• Press Report 2nd March 2009.

    With the cross country season virtually over Ilford AC's athletes returned to the road with a busy week of distance running as most of their thoughts now focussed on the dubious attraction of the spring marathon. Ben Jones was first up in the frame having returned from the warmer climes of the Spanish mainland as he tackled the 25th running of the Seville marathon. Jones, who intends to run 12 marathons in 12 months this year raising money for his friend tragically injured in a biking accident, completed the second leg of his itinerary in fine style clocking a much improved 3hrs 28 minutes. In the same country, Peter Spelman ran in the Barcelona marathon where the Ilford man did extremely well to record a chip time of 3hrs 35mins 25secs having done only limited training in preparation.   
     
    Much closer to home 7 Ilford AC athletes contested the Essex 20 mile road championships at Great Bromley near Colchester on Sunday. Robin McNelis was the first Ilford man home clocking what was for him a disappointing 2hrs12minutes 18 seconds unhappy that there was not enough water and that some of the mile markers were considerably out. Hot on his heels was Neil Crisp who ran well for 2.14.43 with fast improving Ian Burdin closing the scoring trio with 2.27.00. Bree Nordin led the women home but was unhappy with her 2.31.55. Sally Gillam followed her in 2.56.01 just ahead of Vanessa Burns 2.58.38. Chris Evans was just behind that in 3hrs 3 minutes 35 seconds. The race also doubled as the Club's 20 mile championships with medals being presented afterwards to the 1st 3 man and women by Ilford's road and cross country captain, Dianne Crisp. 
    Bertie Powell of Woodford Green took the race in 1.49.06 after a titanic battle with Paul Molyneux of Springfield striders 1.49.34, the latter taking the Essex title by virtue of the fact that Powell is Middlesex affiliated. In the women's race Sarah Stradling of Colchester Harriers was a class apart easily winning in 2hrs 4 minutes 54 seconds.For the record 175 runners finished the course 
     
    Also on Sunday Abdi Berleen led the troops home in the Roding Valley half marathon clocking 1hr 33 mins 35 secs for 76th position in a large field of 667 finishers. Rohan Alexander also made the top 100 with 1hr 35 43 for 98th. Other placings were 398th Jenny Cass 1.55.18, 411th Pam Jones 1.56.01, Steve Port 2.48.10. Paul Martelleti of Victoria Park Harriers won the race in 69.20 from Crispian Bloomfield of Billericay 71.58. 
     
    Steve Parker is another in marathon training seeking out his own race as the sole Ilford representative at the tough Thanet 20. Parker reported that the course had changed a bit this year adding that he thought they had put even more hills in! Nevertheless Parker ran it in 2.29.22 watch time, and being a minute quicker than last year was pleased with that considering the demands of the course.