Press Report

The 5^th and ultimate round of the Essex cross Country League was contested on a very muddy and testing course set by the host Club Orion Harriers and held at Chingford last Saturday. Athletes from Ilford AC enjoyed some good success both in Saturday’s races and the series as a whole.

The juniors competed on the lower of two courses where Ilford’s Alex Richards was looking to go out on a high having won the previous round at Chelmsford. Unfortunately conditions were against him and he was further hindered when bulked by some very competitive rivals at the start. Consequently Richards was always playing catchup in the strength sapping boggy section known as “muddy alley”. He nevertheless he made his way through to 6^th spot with only 24 seconds separating the top 10 athletses and only 19 seconds adrift of race winner Stephen Worbey of Chelmsford. Richards performance was good enough to secure him 3^rd place in the series. In the under 15 boys race Liam Leddy returned from a recent calf injury to record his highest position in the series finishing 27^th place.

Ilford’s women’s squad had a good day by finishing 7^th out of 13 teams being led home by Bree Nordin in 21st overall. Nordin’s superiority in the was reflected in her series award of 1^st place in the over 45 category. Next home was Mel Jones in 30th who worked well together with Nicola Hopkinson just 2 places back in 32nd. Sally Gillam 46th suffered a fall on the 1^st lap but battled back well to overhaul Dianne Crisp in 50th.

Pam Jones in 51st showed her class with another fine series win in the women over 55s giving all her rivals at least 15 years.

Ilford’s mens team had their best turnout of the league with 11 athletes competing. Malcolm Muir, although not altogether happy with his performance, came home in 7^th place overall and 5th in the series. Matt Maple ran strongly for 39^th. Terry Knightley’s core stability work was put to the test as he battled through for a pleasing 47^th. Triathlete Matt Herbert 50^th, showed his strength to just hold off a serious challenge from Robin McNellis 51^st who was making his cross country league debut for the club. Andy Catton 54^th and Neil Crisp 56^th had a similar close duel with Catton just securing the last scoring club position. It was a performance that also gave Catton 2^nd place in the series to Alan Butler of Thrift Green in the male 50 plus category.

The men’s A squad emulated the women’s performance by also finishing 7^th out of a total of 16 competing teams. John Mackenzie 60^th, Steve Cheal 94^th, Henry Ricketts 107^th and Pete Whiting 112^th also held the club colours high as Ilford showed 5 athletes ranked in the top 52 places in the final standings.

Ilford AC now look forward to next Sunday when they play host to the Essex county cross country relays which start from their Chigwell Row headquarters at 11am. The club continues to hold its beginners night on Wednesday at 7pm from Cricklefields Stadium, High Road, Seven Kings. Further details can be found on the website www.ilfordathleticclub.org.uk.