• Press Report 28th September 2009
         Ilford Athletic Club Race Organisers once again arranged for some glorious weather as nearly 150 runners toed the line in Sundays 5k charity road race in the idyllic setting of Valentines Park. The host club boasted yet another massive turnout of 33 athletes, coincidentally the exact same number as last year with some excellent individual performances as the Cricklefields club packed 12 in the first 30.
    On a pancake flat course it was the Ilford AC young stars that shone in the late summer sunshine as 20 year old Iain Macdonald dipped under 18 minutes with 17.47 for 9th place closely followed by under 15 clubmate and training partner Alex Richards running an excellent 18 minutes dead for 12th place Both are picured below. Terry Knightley and Matt Maple were engaged in a dogfight just behind with Knightley coming through in 18.22 to Maple's 18.26. Frank McGowan at last made his debut for the club after training with Ilford athletes a number of years and celebrated the occassion with a fine run of 18.31. Gary Floate was 6th man home for the squad clocking 18.40. Chris Togwell produced a very good run in the over 50's with his 20.05 just bettering fellow age grouper Andy Catton's 20.19. He was however unclucky to lose out to a remakably good performance by Woodford Green's Alan Rugg whose 17.54 was far too good on the day.
    At the sharp end of the race Ryan Prout and Crispian Bloomfield were locked together for most of the first lap before Prout's strength pulled him clear after at halfway to bring him home in 16.29 with Bloomfield 16 seconds adrift. He was however unable to make any impact on Bloomfield's course record of 15.47 set last year.

    Similarly in the ladies race it was the Ilford middle distance youngsters who took the eye with sisters Jenni  (23.09) and Natalie Crisp (23.56), and Laura Swords (23.38) all recording personal bests in close attendance with veteran Nicola Hopkinson (23.25). Pam Jones ran 25.22 to take the women's over 55 prize running the first lap in the comapany of grandaughter Bronwen who eased away from her during the 2nd lap to finish with 25.07.

    Hayley Pegg of Thrift Green Trotters headed  the women's race with 18.55 from Orion Harrier Clare Thurgood 19.54.
     
    The race, which was started by local dignatories with the whistle blown by MP for Ilford South, Mike Gapes (pictured above), was held in conjunction with a sponsored walk organised by Ilford's Cardinal Heenan Centre which together with the athletic club helped raise money for several charities.
     
    Other Ilford times were:- Kevin Newell 18.50, Keith Ennis 19.20, Ben Jones 19.23, Rohan Alexander 19.34, Chris Togwell 20.05, Andy Catton 20.19, Neil Crisp 20.53, Duncan Turner 22.05, Chris Evans 24.06, Bill Green 25.00, Satha Alaganandasundaram 25.47, Claire Harrison 26.33, Carol Muir 26.43, Robin Davis, 26.55, Sue Lee 27.44, Gerry Pells 28.22, Ray Rawlinson (leading blind runner round)  29.12, Dave Sharpe (Racewalking) 30.29, Michael Hinton (Racewalking) 30.57, Meredith Floate 32.06, Amarjeet Matharu 32.07, Catherine Green 34.40
     
    Two other Ilford youngsters have recently been in action at the Cancer Research 5k where two members of  "the Rascals group" Olivia and Mia Thomas, ran some very good age times. Olivia at 9 years old finished in 29.30 whereas younger sister Mia, only 7 years old, managed a remarkable 27.20.