Vets 3000m - Kingsmeadow Norbiton
Ilford AC's John Batchelor ran a spectacular race in a low key 3000m field at the Kinsmeadow track at Norbiton on Wednesday evening. John who has been threatening to break the 11 minute mark for some time now did it with what was effectively a solo run from gun to tape. Batchelor's mark of 10m 50.7s easily beats the the British M65 "best on record" which stands at 11m 23.8s. However there is currently some doubt as to whether there were enough graded officials present for his time to be submitted as a British Age Record.
John, although obviusly delighted with his run was typically modest afterwards when he said :-"To put things in perspective, the World best is 9:45 by a New Zealander and the European best is 9:47 by a Dutch guy"
Newman Hilly 5 - Wednesday 12th July
Ilford AC held their annual Off-Road Race held over the tracks and trails of Hainault Forest on a balmy Summers night last Wednesday. Athletes from the host club featured prominently in this very successful fixture which was supported by well over 100 athletes who helped to raise money for St Francis Hospice in memory of their late member Newman Sargeant.
Malcolm Muir led the club home to take third spot in a time of 29.30 behind Haverings David Dickinson and Woodford Green's Harold Wyber.
Ilford's Andy Catton and Martin Clarke had a clean sweap in the 50s race coming home 1st and 2nd in 32.32 and 33.49 respectively. Micky Herring was also runner up in the 60 plus category clocking 40.04.
In the women's race which was easily won by East London Runner's Karen Levinson Breege Nordin scooped the vetran over 45 award with 35.47 and Sally Gillam won the over 35s in 39.47. Joan De'ath chipped in with 43.40 to take the over 55's prize.
Other times were Rohan Alexander 34.05, Iain Macdonald 34.36, Alan Lattimore 34.52, Darren Botterill 35.06, John Mackenzie 36.18, Paul King 36.34, Peter Spelman 36.48, Jonathan Spelman 37.10. John Platt 38.04, Iain Burdin 38.50, Keelie Brooks 39.20, Ernie Forsyth 41.04, Owen Phipps 41.05, Jandhu Sukhbindar 44.49, Daniel Magol 47.43, Peter Whiting 48.02.
Holten Triathlon - Holland
Ilford AC's Karen Sindall continued her preparations for the Salford World Cup in 2 weeks time with a gutsy 5th pace in the 22nd staging of the Holten Triathlon which was also celebrating its 5th year as an International ITU event. Karen was up against some quality international performers from South America and Eastern Europe all trying to earn points toward their 2005 world ranking and Olympic qualifying in 2008 and a share of the €25,000 prize purse.
Karen's performance was even more remarkable for earlier in the week she had spent 2 days in Oldchurch hospital with a severe stomach complaint and it was only late Wednesday night that she decided to run after consultation with her coach.
The course featured a one straight 1.5k (0.9-mile) swim, a hilly and technical five-lap 40k (24.8-mile) bike course and a four-lap flat 10k (6.2-mile) run. Most of the pre race hype had centred on New Zealands Evelyn Williamson yet the surprise female winner wass Mariana Ohata from Brazil.of the Dutch triathlete, Wieke Hoogzaad. The Polish Dederko and the Chech Radova rounded the podium off in second and third.
Following the swimming, a small lead group of four women formed with Karen 3rd out of the water in 20.56, followed closely by another group of twelve. After three rounds of biking, these two groups joined together. Karen was first out of the swim/run transition and held a slender lead of approx 15 metres for the first of the 4 laps. However it was now Ohata who had lost some ground on the bike that came through strongly to take the lead. Karen contested 2nd place with a group of 3 other girls before the events of the week and the heat began to sap her strength as she dropped off the pace. Nevertheless she emerged from the race as the the top British athlete ahead of Henrietta Freeman and she remains optimistic for Salford.