• Press Report 9th April 2007

    Ilford ACs youngsters from the middle distance squad  featured prominently in the Club’s annual road race championships held at Chigwell Row on a warm spring Saturday afternoon . 13 hardy athletes contested the tough and historic 4.6 mile course that features some stiff winding climbs during the latter stages.
     
    As expected it was the favourite Malcolm Muir who pulled away early on  to open up an unassailable lead in an attempt to better a time of 24minutes.However without being pushed by any real opposition it proved to be beyond him and he finally had to settle for a winning 24 minutes .33 seconds. The main race was always going to be for 2nd place and the chasing group included veteran Neil Crisp, 18year old Iain MacDonald , 13 year old Alex Richards and fast improving Darren Bottrill.
     
    It was Crisp that was always pushing the pace on the back hills in an attempt to shake off his younger counterparts. ”I knew I couldn’t leave it to a sprint finish with the youngsters packing all that speed” he admitted afterwards. Yet it was Bottrill who fell 50 metres back with MacDonald sharing the pace and Richards working hard to hang on. MacDonald further forced the issue on the long run for home and Richards came past Crisp as the older man’s legs began to fade.
     
    In the women’s race Bree Nordin showed the way home in 7th overall with Dianne Crisp showing some early speed to see off the challenge of rival Sally Gillam in the battle for silver. Pam Jones battled away back in fourth despite sporting a shiner of a black-eye from a fall during training the day before.
     
    The remaining medal, bronze in the U20 section, went to Liam Leddy who despite bringing with him some strong family support, was hampered by a tightness in his chest and returned an under par 32.43.
     
    Times in finishing order were:- Malcolm Muir (24.33), Iain MacDonald (27.33), Alex Richards (27.37), Neil Crisp (27.41), Darren Bottrill (28.13), Abdi Berleen (30.14), Bree Nordin (30.24), Peter Spelman (32.17), Liam Leddy (32.43), Henry Ricketts (34.02), Dianne Crisp (34.50), Sally Gillam (35.20), Pam Jones (37.58)
     
    Men’s track and field manager Matt Maple had hoped to compete himself to give Muir a somewhat sterner examination in the race but was forced to withdraw after picking up an injury in Good Friday’s Maidenhead 10 mile race. Maple had hoped to break the elusive 60 minute barrier for the first time and was well on schedule going through the 7 mile mark in 41.42 before feeling his calf go to hobble home in 66.39.
     
    Another athlete in action was the in-form Terry Knightley who unwisely decided to compete in the Folkestone 10 mile race despite suffering from a heavy bout of influenza. The race had 513 finishers on an out and back course along the seafront between Hythe and Folkestone. Knightley soon realised after the first mile that it was not going to be his day and feeling awful gritted it out to finish in 20th position and 5th Male Vet 40 in 61 minutes and 14 seconds.
     
    Chelmsford Warm-up Meeting Sat 7th April– Report by Paul Cheal
     
    On a nice day at Melbourne Park or should I say Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre. Ilford AC had 8 athletes taking part in a warm up meeting to see what progress they have made in the troubled times of Ilford AC track.
     
    In the U/13 Boys Ilford's only representative Ciaran Rodway competed in the 1500m and the long jump. He ran a good race coming home in a time of - 5m 47.7sec and his first ever attempt at the long jump saw him leap to a distance of - 3m 38cm.
     
    Alex Legon in the U/15 boys also took part in the long jump. Alex after having a while out of athletics due to football commitments did well with a distance of - 3m 98cm. Andrew Townsend took part in the discus and threw a PB with a distance over 16m. Youcef Zatat did the shot putt and discus. In the shot putt he gained a PB by 1cm with - 9m 26 and in the discus threw a distance of - 23m 75cm.
     
    In the U/17 Boys Rob Legon after having 2 weeks of putt a distance of - 9m 45 in the shot and having a go at the hammer for the first time since end of last season threw a creditable - 19m 56cm. Kurtland Martyr took part in the Hammer as well and like Rob stepping up into U/17 boys was able to throw a distance of - 22m 28cm which is 31cm better than he did at the U/15's last year with lighter weight so improvement there. Andy Carle was the only other competitor who took part in the Javelin but unfortunately even though he was throwing in excess of 45m's they were no throws, will need to work on that for next time.
     
    Lydia Hall u/17's was the only girl taking part to day and she did the 800m and 300m. In the 800m she struggled somewhat and finished in around 2m 45sec. However, Lydia seems to be taking a liking to her new distance of 300m. In her second competitive race at this distance she has lowered her time form 43.8s to 43.3s, well done to her.
     
    All the athletes did well to day some better than others but with a little fine tuning and practice they should all come good for the season ahead. Next meeting is the warm-up meeting at Mayesbrook Park on Sunday 15th April.