• Press Report 3rd September  2007

     
    Essex Way 10 stage relay
    Ilford AC runners are never shy of breaking new ground and after competing in the inaugural Sikh marathon relay the previous week the club continued to demonstrate its versatility by fielding 2 squads in the popular Essex Way  Relay race last weekend. The race covers the 82 miles of the historical Essex Way route from Epping Station to Harwich Old Lighthouse in 10 stages. The route is mostly cross country and can be difficult through crops and across ploughed fields. Nevertheless it proved to be a very enjoyable day out in the most attractive rural parts of Essex. On an unmarked course it was  essential for all competitors to have reconnoitred their section before the day to avoid getting lost. The spirit of the race was low-key, friendly and cooperative with all competitors trying to support other runners calling  them back if they went  off-route and all supporters assisting members of other teams as necessary. A record number of 42 teams battled for the spoils this year which went to Springfield Striders (men) and Benfleet RC (women) with teams from Ilford AC competing for the first time finishing in creditable positions of 13th and 38th . Iain Wilson proved to be the star of the show for the Cricklefields based club with a excellent 4th place on the opening leg. Malcolm Muir did some sterling work not only supporting and chaperoning Abdi Berleen on leg 5 but still achieving 3rd place on his own very tough stage 7.
    Stage times and positions achieved by Ilford athletes were as follows:-
    Stage 1 Epping Station to Chipping Ongar  - Iain Wilson 4th , Peter Spelman 26th
    Stage 2 Chipping Ongar to Good Easter - John Mackenzie 22nd Amanda Hazelgrave 39th
    Stage 3 Good Easter to Little Leighs  - Nicola Hopkinson 20th Sally Gillam 31st
    Stage 4 Little Leighs to Cressing Church -  Breege Nordin 19th Ray Rawlinson 30th
    Stage 5 Cressing Church to Great Tey  - Abdi Berleen 13th
    Stage 6 Great Tey to West Bergholt   - Steve Cheal 21st Kumar 24th
    Stage 7 West Bergholt to Dedham  - Malcolm Muir 3rd
    Stage 8 Dedham to Bradfield  - Les Hislop 40th
    Stage 9 Bradfield to Ramsey  - Victoria Morgan 16th Peter Whiting 21st
    Stage 10 Ramsey to Harwich - Andy Catton 10th  Robin Davis 34th
     

    Dagenham 88 Runners 5mile ish Off Road Race:
    On a lovely Sunday morinig 4 members of Ilford AC took to the hills of Hainault Forest for the Annual Dagenham 88 Runners 5mile ish Off Road Race. Ian MacDonald was first home in 34:56, for 6th place. He was "very satisfied" with his performance on this tough course. Neil Crisp, Just returning from holiday, was also pleased with his 35:30 clocking for 9th place. Ashley Pearce, just returning to the fold after some time out fought hard for 38:17, good enough for 16th place. Sukhbindar Jandu was 40th in 47:22.
     
    Hyde Park 5k
     
    Ilford AC were well represented in the Sepentine's last Friday of the Month 5k held in Hyde Park last Friday.  Matt Davenport once again proved he is an excellent prospect for the future clocking 18.28. In the ladies race Nicola Hopkinson was well pleased with her 22.07 and Pam Jones who has done this race more times than she can remember weighed in with 24.50. Pam now flies off to Rimini to compete in the 17th World Masters Track and Field Championships held in Northern Italy.
     
    Barking Patk 5k
     
    Ilford newcomer Matt Davenport led the way for the club in the Barking Park 5k held on August Bank Holiday Monday when he recorded a personal best of 18 minutes and 17 seconds.  126 runners finished the race. Davenport confessed afterwards that he was looking to go sub 18.30 for 5k by the end of the year but will now have to revise his target. Youngsters Iain Macdonald and Alex Richards performed well despite both not being able to train that well at the moment.
    Macdonald clocked 18.11 for 18th position but still has to learn to contain himself at the start while  Richards faded a bit in the latter stages to 19.18.
    Robin McNelis was pleased with 18.40 after running well in the Sikh relay only the day before. Abdi Berleen also run well for 19.30 after missing out on the start of the Mersea 10 the day before.
    In the women's race Ilford AC veterans featured prominently with Nicola Hopkinson 22.11 just getting the better of promising Harrier Victoria Morgan, 22.38. respectively occupying 2nd and 3rd positions in their category.
    Other times and positions were as follows:- 
     
    58th Henry Ricketts 21.30, 62nd Stephen Cheal 21.45, 67th Nicola Hopkinson 22.11, 70th Victoria Morgan 22.38, 76thPauline Tester 23.17, 81st Pete Whiting 24.02, 82nd Lindsey Barker 24.12, 83rd Sukhbindar Jandu 24.32.