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Press Report 1st September 2008
On a fairly quiet weekend Ilford Athletic Club had 2 runners in Friday's Serpentine 5K. In warm, still, sticky conditions Nicola Hopkinson was 9th Lady overall and second in her age group with 21:56, a personal best for the course and her first time under 22 minutes. John Batchelor was 26th overall and first M60/65 out of the 211 runners in 18:37, his second fastest over the course and best since September 2006.The Harriers section of the club in conjunction with the Ilfords Cardinal Heenan Centre are very busy promoting their 5k charity event to be held on a new fast and flat course in Valentines Park on Sunday September 29th. The serious competition will start with at 10am adjacent to Melbourne field and will comprise a competitive run of 2 traffic free loops of the park where the race organiser Martin Clarke hopes to attract a large field of athletes from local clubs including both runners and racewalkers alike. A less serious charity fun run / walk will begin 1 hour later at 11am. The event promises to be a great day with The Mayor, Cllr Loraine Sladden booked to attend with those taking part raising money for 10 charities including the Mayors own charities, The Haven House Children's Hospice in Woodford Grren and Dream Factory, which grants wishes to terminally ill youngsters.