Some excellent weather giving perfect running conditions greeted Ilford Athletic Club's open 10 mile cross country race held over 4 laps of Chigwell Row's Hainault Forest last weekend. Former participant and club historian Alec Tiffin, on marshalling duties for the day, was unable to recall when numbers were so high as 76 competitors representing a diversity of clubs and faiths toed the start line of a slightly modified course this year on the forest tracks and woodland areas. This hugely successful event which incorporates Ilford's own internal club championships had been well promoted and as well as attracting runners from local clubs also brought competitors from as far afield as Devon and included support from a very strong ethnic representation from the Sikh sports association with the celebrated 96 year old multi world record holder Fauja Singh also donning his cross country spikes.
5 times and current holder Malcolm Muir is in a rich vein of form at the moment and had prepared himself for a stiff challenge from clubmate Rob Nixon. Unfortunately the Nottingham based Nixon fell victim of a car breakdown which resulted in the postponement of the gauntlet being taken up for yet another year. However his shoes were ably filled by Chelmsford's Ed Messer who had recently defeated Muir in an Essex League fixture albeit over a shorter distance of 5 miles. Woodford Green's Harold Wyber also turned up to add to the threat to the Ilford man's recent domination.
The race set off with Muir building up a 70 metre lead going up Foxburrows hill as the 2 major contenders gave chase. Wyber was then forced to withdraw after the first lap with a calf niggle and with Messer now slipping back from the lead, Muir turned on the power to come home in a very fast time of 61.02 winning by over one and a half minutes over what was thought to be somewhere nearer 10.5 miles due to the enforced course change. Messer duly took 2nd place which may in itself have been under threat had not Ilford's star Columbian youngster Carlos Pinilla not been unnecessarily delayed at the start being unable to access his running gear which was still locked in the boot of club captain's Darren Bottrill's car. Pinilla clocked 65.06 in 3rd with Bottrill himself not far adrift and finishing like a train in 68.52 for 5th. Former Ilford man Ray Dzkowski now representing Woodford Green, split the pair to take the first veteran prize in 68.19.
With the Ilford AC Championship mens medals going to Muir, Pinilla, and Bottrill it was left to the next man home for the club, Andy Catton, to scoop the consolation of first in the over 50s category clocking 72.30 for 8th overall with Neil Crisp just 2 places behind in 72.58. Marathon man Steve Parker, soon to compete in Florida's Disney marathon, continues to impress getting the better of U20 Iain Macdonald with respective times of 77.09 and 80.16. Hot on their heels was 15 year old Liam Leddy showing great promise for the future with an excellent race breaking the tape in 80.46. Racewalker Stephen Crane used the event for some strength endurance training and despite having to suffer some light-hearted jibes from spectators about "lifting" nonetheless returned a more than respectable 81.08. Keith Ennis 83.18 and prolific track star Henry Ricketts also completed the tough 4 laps well under the 90 minute mark in times of 83.18 and 87.08 while Alan Lattimore gave good company to Bree Nordin who was not feeling that well and both jogged round in 93.33.
In the women's race Woodford Green's Dianna Kennedy comfortably won in 77.01 from Victoria Park Harrier's Jo Singer in 78.42 who had ridden over on her bike. Former Ilford member Julia Critchley was back in 3rd in 83.03. In the Ilford AC women's club championships Dianne Crisp flew through the field to take the gold in 89.17 from Victoria Morgan 91.17 who left it late on in the final lap to just pip race organiser Sally Gillam.
Ilford AC continue to train over the xmas period and look back on a very successful year that has seen a significant increase in their membership numbers. The club is always looking for new members and now that marathon training starts in earnest after Christmas invite prospective newcomers to join them on Harriers night, Wednesdays 7pm from Cricklefields stadium. See website for details.
