• Press Report 1st September 2009

    A massive turnout from Ilford Athletic Club at the Barking Park 5k on Bank Holiday Monday has put the Cricklefields Club in an unassailable position in both the mens and women's competitions in the East London Five Interclub Series. No less than 28 athletes donned the club vest in a field of just under 200 runners. With just the Dagenham 88 race remaining in the series it is not possible for either team to be caught meaning that both squads will now retain their shields.
    The marvellous team effort was brought about by some excellent packing in both races by the Ilford contingent with Darren Bottrill 15th in 17mins 28, Robin McNelis 17th in 17.32 and Iain Macdonald 19th in 17.46 leading the charge. With Neil Crisp 26th in 18.19, Gary Floate 40th in 19.08, and Rohan Alexander 49th in 19.43 all scoring well in the veterans section Ilford had 6 home in 49.
    In the women's race Ilford had  4 of their top stars out through injury and sickness but were able to demonstrate their strength in depth by still doing enough to defeat the other 4 East London teams. Vanessa Burns 104th in 23.55, was ably supported by the dynamic duo of Natalie and Jennie Crisp 111th and 117th with respective times of 24.22 and 25.04 in the senior women's section. For the veterans the dependable trio of Nicola Hopkinson 89th in 23.05, Sally Gillam 105th in 23.57 and Pam Jones 124th in 25.23 brought the squad home.
    Other times and positions for Ilford runners were:-  Peter Clinch 18.10 (24th), Matthew Maple 18.38 (29th), Alex Richards 18.42 (30th), Kevin Newell 19.29 (44th), Stephen Parker 20.25 (60th), Ray Rawlinson 22.13 (77th), Henry Ricketts 22.21 (80th), Duncan Turner 22.24 (81st), Martin Clarke 22.50 (85th), Ernie Forsyth 25.18 (121st), Suki Jandu 26.41 (134th), Carol Muir 27.11 (140th), Lydia Hall 27.16 (141st) Robin Davis 28.27 (150th), David Sharpe 31.43  (163rd) Mredith Floate 31.45 (164th) Roger Brownlow 38.31 (178th).
     
    The previous day Ilford's Sally Gillam and Martin Clarke had also  been in action in the Sikh marathon relay. This is a light hearted community event held on a circuit around Woodford Bridge  comprising 21 laps of approximately 2k and made up of teams of arbitrary numbers.  Gillam was part of a victorious Barking Road Runners "Fabulous Five" Team clocking 2hrs 35 mins 40 secs which broke the previous course record set last year by Ilford AC. Clarke's efforts were directed towards Barkings 2nd squad "The Dream Team" who finished a creditable 3rd behind East London Runners and also breaking the magical 3 hours with 2hrs 55 minutes.
     
    Ilford's up and coming young stars Iain Macdonald and Alex Richards also had a very successful mid week outing at Orion Harriers' 5k held on the rides of Epping Forest last Wednesday. Macdonald was top Under 20 of the evening with an excellent 5th place overall finishing in 18.11. Richards for his part was top Under18 clocking 19.12 for 13th place. Gerry Trill was 56th with 24.22. 3 ladies flew the Ilford flag with Vanessa Burns 45th 23.42, Sally Gillam 59th 24.39 and Carol Muir 94th 29.38.
     
    Meanwhile back on the track Ilford had 3 athletes take part in the annual Tate & Lyle young athletes meeting at Newham on a very hot Bank Holiday Monday. There was a debut for Elliot Joseph in the U-13 boys competing in the 800m and finishing 1st in a time of 2min 53.3s. Also competing was Thomas King in the U-15 boys 1500m in a time of 5 min 30.2 s in 1st place and finally Victoria Onyeka in the U-17 women competing in the Discus throwing 29.10 m for 2nd place