No less than 17 runners from Ilford AC ensured that the club was well represented in the Southend 10k on a glorious autumnal Sunday morning ideal for running. Iain Campbell, a former winner some fourteen years ago, proved he is still a force to be reckoned with by taking the top veteran price in a mass field of nearly 2000 runners. Campbell sat in a group just behind the leaders which included junior international and eventual winner of the race Adam Hickey of Southend. Campbell went into 6th place in the last kilometre overtaking another junior international, Andrew Livingston of Thurrock, nearly thirty years his junior. However the more youthful legs of Livingston regained his position on the run-in with the Ilford man finally having to give way for 7th in 33.13.

Ilford's new recruit from Columbia, 19 year old Carlos Pinilla, had yet another stormer mixing it with the big boys for the first 3k before settling down to finish 19th overall in just over 35 minutes. Another under 20, Iain Macdonald, now seems to have sorted his head out slicing a massive chunk from his PB by running a mature race. Macdonald, more at home in a middle distance track event,  admitted beforehand that he would be happy with a sub 40 clocking and was therefore delighted to finish in a time of 37.35. In the veterans race Neil Crisp and Andy Catton continued their recent head to head duel: this time Crisp coming out on top with 38.05 to Catton's 38.17. Premier Ilford Walker, Steve Allen, striking as always in his Union Jack kit posted an impressive time of just over 40 minutes. Supervet Steve Parker has been showing some promising form of late and laid down his intentions for his target race, the Athens marathon in three weeks time, with an impressive performance recording 43.35.  Recently appointed track and field veterans captain and sprint star, Henry Ricketts, returned his best time for the distance of 45.50 celebrating his achievement with his family after the race with a double chip butty on the seafront wall.

In the women's race Pam Jones predictably took the women's 70 prize with a time of  50.04 while Nicola Hopkinson was 1st lady home for the club with 45.20. Sally Gillam had a pleasing run of 47.33 and Dianne Crisp completed the womens scoring with 49.30.

With many official times still not to hand or to be confirmed the following Ilford athletes also competed in the race:--

Micky Herring, (46.59),  Ray Rawlinson (45.42) , Tony Partridge, Robin Davis, Gerry Pells,  Pauline Tester

Sunday also turned out as a perfect day for staging the 17th Chichester Priory 10km Road race, which this year was host to the UK , the ERRA and the SEAA Championships, as well as featuring an Inter-Area and Inter-counties match, a recognition nationwide of this quality road race. The high standard and depth of the field was matched by the glorious weather and an excellent turnout of some 1500 enjoyed one of the most popular and prestigious events in the South of England. Ilford AC's Malcolm Muir was competing as part of a  5 man Essex squad in the Inter-counties match with Muir ending up as the second out of 3 scorers for the county in a time of 32 minutes 43 seconds which placed him 65th overall. Crispian Bloomfield of Billericay, 31.24, and Paul Molyneux of Springfield Striders, 32.45, were the other 2 scorers which helped Essex to 8th position with a very strong Kent team taking the title.

The 1500 runners were an impressive sight as in brilliant sunshine they streamed out of Oaklands Way. Changed from its date in February to October, two new ideas were introduced for the first time - the use of "chip timing" and an elite start. The starting party included the President of UK Athletics, former world record and Olympic long jumper, Lynn Davies, the Mayor of Chichester, representatives of the 2 sponsors and the President of Chichester Priory Rotary Club, Tony Davenport. It was quite a spectacle as the runners wound their way along Spitalfield Lane away from the start. The quality of the race was born out by some very fast times with the first 10 men breaking the 30 minute barrier. Chinhanhu Williard from Poole runners was first home in 29.18 with Kent's Jermaine Mays just behind in second place.