• Press Report 24th March 2008

     
    Ilford AC's Pam Jones has enjoyed some considerable success this week in France competing in the 3rd World Masters Indoor Championships held at Clermont-Ferrand the capital city of the Region Auvergne. Pam has returned home with one gold and two silver world masters medals as 3671 athletes from around the globe including 287 from Great Britain and  Northern Ireland, set a new participants record for these championships.
    Pam was immediately on the golden trail tasting glory in the opening 8k cross country event by finishing 35th overall out of a field of 60 athletes many of which were 20 years her junior. Her time of 41.35 was nearly 1 minute quicker than her nearest rival as she claimed gold in the Female over 70 category. She then turned her attention to the track lining up in the 3000metres and finishing 2nd only to Elfriede Hodapp of Germany.
    The Ilford athlete was then faced with a decision,  whether to run in the 1500m or the half marathon which were both held on the Saturday. Her decision to go for the latter proved justified as she was rewarded with an excellent time of 1.53.51 which placed her in silver medal position behind Odette Maisongrosse of France.
    Back home some severe windy and snowy conditions greeted runners in the Victoria Park Harriers 5 mile race on a bitterly cold Saturday morning. With times estimated to be about 1 minute down on normal due to the blizzard which seemed to swirl from all directions on a figure of 8 course, Neil Crisp led the Ilford contingent home in 30.36. Abdi Berleen and training partner Frank McGowan were battling each other not far behind with Berleen just getting the upper hand with 31.44. The race was dominated by 3 top quality overseas athletes including Somalian Moumin Geele, Kenyan Raymond Tonui, and eventual winner Ethiopian Ayele Mergressa. Simon Plummer of Woodford Green the best of the Brits back in an isolated 4th.
    The womens race saw another Kenyan taking the spoils with Woodfords Fiona Kennedy coming through for a very good 2nd from Basildon's Ellie Meadows. Ilford's Dianne Crisp ran with Daughter Jenny for most of the race before pulling clear at the end to finish in 39.12 to Jenny's 40.23

     

     

    GEORGE HADLER LAST LAUGH- report by Paul Cheal

     
    In conditions normally associated with the north pole Ilford athletes battled there way through rain, sleet, snow and a bitterly cold wind to take part in the there first outdoor track and field warm-up meeting at Chelmsford Sports & Athletics Centre.
     
    George Hadler was the star of the day when he took part in the U/13 Boys 800m producing a excellent time of: 2min 45.7s which was a PB by around 8 secs which shows he has had a good winters training behind him. Ciaran Rodway was the other athlete in this race and age group and came home in a time of: 2m 58.5s. Ciaran also did the Long Jump and recorded a distance of over 3m 50. Thomas King ran the 1500m in the U/13 Boys and looked good even though battling a strong wind to finish in a time of: 5m 39.9s.
     
    In the U/15 Boys there was a debut for Michael Fletcher in the Javelin. Although nervous before the event and shivering due to the bitter wind he was able to do very well with his 4 throws and recorded a very respectable distance of: 24m 53cm for his first ever event. Youcef Zatat did the shot putt and trying a new technique he was able to putt the shot a PB for outdoors with: 11m 17cm.
     
    Rob Legon in the U/17 Men did the shot putt and although having not much practice at this of late putt: 9m 18cm, whilst Chris Dawe did a distance of : 9m 01cm. Kurtland Martyr improved on his PB to extend his own club record in the U/17 Men Hammer with a distance of: 34m 08cm and with more training and better weather there is more to come, unfortunately Jaime Smith in the Junior Women's event was unable to record a distance. Lydia Hall was the other competitor in the U/17 Women's 300m and again like the others had to battle the wind in the back straight but was still able to come home in a respectable time of: 44.9s.
     
    Unfortunately due to the weather the discus event was cancelled on safety grounds.