Press Report 31st March 2015  

Essex Road Relays 28th March 2015
Harwich

Strong coastal winds gusting across Dovercourt Bay greeted over 170 runners representing 53 teams from the cream of the county’s running clubs as they contested the Essex Relay Championships last Saturday. The event held at Chelmsford for many years was switched to Harwich this year in an enterprising move by the host Club Harwich Runners to present a fast accurately measured 5k course along the seafront with the innovation of chip timing. For the first time in Essex Road Running’s history runners transported a baton around the course which contained the chip technology. With the stiff wind behind they were assisted along the promenade for the first 2k until the turnaround when they had to battle against its full force on their return.

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Ilford AC fielded a depleted mens team but nevertheless competed with distinction in the vet 40 section which was held over 3 legs. Robin McNelis led off giving the team a solid start coming home in 18 mins 9 secs before handing over to Paul Holloway who matched this with an 18 min 4 secs effort. It was then left to Malcolm Muir to bring the team home to a bronze medal with the 2nd fastest run of the day overall clocking 16.19 which was also the top male 40 time.
Ilford ladies were unlucky not to come away with a medal with both teams just missing out by occupying 4th spot. In the Female Open were Krystle Balogun,19.38, Bree Nordin, 22.23, and club captain Jenni Sheehan 21.51 whilst the ladies vet 45 team had Dianne Crisp,24.08, Julia Galea,27.09, and the evergreen Pam Jones,31.23 contesting the spoils, the latter competing against opposition over 30 years her junior.
The fastest run of the day came from Rob Warner of Havering AC in 16.10 whilst Colchester’s Nicola Rogers topped the women’s times with 18.18. the team winners were as follows:-

Ladies Open Colchester Harriers A – 58:16
Ladies FV35 Saffron Striders – 62:10
Ladies FV45 Colchester Harriers – 62:30

Men Open Southend AC A – 67:32
Men MV40 Havering AC A -51:52
Men MV50 Colchester Harriers A – 57:10
Ladies and vets ran three legs while the male open ran four legs.
The event proved to be a great success for Harwich Runners who not only received some very positive feedback for the course and organisation but also came away with a silver in the team Female 35 and Female 45 categories, and a bronze in the male 50. In addition Harwich’s Kate Hodgkiss was top over 35 runner of the day with 19.28.

Braintree 5 miles and Colchester Half Marathon
29th March 2015

There was success for 2 Ilford AC runners at Braintree 5 mile road race on Sunday held on a slightly undulating rural course.The race avoided the worst of the weather and Bree Nordin was once again dominant in the FV55 age group taking the trophy in 36min 32secs which placed her 71st out the total of 308 finishers. Ilford legend Pam Jones won the FV65 category with 51m 45s. Coach Rob Sargent had a run around placing 114th with 39m 44s and Julia Galea finished 183rd in a time of 44m 19s.

The Colchester half marathon was held in very wet conditions but this did not deter the two Ilford athletes from recording personal best times, showing their training for the London marathon is going well. Declan Cullen came home in 1h 41m 43s in 313th in a field of over 2000. Team mate Satha Alaganandasundaram was not far behind in 541st with 1h 48m 54s