Press Report 10th October 2023
Chicago Marathon
On a sunny cold day in Chicago two runners from Ilford AC tackled the Chicago Marathon. The course around the Windy City is fast and flat and very popular with over 40,000 runners.
This year was a special one for all competing as the World Record was broken on the day by Kelvin Kiptum from Kenya in a time of 2 hours 35 seconds.
Husband and wife team Carlie and Tarik Qirem both ran excellent races finishing together in 3:32:27, which was a Person best for Tarik by over 14 minutes.
Essex 10k Road Championships
Southend
The Essex 10k Road Championships were held this year in Southend
The course is a flat, out and back, traffic- free course along Southend seafront, also incorporating a section on the wide footpaths of Gunners Park.
Ilford AC sent 13 athletes to the Championships with great success.
Winning the race outright and first Gold medal of the morning was Jack Nixon
Jack is the nephew of club veteran Tony Nixon, who has been at the club over 50 years. He recently joined the club as second claim to compete in the Essex Championship series and marked his debut with a time of 31 mins 11 secs.
Next home was Tom Gardner, picking up a Silver medal in his age cat in a time of 32:59 for 10th place. Fabrizio Stefanoni picked up a Bronze medal in his age grouping coming home in 50th place in 36:20. Stephen Philcox continued his great season with an Essex Gold in his grouping, coming home in 64th place in 37:35. Ilfords fifth medal of a successful morning was a Silver for Andy Catton in the v70 grouping who came home in 428th place in 50:24.
Special mentions go to three of our athletes who continued their fine form with personal bests over the distance, Jordan Hinds 39:43 Joel Denning 39:59.and Tarik Qirem 47:00
Also running and putting in fine performances were:- Neil Crisp 41:12, Danny Holeyman 41:22, Steve Chissell 42:28, Joanne Reeves 45:40, Carlie Qirem 47:02, and Julie Gillender 1:11:16
Chester Marathon
Sunday 8 October
The 13th Chester Marathon was run over the usual challenging course, which runs into Wales for 6 miles on hot sunny autumn day, with a field of over 4000 starters. Ilford AC were represented by Dennis Briggs who started out on a controlled run reaching 20km (almost half way) in 94 mins 27 secs. However Dennis has been suffering from a heavy cold recently which took its toll in the stretch after 30km and Dennis came home in 3hrs 43 mins 37 secs for 962nd position, his second best time for the distance.
Royal Parks Half Marathon
This stunning central London Half Marathon, takes in some of the capital’s world-famous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.
Ilford AC had 1 runner taking part this year,,
Batmanaden Ramen finished in 2 hrs 10 mins, beating his previous best time over the distance by 23 minutes
European Masters 10Km Road Championships
Pescara Italy
The 10km road race at the European Masters Athletics Championship was held on a hot sunny afternoon on a 2 lap twisty turning course with several hairpin turnarounds on each lap. There were three members of Ilford Ac in the British team. Julia Galea was the pick of the bunch coming 10th in the F65 age category in 65 mins 47 secs for 10th and a scoring spot on the British team earning her a silver medal in the team race for that age group. Rob Sargent had a controlled run in the heat finishing 22nd in the M65 age group in 62 mins 32 secs and Doris Gaga came home 16th in the F55 age category
