• Press Report 12th January 2009

     
    Ilford AC fielded squads depleted by sickness and injury in the Essex cross country championships held at Basildon's Gloucester Park last Saturday.
    Nevertheless the day started well for the club with a pleasing performance by Thomas King in the under 13 boys who finished 19th out of 38 competitors.
     
    With temperatures well below zero especially on top of the large hill the course was frozen with many sections covered in ice and frost. This made conditions extremely slippery as runners struggled for a grip going up and down the hills. The womens race of just over 2 laps saw Ilford's Bree Nordin not only fighting the elements but also trying to shake off laryngitis as she battled through to 39th place to lead the ladies team home. Mel Jones was next home in 46th with captain Dianne Crisp just behind in 48th. Sally Gillam looked strong on the hills and completed the scoring quartet in 65th to close the team to 9th place out of 13 complete teams. Carol Muir in her first senior cross country championships was having her own private battles further down the field conquering the course in 79th place. An impressive run from Havering's Lauren Deadman took top spot from Stacey Ward of Basildon and Nicky Rogers of Colchester and Tendring.
    The ensuing men's race of 12k, held over 1 medium and 3 large laps, is always considered a gruelling affair and Ilford's Malcolm Muir showed all his customary tenacity to battle just behind the leaders eventually coming home in 12th place. Veteran Neil Crisp had a good race in 66th with Matt Maple still on the comeback trail 96th. Chris Togwell probably went off a little too fast but managed to hold things together in the latter stages finishing 108th. Steve Parker supported well with 129th leaving John Mackenzie to close the team in 149th. Superveteran Graham Williams chipped in with 161st. At the sharp end Southend's Adam Hickey always looked very comfortable and eased away from Gareth Riddell of Basildon in the closing stages. Colchester's Adrian Mussett pulled a calf muscle on the last hill but managed to hold on for third spot. The Ilford men only just managed the 6 scorers required to complete a team and with 4 of them veterans it was not surprising they finished a lowly 13th out of 15 complete teams.
    The end of the race saw the presentation of club medals to the first 3 Ilford men and women performed by past and current Presidents Tony Nixon and John Mackenzie.