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Press Report 10th March 2008
Ilford AC's promising young under 20 starlet, Iain Macdonald, emerged victorious in the club's annual Road Championships held at Chigwell Row on Saturday. On a notoriously tough course of 4.6 miles Macdonald was already to the fore of a trio which also included Scotsman Robin McNelis and Veteran Neil Crisp as they turned for home to face the demanding series of stiff winding climbs that characterised the second half of the course. Surprisingly it was Macdonald who proved to be stronger than the much fancied McNelis as he opened up an eleven second lead claiming the gold in 26.40 to McNelis's 26.51. Crisp took the bronze just adrift in 26.55. Behind them a sea of club vests turned into the finish at Millers Lane with 2 other youngsters Ali Yare-Gawow and Alex Richards leading the charge recording 28.18 and 28.33 respectivley. New Harrier Ben Jones 28.45 was next in just getting the better of old stager Abdi Berleen with 28.56. Frank McGowan ran 29.01 to head the first fifties man home, Steve Parker 30.40, who in turn was just ahead of another youngster Jack Webb 30.58. A little way back Club President John Mackenzie 32.28 got a gap on coach Steve Cheal with Martin Clarke, a stranger to the roads of late, bringing up the rear with 33.32.In the women's race Bree Nordin was much too strong for her opponents clocking 31.02 for the gold medal. Dianne Crisp and Victoria Morgan ran in tandem for the majority of the race and the timekeepers were also unable to separate them as they dead heated for silver with 35.06. The race concluded the Ilford AC's very well supported Winter Trophy series which proved to be a very successful family affair for the Crisps with Neil taking the major male prize with 235 points and Dianne taking the women's trophy on 155 points. Dianne's trophy was presented by club President John Mackenzie fittingly in memory of her much loved former coach, the late Fred Plumm. 2nd and 3rd in the men's series went to Andy Catton and Malcolm Muir with 214 and 168 points respectively with Bree Nordin 107points and Victoria Morgan 89 points taking silver and bronze in the womens.
The
club had
another
large
turnout
In
the 27th
running
of
the Brentwood
Charity
half marathon on
Sunday
which is
always a
popular
event
with
many
runners
as they
prepare
for next
month's
Flora
London
marathon.
With
over
2000
runners
toeing
the line
Malcolm
Muir led
the club
home in
6th
place
powering
his way
to an
excellent
72.20.
Darren
Bottrill
PB'd
with 1hour
20minutes
38 secs
yet was
still
far from
satisfied
with his
performance
and
will obviously
go
quicker
once he
learns
more
about
how to
pace the
distance. Bree
Nordin
was
delighted
to once
again be
around
the 90
minute mark
with
1.31.04 defeating
her main
adversary
Sue
Spong of
Havering
90 in
the
process.
Tony
Partridge
and Ian
Burdin
hit good
marks
with
1.36.03
and
1.42.34
respectively
as Trevor
Moore,
another
London
bound
new
recruit
returned
1.45.31. Nikki
Martin
returned
to club
colours
with a
satisfying
1.46.30
whilst the
evergreen
Pam
Jones
was
pleased
with her
1.51.12.
Ray
Rawlinson chaperoned
debutant Vanessa
Apps around
together
with her
brother
Paul,
well
under
her
target
time of
2 hours
in
1.55.57.The organisers attracted a high quality field this year by offering £500 for first male
and
female
home
breaking
the
course
records
of 70.07
and
82.00. Both
of these
marks
were
well
beaten
as Phil
Sly of
Thames Hare
and
Hounds
flew
round in
a very
fast
time of
67.07
with
Colchester's
Adrian
Mussett
also
inside
the old
standard
with
67.45.
Similarly
in the
women's
race the
old
record
was
obliterated
with no
less
than 4
athletes
dipping
inside.
Susan
Partridge
of Leeds
AC with
76.21
and
Sarah
Stradling
of
Colchester
and
Tendring
with
79.59 led
the
destruction. 