• Press Report 15th December 2008

     
    Ilford AC athletes had to contend with some atrocious weather conditions in the 4th round of the Essex Cross Country League held at Hilly Fields, Colchester on a cold and rainy windswept Saturday afternoon.
    Under 13 George Hadler produced his best run of the season so far to get the better of his clubmate Thomas King, the pair  finishing in 13th and 16th positions respectively out of a field of 30. In the Under 17 men Liam Leddy and Omar Rashid never really got to grips with the conditions and both were disappointed with their positions of 25th and 27th.
    For the first time this season the Ilford women's squad turned out more runners than the men and once again Bree Nordin was the pick of the bunch coming home in 23rd overall. Mel Jones and Dianne Crisp renewed their recent close rivalry with Jones just getting the better of the scrap this time crossing the line in 35th to Crisp's 36th only seconds behind. Nicola Hopkinson was also in close attendance finishing 38th to close the squad 8th out of 18 competing teams.Victoria Morgan 43rd, Sally Gillam 52nd and Pam Jones 62nd were there in good support as 69 ladies finished the race won by Havering Mayesbrook's Harriet Scott from Nicky Rogers of Colchester and Tendring and Sarah Stradling of Colchester Harriers back in third.
    The weather had only slightly improved aas the men did battle with Ilford's Malcolm Muir having an excellent run leading the team home in 8th position. Peter Clinch was next home back in 50th with Neil Crisp 55th, Andy Catton 66th and Matt Maple 75th packing well in the middle of the field. With only 6 senior men out it was left to Henry Ricketts back in 112th to close the scoring as the Cricklefields Club finished 9th out of 22 mens teams. 132 athletes completed the course.The race was won by Gareth Riddell of Basildon from Colchester's Adrian Mussett and Mark Sandford, also of Basildon.
     
    The following day Ilford's Ben Jones embarked upon the first of his 12 leg fundraising campain by running the Hastings marathon. Ben's friend Nick was seriously injured in an horrific mountain bike accident a little while ago and Ben, together with another mate, is attempting to run 12 marathons in 12 months
    to raise much needed cash for house modifications, care and further treatment. More details can be found at www.12in12.org.
    The race itself celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1908 Hastings marathon when Edward V11 was on the throne, Asquith had just become Prime Minister, London Life was returning to normality after the Olympic Games had run for a record six months.  Sunday's route tried to follow the original as much as possible taking in the surrounding villages and towns of East Sussex, from Telham, Battle, Catsfield, Ninfield, Sidley, Bexhill,Cooden, Bulverhythe, St. Leonards on Sea and back to Hastings. Jones did remarkably well to post a time of 3hrs 37mins and 52seconds in what was his first outing over the distance. Former club member Gary Christie was 2 minutes behind in 3.39.59 and Steve Allen, preparing for yet another London marathon racewalked in 4.21.04  
    Ilford AC now look forward to hosting their annual Cross Country 10 mile event which will be held at Chigwell Row next Saturday (Dec 20th) with a start time of 10.30am. Entries are still available on the day.