• Press Report 8th September 2009
     

    Ilford Athletic Club had yet another great turnout closing 3 complete teams in Sunday's historic Essex Way Relay Race with their top squad finishing in 5th spot out of the 47 competing teams. The Vets team narrowly missed out to Springfield Striders as the top vets team of the day occupying 18th position overall and with Ilford "2" also finishing highly in 27th the Ilford Team management took great delight in what proved to be a very successful and enjoyable day. The race itself covers the 82 miles of the ancient pathway through the county known as "The Essex Way" running  from Epping tube station to Harwich Old Lighthouse in 10 stages. The route is mostly cross country and can be difficult through crops and across ploughed fields. The course follows trail rules and being unmarked and it is essential for all competitors to have reconnoitred their section before the day to avoid getting lost. The ethos of the race is low-key, friendly and co-operative. The reorganisation of the race this year had Ilford AC as co-organisers with East London Runners on Leg 1 and it was the Ilford General Secretary who blew the whistle to get runners on their way at 8 am in the morning with the last runners arriving at Harwich lighthouse at approximately 7 pm in the evening.

    There were many excellent performances from the Ilford contingent who were able to draw on the support of athletes from other local clubs running as 2nd claimers within the rules of the competition. Coincidentally no less than 6 Ilford runners finished their respective legs in 4th position - Dave Brock (leg1), Dave Dickinson (leg 3), Iain MacDonald (leg 4), Matt Maple (leg 5), Peter Clinch (leg 6) and Neil Crisp (leg 7). Further top 10 position from Johnny Wallis (5th on leg1, Terry Knightley (10th on leg 2), Zoe Woodward (10th on leg 3)  Malcolm Muir (6th on leg 6 and 8th on leg 9) and Carl Nanton (5th on leg 10) greatly contributed to the cause.

    Legs 8 and 9 were also notable for 3 generations of the Jones family running.  Pam was in action in leg 8 finishing 39th handing over to her daughter Sue making her debut who ran accompanied by her own daughter Bronwyn finishing 38th on leg 9. 

    Other performances and leg positions were Leg 1 - Peter Spelman 31st, Leg 2 Kevin Newell 14th, John Mackenzie 22nd, Leg 3 - Keith Ennis 12, Leg 4 Sue Cord - 31st, Sally Gillam 35th, Leg 5 Rohan Alexander 26th, Ray Rawlinson 29th, Leg 6 - Nicola Hopkinson 25th, Leg 7 - Darren Bottrill 18th, Vanessa Burns 34th, Leg 8 -  Sally Gillam 41st, Leg 9 - Martin Clarke 23rd,  Leg 10 - Robin Davis 40th, Carol Muir 44th 

    It was a credit to the race organisation that results were available at the presentation in Harwich where it emerged that a very strong Colchester Harriers team had taken the spoils with Southend AC and Springfield Striders hot on their heels. Amongst the many stories swapped of the very enjoyable event was the tale told by Ilford youngster Iain Macdonald who found himself way off course in the company of Southend's young international athlete Adam Hickey. Both had to given a lift back to the course by car before both agreeing to run in together. Another of Ilford's wayward sons, Darren Bottrill, found himself marooned in the middle of a field surrounded by some very protective pit bull terriers, and had to be rescued by a local farmer. 

    The club now look forward to getting back to more familiar racing with the Ingatestone and Dagenham 88 5 mile races together with their own Valentines Park 5k on the forthcoming agenda.