayokunle, Jerrell, Jacob & Aaron) did the 4x100m in - 49.4s.
     
    Thomas King does not know when to stop. He ran the 1500m in the U/13 Boys again and recorded yet another PB with a time of - 5m 24.2s to slash 5sec of last weeks time that is now nearly 28sec in 2 months, he also did the Shot Putt with - 4m 03cm and the High Jump - 1m 05cm. Jordan Akisanya ran the sprint double in - 14.1s and 28.9s respectively whilst jumping - 4m 17cm in the Long Jump. Nnamdi Anyika also did the 100m in a time of - 15.2s and the Long Jump with - 3m 39cm. Ciaran did the 75m Hurdles in - 15.1s and the 200m - 31.6s. Final athlete was debutant Kevin Wright who impressed on his first appearance. He ran the 800m in a very good time of - 2m 42.8s whilst his High Jump of - 1m 20cm was also good, along with the Shot Putt of - 5m 07cm. (Jordan, Kevin, Nnamdi & Ciaran) ran the 4x100m in a time of 57.7sec.
     
    In the U/17 Men Kurtland Martyr recorded a good PB in the Hammer with a distance of - 24m 84cm which was over 1m 80cm than his previous best, he also did the Javelin. Chris Dawe did the Discus with - 30m 77cm and the Shot - 9m 01cm, whilst Rob Legon also the Shot - 9m 26cm and the Hammer - 19m 28cm. Andy Carle threw the Discus - 21m 96cm and also the Javelin over 41m's. Mohammed Swamad ran the 400m, whilst Simeon Stuart did the Long Jump with - 5m 93cm the High Jump - 1m 60cm and the Triple Jump a distance of - 11m 37cm.
     
    The U/13 Girls was contested by yet again only one athlete Mika Marston. She was a credit to Ilford though doing the 150m in a time of - 22.5s and the Shot Putt with a PB of - 7m 23cm.
     
    Corina Bryce-Arnold ran a PB in the U/15 Girls 200m with a time of - 28.5s and equalled her PB in the 100m with - 13.6s. Emma Light ran the 1500m coming home 1st with a time of - 5m 32.3s and her High Jump was a clearance of - 1m 20cm. Nkiru Anyika did the 75m Hurdles in 16.3s and the Long Jump with - 3m 87cm. Clare Rodway also did the 75m Hurdles in - 14.1s and the 100m in a time of - 15.3s. Laibah Malik was the only other competitor with a PB in the Javelin of - 6m 96cm, a Long Jump of - 2m 48cm and the Shot Putt.
     
    The U/17 Women had Lydia Hall run a fine 300m to finish 1st in a time just over 43s and the 200m in a time of - 27.7s. Charlie Clements threw the Javelin with a distance of - 25m 17 and Clarissa Dougan also the Javelin with - 12m 65cm, whilst she also did the Long Jump - 3m 16cm and the Discus - 11m 59cm. Finally Julianna Dougan competing for the first time in a while did the Discus - 14m 37cm, the Long Jump - 3m 66cm and a PB whilst coming home in the 100m with a time of - 13.9s.
     
    Next stop is the final round of the EYAL at Cambridge on Sunday 05th August.