May 2021 – Ilford Athletic Club

Press Report 25th May 2021

May 252021

TRACK A number of Ilford Ac athletes ran across 3 venues on Saturday and all of them achieved Personal Bests. At Bromley both Farris Patel and Dylan Harrod ran an 800m. Farris hadn’t ran on the track for over a year and was against some high quality athletes. The leaders actually went through the bell in 52 seconds and Farris ended up 4th in a massive personal best of 1.53.56. Not only does this rank Farris in the top 15 U20 800m runners in the UK, but the time he ran makes him the second fastest U20 800M runner of all time at Ilford and in the top 10 of Ilfords all time 800m athletes Dylan Harrod, who recently joined …Read More

Obituary Bob Beningfield

May 232021

Obituary It is my sad duty to inform the membership of the death of Bob Beningfield. Marion his wife, wrote that Bob died peacefully on Easter Sunday after a long illness. If memory serves me right Bob came to the club in the mid 1970’s from a background with Frenford Youth Club. He was a friendly upright character who made an important positive contribution to the club. He liked to reminisce over a pint. He loved to compete in the pole vault. He was ranked 17th best ever in the club rankings with a height of 3m 10cm and ranked 3rd as a vet., clearing 3m dead. He regularly represented the club in the pole vault at league meetings and …Read More

Gary Coombes

May 222021

Name: Gary Coombes Born: 23rd February 1972 – age 49 Date Joined: April 2018 Personal Bests: Parkrun: 16.35 (2020 Raphael’s Park) 5k: 16.25 (2019 Hyde Park) 5m: 28.22 (2018 Wix) 10k: 34.31 (2019 Southend) 10m: 55.59 (2019 Stebbing) HM: 76.21 (2019 Pleshey) Marathon: 3:43 (only ran one back in 2005 – it hurt so bad I vowed then and there never to run another!) First Club Race: Memorable Little Bromley 10k Essex Champs race in 2018. Managed to nip ahead of clubmate Steve Philcox that day and finished with a then PB of 36.10 Favourite Race: So many to choose from! I love all of the Essex County Champs Road Races as they are always highly competitive …Read More

Press Report 18th May 2021

May 182021

Reunion 5k Kempton Park Saturday 15th May Saturday’s event was part of the Governments Events Research Programme aimed at kick starting the return of mass participation events. All runners and spectators had to take a lateral flow test 2 days before the event, as well as a PCR test on the morning of the event and another the day after. 3 Ilford AC athletes took part in the 5k race at Kempton Park racecourse, where the going was good to firm. First past the post for the trio was Dennis Briggs who galloped home in a time of 20:37 for a personal best. Gaye Young also had a good run finishing just 3 seconds outside her PB with a time …Read More

Press Report 4th May 2021

May 032021

Ted Pepper Memorial off road 10k Bromley Monday May 3rd 2021 Bank Holiday Monday saw Ilfords Ex England International runner Andy Catton venturing down to Bromley for the Ted Pepper Memorial off road 10k. Race also doubled as the Southern Vets AC champs. An interesting one lap course, more grass and cross country than trail but pretty flat and at least with a bit of shelter from the chilly wind. Starting in waves of 15 Andy off to a good start but rather overcooked the first 5k going through in 22.20. The wheels then came off a bit at 8k due to his lack of race fitness but he managed to hold on for a pretty pleasing 46.18, which earned …Read More