Macdonald chases to victory
 

 

Under 20 steeple chase specialist, Iain Macdonald ran the race of his life
to record the only track victory in Ilford's 4th match of the Southern Mens
Athletics League campaign.  He took off at 11 minute pace and while the wind
and the barriers took their toll later on, he held on to knock 45 seconds
off his previous best with 11:40.3.  His 'A' string partner, Malcolm Muir,
produced a stunning 100m finish to move from 3rd to 2nd with a creditable
time of 10:52.0.

Yet again, it was the Ilford throwers who dominated the team's points, with
five wins and three 2nd places.  There were season's bests for Sol Anwar in
the shot (13.67m), Craig Burrow in the discus (38.87m), Wesley Clarke in the
hammer (41.32m) and Sam Malekout in the javelin (41.71m).  Sol's victory was
made all the more sweet as he has only just come back from injury and yet
was able to reach near his best ever form.

Ilford won the battle of the jumpers with a barrier breaking performance
from Nathaniel Senior, who leapt to an excellent personal best of 6.03m in
the long jump.  He was ably supported by Simeon Stuart with 5.78m.  Ilford
also dominated the pole vault with 9 points out of 10 with 2.60m from the
multi-talented Sam Malekout and 2.40m from evergreen Roger Honey.
Gull-Hassen Ditta also continues to impress with 1.55m in the high jump.

Ilford's talented sprint squad was unfortunate to come up against some
highly talented opposition and some strong headwinds.  There were classy
debuts from Jamal Abiola (11.3 in the 100m and 23.7 in the 200m) and Marvin
Tuffor (23.5 in the 200m), supported by Salim Patel (11.5 in the 100m), to
carry on the growing reputation of Ilford's sprint squad, who will surely go
on to dominate as they enter the senior ranks.

There were welcome comebacks from Gary Smallman and Peter Clinch.  Smallman
returned from injury and a newly introduced working life to record second
place in the 400m with 53.3. Clinch, who belied a lack of recent training
after coming back from illness, held his form as the pace increased to
record 4:31.4 in the 1500m.  The times of Mohamed Swamad (2:13.4 in the
800m) and Sam Malekout (52.4 in the 400m) were affected by the wind but may
represent their best ever races.

The two relay squads had contrasting fortunes.  The 4x400m squad recorded
the best time for several years with 3:34.7 as the talented quarter milers
finally managed to perform to their best (Malekout, 53.7, Tuffor, 53.9, Bakr
Al-Akku, an all time best of 54.1 and Smallman, 52.7).  The times will
certainly improve, particularly with a return to form for Smallman and
improvements from the other young squad. There were high expectations for
the 4x100m team but an injury to Abiola and an incomplete second handover
put paid to their chances.

Ultimately, Ilford narrowly missed the top spot as their rivals pulled out
all the stops to move away from the dog fight in the relegation zone.  With
two matches left at Norwich and Exeter, the club's spirits are still high to
secure a safe mid table position by the end of the season.

Other performances included: Sol Anwar (Discus - 30.41m), Craig Burrow (Shot
- 11.61m, Javelin - 46.11m, Hammer - 32.90m), Nathaniel Senior (Triple Jump
- 12.54m), Simeon Stuart (Triple Jump - 11.57m), Sam Malekout (High Jump -
1.65m), John Macdonald (1500m - 4:27.4, 800m - 2:07.5), Bakr Al-Akku
(800m(non-scoring) - 2:13.1), Pete Whiting (110m hurdles - 27.7, 400m
hurdles - 84.1),  Malcolm Muir (5000m - 16:58.3), Matt Maple (110m hurdles -
25.3, 400m hurdles - 69.7, 5000m - 17:39.1).

 

BMAF Track Champs - Birmingham

3 of Ilford AC's "golden oldies" contested the British Masters Track Champs this weekend with notable success coming away with 3 golds and a silver.

 

Prolific racer Pam Jones ran 24:48.3 in the 5000m only one day after her 70th birthday to the gold medal . She later confided that at a previous championship she was able to run in different age groups on consecutive days because of her July birthday!

 

An hour later John Batchelor was on the track for the M65+ 5000m.  John was in confident mood after running one of the age group's fastest times of the year, 11.02 for 3000m at the SCVAC track meeting the previous Monday. John had also avoided running against a very competitive group of M60s and was now ready for his main opposition in the form of  last year's champion and British record holder Steve James.  Sensing James was a bit worried about him,  John took off fast at the start to bluff him into thinking his worrying was justified.  It worked, as John led from gun to tape eventually securing a significant victory margin of 38 seconds. Results:-

 

1	John Batchelor	M65	18mins	52.40
2	Steve James	M65	19mins	30.05
3	John Perratt	M65	19mins	47.24

 

Ilford' s Iain Campbell competed a little later in the M45+ 5000m and produced his trademark gutsy run . Taking the lead after the first lap Campbell steadily burnt off all the opposition except Watford's Julian Critchlow, who sat on his shoulder while the Ilford man did his best to wear him down, digging really hard but to no avail.  Critchlow, who looked very easy all the way (probably more to do with his style than how he really felt), moved away with 250m to go and won by two seconds.  Campbell was fatalistic but happy in that he'd given his best and recorded a respectable time.  A very well deserved silver!

 

1	Julian Critchlow	M45	15mins	50.39
2	Iain Campbell	M45	15mins	52.32
3	Steve Murdoch	M45	16mins	07.35

 

 

Pam Jones continued with her "birthday treat"  when returning to the track the following day to punish herself with 25 gruelling laps of the 10000m final. Pam headed the mixed age-group field comprising many younger competitors for the first 20 laps. Although the fresher legs of the youngsters eventually overhauled her in the later stages, Pam still finished with a creditable time of 51.42.05 for yet another 70+ gold to add to her earlier success.  

 

English Schools Champs - Gateshead

Balogun narrowly misses School Champs final

Ilford AC athlete, Aaron Balogun represented Essex in the premier schools
event in Gateshead this weekend.  He narrowly missed a place in the final
with 4th place in the heat with 11.13s, seven hundredths slower than the
final qualifying time.  He was particularly unlucky as the other heat had a
far stronger following wind.  He has raced back to fitness after a
threatening hamstring injury during the County Championships but has neared
peak fitness and will reach the national under 20s 'AAA's championships in
two weeks in good shape to challenge for top places.

Road Races - Felstead 10k and Thundersley 10k

Terry Knightley returned to some good form on Sunday when he placed 7th in the Felstead 10k in a time of 36 minutes and 16 seconds. In a race won by Springfield Striders Paul Dobson (32.56) , Knightley took the male veteran trophy. History recalls that the Ilford man won the first ever race in 1998 in 34 minutes and 16 seconds - eight years and 2 minutes slower !

Meanwhile Essex President, Dave Staines, hosted another Essex 10k event in windy conditions over the gentle rolling hills of Thundersley. Two Ilford athletes supported the race with Martin Clarke finishing in 12th place in 41mins 53secs, and Sally Gillam clocking a little over 48 mins.

SCVAC - Track and Field League Monday 6th July 

Ilford AC's John Bachelor continued his rich vein of form by running one of the fastest male 65 times of the year in Monday nights 3000m event held at Barnet's  Copthall stadium. Batchelor produced his customary fast start to immediately establish supremacy in the over 65 field. Despite slowing slightly in the middle of the race, Batchelor rallied strongly in the last two laps to record a first class time of 11mins 2 secs. Batchelor's form and confidence is such that he has every chance of cracking the 11min barrier in his next race at Battersea on Wednesday night.

Unfortunately John was the only winner in a once again depleted Ilford squad who have struggled all season to cover the events due to injury and work commitments. Nevertheless the team still managed 4th spot in the meeting, finishing in the same position in the 4 match series. They should take heart that circumstances should improve for next year. 

Results:-