• Press Report 17th December 2007

     
    Ilford Athletic Club were back in cross country action In the 4th Round of the Essex League hosted by Southend at Hockley on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon. In the senior men a good quality field at the sharp end of the race saw Rob Nixon finishing just behind the leaders in an excellent 8th position. Malcolm Muir was hot on his heels back in 12th for most of he 2 lap course comprising flat playing fields, a couple of sharp climbs and descents, followed by edges of ploughed fields and some menacing looking ditches in a tricky wooded section. With Nixon later announcing his intention to contest the club's 10 mile cross country championships next week at Chigwell Row the current holder supreme for the last few years, Malcolm Muir, may have more of a race on his hands this year. Carlos Pinilla once again competed well finishing in 27th pace and highly placed in the under 20s.

    Andy Catton and Ian Macdonald scrapped and worked together until Catton finally pulled away on the latter stages of the 8.5k course to come home 53rd to Macdonald's 56th. Veteran Neil Crisp completed the  6 Ilford scorers helping the team to 5th place on the day, their highest position this year. John Platt was unlucky to finish once again just outside the scorers in 95th and club President John Mackenzie 103rd and Robin Davis 127th completed the finishers.

     
    Bree Nordin led the women's squad home in 20th from a resurgent Dianne Crisp 31st who just got the better of Victoria Morgan 36th. Sally Gillam closed the squad in 41st and Pam Jones was 49th out of 56 finishers. Earlier the club's young track stars Thomas KIng and George Hadler had acquitted themselves well in the under 13 boys race recording places 26th and 39th  respectively. The under 15 boys race had the ever improving Jack Webb and Liam Leddy competing in Ilford colours with Webb coming through to 22nd and Leddy just 5 places back in 27th.
     
    With the Essex 10k at Chelmsford last month concluding the Essex Road Running Grand Prix for 2007 results were announced earlier this week. The series also comprises the Essex 20miles, half marathon, marathon and 10 miles championships and brought further County medals for 3 Ilford Athletes.  Malcolm Muir took silver in the senior men, a feat matched by Bree Nordin in the FV45 category. Remarkably Nordin was also only just outside the medals taking 4th in the female overall category. Series statistician and race results coordinator Terry Knightley was also delighted to accept a bronze in the Male vet 40 division.    
     
    Ilford AC now prepare for their 10 mile open cross country event including their own 10 mile championships which is to be held over 4 laps of Hainault Forest next saturday. Entries are still available on the day and the race will start at 2pm from Chigwell Row.