• Press Report 15th September 2008

    In the St Marys College Vets and Open meeting on Sunday Ilford Athletic Club's John Batchelor ran the 3000m in a very mixed field of old and young, male and female runners, placing third out of ten, but first M65, in 10:56.1, just half a second off his season's best.
    Meanwhile the Club's Road and Cross Country Secretary Sally Gillam was preparing for the forthcoming Dublin Marathon by going half the distance this time at the Grunty Fen half marathon just outside Ely, Cambridgeshire. Despite the flatness of the course the trip is never easy due to its open nature across fenland where it is usually the wind that poses problems for the runners. This time it was some very warm weather as the sun beat down on a large field of nearly 500 runners. Gillam was happy with her 1.53.22 clocking in the womens race which saw an exceptionally quick winning time of 76.29 from Durham University's Felicity Milton. Jenny Roberts from Ipswich Jaffa was 2nd in 80.38 holding off Colchester's Sarah Stradling in 81.01. The men's event proved to be a 2 horse race with Woodford Green's young 19 year old star, Matt Gunby (69.28), just getting the better of Colchester Harriers Adrian Mussett (69.43). Ilford 2nd claimer Mark Crook placed a creditable 17th in 77.29. Springfield's Paul Dobson won the battle of the vets clocking 74.18 for 4th overall ahead of Ipswich Jaffa's Dave Laing.
    With less than 2 weeks to go momentum is now gathering for the Valentines Park 5k races.  This is a major charity event jointly organised by the Harriers section of Ilford AC together with the Cardinal Heenan Centre in Ilford. There is a brand new and accurately measured fast and flat course awaiting participants on the paths of Valentines Park on Sunday September 28th. The serious competition will start with at 10am adjacent to Melbourne field and will comprise a competitive run of 2 traffic free loops of the park where the race organiser Martin Clarke hopes to attract a large field of athletes from local clubs including both runners and racewalkers alike. A less serious charity fun run / walk will begin 1 hour later at 11am in which local MPs Mike Gapes and Lee Scott are both planning to take part.  The event promises to be a great day with many local dignatories including the Mayor, Cllr Loraine Sladden booked to attend. Those taking part will be raising money for 10 charities including the Mayors own charities, The Haven House Children's Hospice in Woodford Grren and Dream Factory, which grants wishes to terminally ill youngsters