Newspage

Press Report 22nd January - Essex XC Relay Champs - Chigwell Row, Essex Schools Champs Essex XC Relays Results - Chigwell Row 21/01/2007Essex Schools XC Champs Results - Basildon 20/01/07

Press Report 15th January - Essex XC League 5 - Orion, Chingford Results and Final Placings

Press Report 8th January - Essex XC Champs - Stubbers, Witham 5, Hyde Park 10k Results

Press Report 18th December - Essex XC League 4 - Hylands Park Results

Press Report 11th December - Club 10 mile Champs, SEAA Inter Counties Vets XC
Club 10mile XC Champs - Results

Press Report 4th December - Essex Vets XC ChampsResults

Press Report 27th November - Essex XC League 3 - Hockley Woods Results

Press Report 20th November- Chelmsford 10k, British and Irish Masters XC Falkirk

Press Report 13th November- Stebbing 10 miles - Essex 10 mile road champs

Press Report 6th November- National XC Relays Mansfield, Billericay 10k, New York Marathon

Press Report 30th October - Essex XC League 2 - Gloucester Pk Basildon Results

Press Report 23rd October - Abingdon Marathon, Laindon 5mile xc, Croydon 10k

Press Report 16th October - Essex XC League 1 - One Tree HillResults

Press Report 9th October - Southend 10k, Hyde Park 10k

Press Report 2nd October - Serpentine 10k

Press Report 25th September - Swansea Bay 10k, Diss 15, Essex Champs Days 4/5 Thurrock

Press Report 18th September - Ingatsetone 5

Press Report 11th September - Vets AC 10000m, St Marys College 3000m, Barking Park 5k

Press Report 4th September - Barking Park 5k, Thanet Coastal Half Marathon, Dagenham 5ish, SWL Mile End

Press Report 30th August - Vets AC 5000m, Serpentine 5k, Mersea 10m, Springfield Dawdle, Tate & Lyle Open - Newham

Press Report 20th August - EYAL Thurrock

Press Report 12th August - SWL Peterborough

Press Report 6th August - SML Exeter

Press Report 31st July - Davos Marathon, Havering 90 5 miles, Tour of Little Baddow

Press Report 24th July - SML Norwich, UKYAL - Parliament Hill

Press Report 17th July - Vets 3000m - Kingsmeadow, Newman Hilly 5, Holten Triathlon, Great Bentley 5, SWL - Twickenham

Press Report 10th July - SML Cricklefields, BMAF Birmingham, English Schools Gateshead, Felstead 10k, Thundersley 10k, SCVAC Copthall

Press Report 3rd July - EYAL Cambridge

Press Report 26th June- Timex Women Only Triathlon, North Downs Run, Horndon 10k, UKYAL - Cricklefields

Press Report 19th June - SCVAC Watford, Southend Half Marathon, EYAL - Chelmsford

Press Report 12th June - Windsor Triathlon, Springfield Striders 5, Essex Schools Champs Chelmsford

Press Report 5th June - SML - Stevenage, Hatfield Broad Oak 10k, BAD 5, Dunmow 5, UKYAL Thurrock

Press Report 31st May- SEAA T&F Champs(u17s/U15s), UKYAL, Orsett 3 miles

Press Report 23rd May- Vets AC Battersea, Prague Marathon, Blenheim Triathlon , SML,SWL - Cricklefields, Baddow 10

Press Report 15th May- Frinton & Walton Half marathon, East Grinstead Triathlon, Essex Champs days 2 and 3

Press Report 9th May- SCVAC Enfield, EYAL Stevenage

Press Reportfor 2nd May - SML Basingstoke, Serpentine 5k, Nicola 5, Essex Day T&F Champs, Ted Pepper 10k

Press Report for 24th April - London Marathon, Vets AC 5, SWL Walthamstow

Ilford AC Athletes enjoyed a hectic weekend of road racing following their annual club dinner and dance on Friday evening.

The club fielded 2 senior mens teams and one ladies team in the Essex County Road relays held at North Melbourne, Chelmsford on Saturday. The Mens 'A' squad put up an excellent fight against some strong opposition and despite holding third spot for much of the race eventually finished just outside the medals in fourth with Basildon, Havering Mayesbrook and Chelmsford taking the honours.

Iain Campbell was Ilford's fastest man of the day running leg 2 in an excellent 18mins.57 seconds. Malcolm Muir ran 19.22 on leg 3 with Rob Nixon returning to fitness clocking 19.43 on the opening leg. Matt Maple closed the team in 21.09. Ilford's B string consisting of Ashley Pearce (21.24), Terry Knightley (21.33), Martin Clarke (22.35) and Andy Catton (22.42) placed a creditable 16th.

The womens team consisted of 3 athletes preparing for the marathon and with heavy mileage in their legs and all due to race the following day the 3.7 mile course was never really going to be Ideal. Nevertheless the squad of Bree Nordin (24.41), Keeley Brooks (27.13) and Sally Gillam (28.09) managed 8th team home out of 12.

Mini Marathon Trials Stratford

The Eastway Cycle Circuit in Stratford saw the mini marathon trials for the London Boroughs of Redbridge, Newham and Waltham Forest. Ilford AC was well represented with 10 athletes taking part in this tough qualification with only the first 8 from each Borough to go through to the main race on April 17th. In the 11 & 12 year old girls Lydia Hall ran a good race to finish 3rd for the Redbridge team winning a medal. In the boys race of the same age group Ilford had two competitors Alex Richards coming home in 2nd place and Nathanial Whitfield in 5th place. In the 13 & 14 year old girls the club was represented by Shanise Anderson finishing 5th,Madeline Thompson finishing 8th and Maria Whitfield just missing out on qualification in 9th place. In the boys race sprinter Bakr Al-Akku finished 6th and Sam Burgues was in 18th place. In the eldest age group. the 15 -17 years old boys, first home was Iain Mcdonald in 8th place and Niraj Gorshia running with an injury finished 16th

AAA Indoor Championships Birmingham

A small group of Ilford Athletics Club's top Under 17 men competed in

Birmingham at the AAA National Indoor Championships. The turnout for the event was excellent with the cream of Britain's young athletes competing in the Under 15 and Under 17 age groups for both boys and girls.

After last weeks success at the Essex Indoor championships Aaron Balogun from Chadwell Heath was again in good form competing in the 60 Metres on Saturday where he was knocked out in his heat in a time of 7.40s. On Sunday he ran well to reach the semi-finals and his time of 23.20s which was the 7th fastest time of the day ranking him highly in the Uk.

Also on Saturday, Jason Bartley a pupil at Chadwell Heath school threw in the Shot Putt placing 9th in the final with a throw of 12.45m. In his first time of competing in this event Jason admited to being very nervous and this perfomance was well below his personal best.

A freak injury playing Basketball in the week to Essex Indoor Silver Medalist Ekow Quagraine robbed him of his chance to perform in this top flight competetion, having to withdraw with a sore knee.

Essex CC Relay Championships Stubbers Sunday 22nd January

Ilford AC fielded 4 teams in the Essex Cross Country Relay Championships held at Stubbers outdoor centre at Upminster on a cold sharp Sunday morning. Both the mens and women's "A" squad managed a creditable 5th place, a result particularly pleasing for the men with several of their more established stars missing.

Iain Campbell was Ilford's quickest runner tackling the benign 3.2 kilometre course with his customary aggression to record 11.18. Malcolm Muir chipped in with a very solid 11.29 before handing over to Terry Knightley 12.56. Matt Maple then produced Ilford's run of the day producing a very pacey 12.37 to keep the club well in contention in 5th place. Ashley Pearce closed the team home in 13.29.

The women's race was run in conjunction with the mens but held over 4 legs instead of 5. Again, as in the mens, Chelmsford AC ttook the spoils. The club's top veteran runner Bree Nordin got the squad off to a flier with an excellent 14.43 clocking.Pauline Tester then ran extremely well on leg 2 to record an impressive 14.59. Niikki Martin, improving with every outing, then took over with 15.25 to set up last leg runner Karen Sindall and a very fast time of 13.23.

Essex CC Championships Gloucester Park Saturday 15th January

Ilford AC's Iain Campbell produced a superb run to finish 9th in the Essex XC championships held at Gloucester Park ,Basildon, on Saturday. The course had been extended to 12.5k for the men's race this year which meant that the tough, strength sapping hilly section had to be negotiated four times instead of 3 as in previous years. This seemed to favour the host club as Basildon occupied the first 3 positions in the form of Nick Wetheridge, Craig Sterling and Rob Denmark. Ilford's captain Malcolm Muir was next home for the club in an impressive 11th place followed by Peter Clinch (42nd) and Terry Knightley (48th). Triathlete Mathew Herbert (77th) and stalwart Andy Catton (83rd) completed the scoring 6 man team.

The Women's race, held over a loop of the football field and two laps, saw an exciting two lap battle between Havering's Faye Fullerton, Alexa Joel of Basildon and defending champion Debbie Appleton of Havering, with the race finishing in that order.Ilford's Karen Sindall ran a sensible race sitting just off the pace and coming through strongly to record a well deserved 9th place. Sindall was presented with the club cross country championship trophy after the race.

Breege Nordin ran strongly to finish 28th just ahead of the ever improving Nikki Martin running her first county championships and finishing a creditable 40th. Pauline Tester closed the team in 47th. Pam Jones 66th and Sally Gillam 75th completed the club's finishers.

In the Under 13 girls Lydia Hall placed 41st in a field of 56 runners and in the Under 15 girls Madeline Thompson finished 28th in a field of 32 runners.

Essex League - Colchester Saturday 8th January

Illford AC's elite woman triathlete Karen Sindall made a welcome return to competiion when she placed 4th in the last Essex cross country league fixture held at Hilly Fields, Colchester on Saturday.

Sindall who has had an unhappy year blighted by injury and training away from home in Loughborough and Scotland,.has now returned to run with the club with her aim to build fitness for the coming triathlon year. Although the dry and frim course offered little mud with gentle hills, the strong blustery conditions sapped the strength of the athletes. Sindall confessed to being tired afterwards but can't wait to compete again next week at the Essex championships on her favourite course at Gloucester Park, Basildon. The race was won by Sarah Mullins of Southend who defeated England International Margaret Deasy of Colchester and Tendring. Leah Walland of Sringfield Striders was 3rd.

Breege Nordin ran well finishing 19th to defeat old adversary Lyn Tanner of Colchester and Tendring and received the series silver medal in the womens over 45 section. Sally Gillam was next home in 40th and superveteran Pam Jones 43rd place secured her the Gold in the womens over 55 category.

Club captain Malcolm Muir ran a storming effort in the 9.8k men's race to finish 5th in a race dominated by Colchester's Adrian Mussett. Muir was was always closing on the men in front and with another quarter mile would have caught everyone but the leader. Second home for Ilford was veteran Terry Knightley in 30th position just missing out on the series bronze.Mattt Maple 42nd, and Andy Catton 45th, packed well with Catton picking up the Men over 50's silver. Martin Clarke 53rd and John Platt 78th completed the 6 scorers and Henry Ricketts finished 96th.

At the presentations afterwards Ziad Fadhil received the bronze award for 3rd in the series in the under 13 boys section.

Pam's Newsletter

Track opening times for IAC training – last session Thursday 23rd December 2004 and Tuesday 4th January will be the first training night for 2005

Anyone looking for training runs from Chigwell Row over the Christmas period?

Boxing Day 10.30am (Sunday 26th December)

Sunday 2nd January 2005 10.30am

Gerry Pells has also emailed members with suggestions for runs from Chigwell Row over the festive period:

“Hi Team, the Ilford AC tradition of meeting up for Boxing Day is one of long standing, giving the opportunity for those members (who travelled far to be in the area to meet family and friends) to meet up at Chigwell for a run or at least gather together in a local pub. Sadly the Retreat is no longer and the Two Brewers really a restaurant - so the only survivor is the Maypole, which thankfully accommodates us pretty, well from 12 o/c onwards.

In order for as many to meet up as possible and for those that cannot make the traditional Boxing day then perhaps the Sunday absentees might like to do the same on either the Monday or Tuesday also with a run of course.

Lets us know through the usual round robin e-mail anybody that can make the Monday or Tuesday.

Happy Christmas everybody. Gerry”

Reminder about races in 2005:

To: All Female IAC Athletes and Supporters (for information to everyone else)

We would like to get as many IAC athletes racing in events this winter, especially Essex Cross Country and Road Championship events. If you are unable to race why not support team members at events such as the Essex 20 and London Marathon. Remember there are often individual, veteran and team prizes – let’s show Essex what great athletes we have at Ilford AC! Don’t forget to complete the “Team” on all entry forms with “Ilford Athletic Club” to ensure we always score in team events (Ladies - usually 4 to score in Essex XC races; 3 to score in Essex Champs and other road races - check entry forms for details).

Other Essex Championship events for 2005, which aren’t on this list, are:

Marathon – Halstead on 15th May 2005

10miles - Malden on 28th August 2005

10k – Chelmsford on 20th November 2005

Pam Jones will enter all female athletes eligible to compete in Essex XC & Road Relays. Please enter all other races yourself i.e. Essex 20 miles and Roding Valley ½ Marathon – see clubhouse at Cricklefields or Chigwell Row for race entry forms.

FLORA LONDON MARATHON

Sunday ??^th April 2006

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLUB MEMBERS WISHING TO RUN THE 2006 LONDON MARATHON

To ensure the fair distribution of guaranteed places, of which Ilford A.C. have 10, the following procedures are in place.
Club Members wishing to receive a guaranteed place must register their interest with me directly, NOT through a 3^rd party, by no later than 30^th November 2005 [Places will be allocated in December 2005]
If demand outstrips the 10 places available then priority will be given to:
1.   Club Members who were fully paid up members as at 1^st January 2005.
2.   Club Members who have entered via the normal entry process and their entry refused.
3.   Club Members who have competed in a minimum of 6 Road Races representing Ilford A.C.
4.   Club Members who did not receive a guaranteed place in 2005.
Any other decisions regarding the allocation of places will be at the Club’s discretion. If you have any questions or wish to register your interest please contact me on 020 8220 0761 or via e-mail at neiljcrisp@ntlworld.com.
Many thanks for your co-operation.
Neil Crisp, Ilford A.C. London Marathon Co-ordinator

Enfield League 5m Walk Enfield 4th December 2004

The 12th and final event of the 12-race Enfield League was held around 5 flat and twisting circuits of a public park in Enfield on Saturday afternoon, making up 5 miles. Most interest centred on whether Ilford could win the team takes for a 6th successive year, for the previous 11 races had seen host club - Enfield & Harringey A.C. in pole position by a proverbial whisker.

Ilford's "last heave" did not go well when captain Dave Kates wheeled off the course before halfway with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. Former captain Olly Browne continued his inspired comeback to place 4th in a rapid 43 minutes and 32 seconds, but the real heros were the next 2 Ilford men home - Dave Sharpe (11th) and Mike Hinton (12) who both raised their game considerably and gave it their all to clock 46.53 and 46.55 respectively. Ilford won the last race on the day, but had they done enough to win the overall season's title? As it stood - 'no', but in an event which had more twists abnd turns than a New Year Eve conga, the host's No. 2 man was hauled out of the race by a judge for "lifting" (i.e. breaking contact with the ground) in the closing stages. Enfield's Sean Pender had come back from Dublin, where he has business commitments, especially for the event - but the desire to produce that extra amount of effort had been his undoing, and his disqualification enabled Ilford to claim the team title for the 6th consecutive season by the narrowest of margins. Sharpe also collected a handicap prize for beating his allowance.

In the Girls' Under 11 One Miles, Helen Croft placed second in 14 minutes and 27 seconds, and emulated that position for the end of series awards.

Essex Vets & YA Champs Claybury Saturday 4th December 2004

Most successful club athlete was Bree Nordin who took the County gold medal in the womens over 45 category finishing 16th overall in the womens race. Pauline Tester and Mel Jones fiinished 32nd and 33rd respectively. Pam Jones 50th and Sally Gillam 59th completed the ladies team who came a respectable 6th.

Best turnout was in the over 50 men's race where Ilford boasted no less than 11 runners and closed two scoring teams. Despite many of the "A" team being short of full fitness the squad of Andy Catton (10th), Martin Clarke (19th), Tony Nixon (35th) and John Mackenzie (39th), battled bravely to secure The Essex County bronze medal behind Springfield Striders and Woodford Green.

It was good to see club stalwart and 2.38 marathon runner Owen Phipps making a welcome return to competition and leading the over 50 B string home in 53rd position. John Platt (57th), Ken Hylton (72nd) and Graham Williams (78th) completed the scorers. Just behind Peter Spelman (83rd)and Jim Macnamee (87th) successfully completed the course.

In the over 40s race Woodford Green AC dominated the first three positions but were always pressed hard by Ilford's Iain Campbell. After threatenening to close the gap on some of the more dryer sections of the course Campbell eventually had to settle for a very creditable 4th place. Ray Dzikowski had a terrific run as he returned to something near his full fitness and finished in 8th place. Terry Knightley again struggled on the mud to finish in 25th and with Neal Keane back in 43rd Ilford closed in 5th place in the team competition. Steve Knowles was next man home for the club in 73rd place.

Niraj Gorshia was the only athlete representing the club in the Under 17 race and acquitted himself well with 27th place.

Essex League Gloucester Park Basildon Saturday 27th November

On a two lap course that was a mixture of flat parkland followed by several tough climbs Nixon sat in behind the leaders to finish in an excellent 6th place. Muir pursued a different tactic biding his time on the first lap before slicing through the field as the hills began to take their toll of less experienced athletes. The Ilford man eventually finished an inpired 9th in what was probably the best quality field assembled in the series so far.

With much of their bigger artillery missing the club still managed to put out 12 athletes in the senior mens race. Terry Knightley, never a lover of the country continues to impress with a worthy 33rd place.

Matt Maple (63rd) and Martin Clarke(68th) had their now customary tussle with the older man eventually having to give way to Maple's strength on the climbs towards the end of the course. New recruit Steve Knowles completed the scoring six man team with 87th place.

Other Ilford runners in the senior men's race were John Mackenzie 94th, John Platt 105th, Mark Cottan 107th, Craig Burrow 113th, Peter Spelman 135th, Peter Whiting 140th.

In the womans race Bree Nordin ran strongly to record 18th position.

LONDON CC CHAMPS PARIAMENT HILL FIELDS

Ilford Athletic Club continued with their high profile cross country season when a team of 6 of their top senior athletes contested the London Cross Country Championships held at Parliament Hill fields, Hampstead Heath, on Saturday afternoon.The race being part of the Reebok Challenge series and also incorporating the UK European championships trials meant that many of the country's premier runners were on show. The winner was former European 5000m junior champion, Mo Farah of Windsor Slough and Eton with Leigh Harriers Peter Riley and Highgate's Keith Cullen 2nd and 3rd.

On a bitterly cold and rainlashed 4 lap10 kilometre course the Ilford men battled the notoriously tough and muddy climbs to finish a worthy 8th place in the team competion. Rob Nixon led the squad home with a fine 88th position in 34minutes 32 seconds. Club Captain Malcolm Muir came through strongly after a cautious start to record 113th in 35.49, defeating many of his Essex League adversaries along the way. Triathlete Matt Herbert neither liking the cold nor the mud nevertheless ran a strong race to be third man home in 200th place clocking 40minutes dead.

Two of the clubs top 50 year old supervets, Andy Catton and Martin Clarke were hot on his heels in 203rd (40.21) and 217th (41.08) respectively. Matt Maple still suffering from a lack of endurance due to a recent injury did well to close the team in 229th place(41.40).

The following day Malcolm Muir was again in action for the Cricklefields based club, finishing 9th in the Chelmsford 10k Road race in 33.54. In the same race in-form Scotsman Iain Campbell was 2nd to Colchester's Adrian Mussett in a very fast 32.40. Campbell would now seem to be one of the favourites for the forthcoming Essex veterans cross country championships to be held at Claybury on Dec 4th after defeating former champion Garon Heslop. Partially sighted Ashley Pearce, ran a personal best of 37.15 to completed the Ilford trio of scorers who finished 3rd in the team competition. Pearce confessed to being pleased with his run after some indifferent form of late.

The club now looks forward to next Saturday's Essex League fixture at Gloucester Park Basildon, the third match of the series, and its own 10 mile club championships to be held at Chigwell Row on 11th December in conjunction with the the Insurance and Stock Exchange cross country championships.

Saturday 30th October 2004 Ziad Fadhil improved to second place in the third Essex CC

which took place at Stubbers.

Once again Ilford ACs senior squads were well below strength in the third of their Essex Cross Country League matches held at Stubbers on Saturday. Both managed 8th place in the team competition.

Malcolm Muir returning from an injury niggle led the men home in 26th place, after being caught at one stage by the ever improving Terry Knightley who finished 33rd. Andy Catton was next man home in 57th. Martin Clarke 77th narrowly got the better of Matt Maple 78th and Neil Keane closed the team in 88th.

The women were always going to be up against it with only 3 athletes present. However strong runs by Breege Nordin 16th, Pauline Tester 24th, and club captain Pam Jones 46th ensured a respectable team placing.

The highlight of the day came in the U13 boys race when Ziad Fadhil won a titanic battle for 2nd place finishing only 3 seconds adrift of the winner.

Young Athletes Promoted

Our young athletes had a very successful track & Field season and have been promoted to Southern Division 1 in the UKA league for the for the 2005 season. Congratulations to all concerned.

Brentwood 10k - 19th July

Four Ilford AC Road Racers tackled the tough hilly Brentwood 10k this Sunday.

In rainy conditions Ilford's top prolific road racer Terry Knightley found the going not to his liking, just missing out on a veterans 0/40 bronze medal with a 37.43 clocking for 14th place. Tri-athlete Cheryl MacDonald had a useful run with 50.22 (168th) and Gerry Pells made a long awaited return to racing with a cautious 51.14 (183rd). Phil Postings completed the quartet with 57.04 (262nd). The winner Adrian Mussett of Colchester demolished the field of 349 runners finishing with a winning margin of over three minutes with 31.58.

NEWMAN HILLY OFF ROAD 5 MILES Wednesday 14th July 2004 Hainault Country Park

Over £100 raised for St Francis Hospice in memory of Newman Sargent

With thanks to Howard Williams, Dave Jones, Alan Lovett, Alec Tiffin and Hilda Nyman for their assistance on the course and in the tea room afterwards