On the historic first day of the new olmypiad which culminates in London 2012, Ilford Athletic Club successfully defended their title in the 2nd running of the Sikh marathon relay on Sunday morning. The team comprising of Mel Jones. Nicola Hopkinson, Sally Gillam, Malcolm Muir and Sukhbinder Jandu blasted round the 21 laps of the undulating 2k circuit around the roads of Woodford Bridge in a record time of 2 hours 47 minutes and 49 seconds eclipsing last years time by some 15 minutes seeing off some fierce competition.  This extremeley well organised community event attracted over 100 runners from 15 teams bringing  together good club runners, young and old fun runners, men and women of a range of abilities and from a variety of backgrounds and faiths and from all parts of the country. The "Worlds Oldest Relay Team" inculding multi world record holder 97 year old Fauja Singh were once again in attendance and his team billed as the A(ged) completed the course in a magnificent 4 Hours 55 minutes

The event raised  £1,000 for the Mayor's 2 charities, Haven House Children's Hospice in Woodford Grren and Dream Factory, which grants wishes to terminally ill youngsters Charity Appeal and the Worshipful Mayor of London Borough of Redbridge, Cllor Loraine Sladden was there to set the first leg runners on their way. In some very unfriendly weather with a stiff breeze and driving rain, Ilford's team manager Martin Clarke marshalled his troops wisely sending off Malcolm Muir on the opening leg to blast out a super fast 6mnutes 10 seconds opening out a commanding lead. A combined team comprising 2 very competent athletes from Barking in conjunction with some very fit youngsters were always likely to pose a problem and by leg 3 Ilford had surrendered the lead and were down by nearly a minute. Nicola Hopkinson and Mel Jones were runing alternating legs to keep the deficit to a minimum but with the oppositions big guns blazing the gap had stretched out to 2 and a half minutes by the end of leg 5. It was time for Muir to get involved again and yet another very fast trip once again recaptured the lead. Muir's speed was obviously the key to victory but needed to be balanced against his recent lack of training mileage. Regognising that If the iIlford man were to break down the cause would be sunk Sally Gillam and Sukbinder Jandu were brought into the action with Ilford's trump card again alternating between the two. With the lead down to a mere 55 seconds before going into the final legs 20, and 21 the now tiring Ilford hero still had enough to ease away from his main chasers leading the club home to a hard fought victory and a well earned rest.