BRAINTREE 5miles Braintree Sunday 26 April There were 6 athletes from Ilford AC taking part in this annual 5 mile road race on a rolling rural route at Braintree. Held over the normal out and back course conditions were dry and windy. First in for the club was Steve Philcox in 29:01 which was good enough for 11th place and 2nd in the M40 category. Neil Crisp, making a welcome return to fitness was 27th [30:07] and 4th in the M50 group. The Ladies were represented by Jenni Sheehan who ran well to record a new PB, breaking the 36:00 barrier with 35:59 for 112th. She was closely followed by Mel Jones showing good form in 129th [36:45], 4th FV45, …Read More
Ilford AC Walking Section Report 22/04/2014
ILFORD AC WALKERS TO THE FORE Ilford’s walkers were in action at the Lee Valley Stadium track on Easter Monday afternoon where they contested a 5,000 metres walk in pleasant conditions. From the “off” local youth prospect and favourite Callum Wilkinson of Enfield & Harringey AC, the host Club, took the lead and was never to be headed as he broke the tape in 24 minutes and 3 seconds. However he was always closely tracked by experienced Ilford protagonist Francisco Reis who clocked 24.20 for an excellent 2nd place and was already ready to pounce had the youngster’s pace flagged. An Ilford athlete had the honour of completing the frame as Pete Ryan claimed 3rd in 26.22 after holding back …Read More
Press Report 21st April 2014
Victoria Park 5 miles Hackney Saturday19th April The 48th Victoria Park 5 miles road race was held on a fine spring afternoon last Saturday. The event which also doubled as this year’s Ilford AC Road Championships saw a number of club runners who were not in last week’s London Marathon line up in a starting field of over 200. The race was won in a quick time of 23m 39s by Southend’s British International Adam Hickey with Ilford’s Malcolm Muir 8th in 26m 20s, a few seconds outside his best time for the distance. Next home for the club was Steve Philcox who was just under 30 minutes in 57th with 29m 53s while club coach put in a creditable …Read More
Press Report 15th April 2014 – VLM 2014
VLM London Marathon – 13th April 2014 On a perfect Sunday morning for running 16 gallant Ilford AC athletes were among the 34000 plus on the start line at Blackheath for the 34th London Marathon. The club achieved a set of fine results, which included 7 new best times for the distance, showing their winter training program went well There was another superb performance from the club’s Kiwi runner, Blair McWhirter. Blair ran a well balanced race reaching halfway in 71 mins and moved through the field in the second half to finish in a new personal best time of 2hr 23min 27secs to place 25th overall. This result places 2nd on the marathon rankings for New Zealand for 2014 …Read More
Press Report – Pre London 8th April 2014
BMAF World Indoor Champs Budapest Ilford AC’s superveteran John Batchelor has returned from the British Masters Indoor World Champs in Budapest where the standard in the M70 distance races was unusually high. Batchelor placed seventh in the 3000m after leading the field for the first kilometre, whereupon he was passed by a string of former World or European champions fighting it out for the major honours. Although John was unable to stick with them in the mid-race section he closed on the leaders over the last few laps to finish in 11:48.03, close to his season’s best. The Ilford man comfortably made the final of the 1500m, but in the final against similar high-quality opposition was again unable to pick …Read More