• Press Report 20th April 2009

    Ilford Athletic Club successfully switched their club road championships to the idyllic setting of Valentines Park last Saturday morning where some fine weather greeted 23 club runners who toed the line to contest the spoils. Held over 4.72 miles of traffic free paths the race made up of 1 large and 2 small loops generated an interesting for early morning park users and dog walkers.
    A trio comprising Peter Clinch, youngster Iain Macdonald and a resurgent Terry Knightley soon got away from the rest of the field and were together at the end of the 1st small loop around the lake and well into the 1st of the larger loops. Clinch then began to apply the pressure as first Knightley dropped off the back and then Macdonald found the pace too hot. Clinch eventually stormed home in 27mins 27 seconds with Macdonald 27.51 and Knightley 28.03 occupying the podium positions. Neil Crisp in 4th took the top male vet 40 award in 28.50 and Chris Togwell's 29.54 was good enough for 5th and securing the 50's gold. Robin Davis recorded 45.53 for 21st and the fastest male vet 60 of the day.
    In the women's race Dianne Crisp was a class apart speeding home 10th overall to take the women's gold in 34.25 from Sally Gillam,17th, 41.02 and Carol Muir 18th,42.56. Pam Jones was the top woman vet with 39.15 and finishing an excellent 15th overall out of 23. Alex Richards in 8th place overall secured the under 20's gold with 32.37.
    Other placings and times were Matt Maple 6th (30.58),Ian Burdin 7th (31.15), John Mackenzie 9th (33.30), Steve Uttley 11th (35.41), Chris Evans 12th (36.55), Jack Webb 13th (38.07), Peter Spelman 14th (39.14), Mital Kotecha 16th (40.57), Sukhbindar Jandu 19th (43.54), Paul Cheal 20th (44.51), Gerrry Pells 22nd (46.54), 23rd Dave Sharp (54.45 racewalked).
    A short presentation was held afterwards where Club President John Mackenzie presented the medals and race organiser Martin Clarke thanked everybody who had contributed to a very successful and enjoyable morning.
        
    On the previous Tuesday evening Ilford's John Batchelor and Pam Jones ran in the first Vets AC 5-miler of the season at Battersea Park.  After starting a little too fast Batchelor was passed at 1k by 62-year-old Gareth Jones, a national M60 champion and regular slow starter, and couldn't make up lost ground in the closing stages.  Jones won in 31:21 But Batchelor  was second in 31:33, the closest he's finished to him in many races. Pam Jones was 20th out of 27 overall, and third woman, and was happy with her time of 41:35. 
     
    The Club were also represented the Newham 10k on Sunday morning as Ilford's Malcolm Muir returned from the West Wight Three Hills fell race in the Isle of Wight where he finished 4th. Muir went one better on the roads of East London finishing 3rd in 33.20. Second Claimer Dave Dickinson is still getting back to fitness in readiness for the track season but was still able to manage 6th place in 34.37.  Gerry Trill led in a trio of Ilford Harriers 238th in 50.38, from Dave Rowley, 250th in 51.00 and Billy Green 271st in 51.36. Ilford member Sharon Honey running for team UEL was 259th in 51.15. Florian Neuschwander from Germany was the overall winner in a fast time of 30.14 leading home a large field of 855 finishers.   
     
    Ilford AC now look forward to next Sunday's Flora London Marathon where they will be manning the water station at 19 miles in Canary Wharf and cheering on all runners and club members alike.