•  Press Report 9th  May 2005 - SML Ashford, UKYAL Eastbourne, Frinton & Walton Half Marathon
  
  
  Ilford Athletic Club completed the first Southern Mens League at Ashford meeting with heads held high last Saturday. Ilford AC showed great pride by finishing  in third place with a depleted team against strong division 1 competition demonstrating great team spirit and no lack of ability.  Honours go particularly to the young sprints team who won a storming 4x100m in 44.4s.  The team also excelled in their individual events with 100m by Dan Grant (11.4) and Terry Driver (11.9) and 200m by Aaron Balogun (23.3) and Garry Smallman (23.5).  These feats were matched by the 4x400m team of Jon Manning, Francis Okwei-Nortey, Peter Clinch and new boy Jack, who hadn¹t originally come to compete.
  
  The strong throwing team also surpassed expectations, with an impressive debut from Jason Bartley who showed great potential in the shot putt (9.76m) and discus (25.61m) and class from club president, Wes Clarke with 43.44m in the hammer.  Craig Burrow showed immense versatility, managing to coach his young prodigies as well as throw impressively in the javelin (49.10m), discus (38.36m), shot (11.90m) and hammer (35.15m), while still finding time for an impressive debut in the 110m hurdles.  Other notable performances included welcome returns from Amin Koikai (15:56) and Iain Wilson (17:10) in the 5000m and a personal best performance by young Iain MacDonald in the 800m (2:18).  With reliable support from John MacDonald (800 and 1500), Ashley Pearce (1500), Malcolm Muir and Matthew Maple (both steeplechase) and the ever present Peter Whiting, things look promising for the next Southern League match to be held at  Plaistow in two weeks time.
  
  The club also  took a squad of 28 athlete's, 13 girls & 15 boys, to the 1st League Match of the UK Young Athletes League Division 1 East at Eastbourne, Although depleted by approximately a dozen athletes the team performed well with some notable performances and finished in 4th overall position.
  
  Good performance again came from 2 boys in the under 13's. Jerrell Alleyne & Natheneel Blake both competed in 3 events, the 100m, 200m and long jump, securing 1st place in each of these events both in the a string and b string.
  Bakr Al-Akku ran a superb race in the u/15 boy's 100m and although finishing 3rd in the A-string recorded a time of 12.0s for a personal best.
  
  Shanise Anderson performed well in the 3 events that she competed in for the u/15 girls, the 800m, Javelin and 300m finishing in 1st place in all 3 disciplines.
  
   Joseph Perry, making his debut in the u/17's boys ran a good race in the 100m for a time of 11.6s and also did well in the Long jump recording a distance of 5m 37cm taking 1st place.
  
  There were also first appearances for Marcus Carter u/13 boys, Vivek Joshi - u/15 boys and FabyAnn So-sonagara - u/13 girls.
  
  Results:
  
  U/13 Boys:
  
  Jerrell Alleyne - All A string 200m - 28.3s - 1st, LJ - 4m 35cm - 1st & 100m - 13.4s (PB) - 1st
  Natheneel Blake - All B string 200m - 28.4s - 1st, LJ - 4m 32cm- 1st & 13.5s (PB) - 1st
  Liam Leddy - All A String - 800m - 2min 57.1s - 4th & SP - 4m 16cm - 4th
  Marcus Carter (Debut) - 800M B-String - 3min 06.9s - 3rd
  Alex Richards - All A String - 1500m - 5min 26s - 2nd & HJ - 1m 05cm - 3rd
  
  U/15 Boys:
  
  Bakr Al-Akku - All A String - 100m - 12.0s (PB) - 3rd, 200m - 25.8s - 3rd
  Vivek Joshi (Debut) = All A String - 800m - 2min 42.7s - 2nd, Discus - 14m 98cm - 2nd & Javelin - 23m 26cm - 2nd
  Christopher Dawe = All B String - Discus - 16m 32cm - 3rd & Javelin - 12m 08cm - 1st
  David Hughes = A String - Shot Putt - 6m 22cm - 4th
  Michael Hughes = B String - Shot Putt - 5m 57cm (PB) - 4th
  Simeon Stuart = B String - 100m - 13.6s - 2nd
  Sam Burgess = B String - 800m - 3m 06.8s - 3rd
  
  U/17 Boys:
  
  Joseph Perry (Debut) - All A String - LJ - 5M 37cm - 1st, 100m - 11.6s - 3rd & 200m - 24.5s - 2nd
  Gull Hassen Ditta - A String in  Shot Put - 8m 02cm - 4th, B-String in the others - LJ - 3m 48cm - 4th & 100m - 14.7s - 3rd.
  
  U/15 Boys relay - 55.3s - 4th
  
  U/13 Girls:
  
  Fabyann So-Sonagara (Debut)  A String in 2 events - 70m - 11.2s - 3rd, LJ - 3m 78cm - 1st, B-String - 150m - 22.7s - 2nd
  Zena Uppal - A String in both - 150m - 22.7s - 3rd & 800m - 2min 54.7s(PB) - 2nd
  
  U/15 Girls:
  
  Rachel Giwa - A String in 100m - 13.2s - 1st, B String in the rest - 75m Hurdles - 15.9s - 15.9s & Javelin - 10m 99cm - 1st
  Laura Townsend - All A String - 300m - 48.7s - 3rd & SP - 6m 49cm - 3rd
  Lydia Hall - All AString - 1500m - 5min 57.4 - 3rd & HJ - 1m 15cm - 3rd
  Sarah Kigozi - B String in 100m - 14.2s(PB) - 2nd, LJ - 4m 01cm - 2nd & Discus - 15m 13cm
  Julianna Dougan - B String in all - 200m, Discus - (Times to be obtained)
  Clarissa Dougan - A String in 200m - 33.4s - 4th & LJ - 3m 24cm - 3rd
  Fionnula Crowe - A String - 75m Hurdles - 16.9s - 3rd
  Shanise Anderson - B String in 300m - 46.4s - 1st,  A-String in the rest - 800m - 2m 37.8s - 1st & Javelin - 12m 82cm - 1st
  
  4 x 100m Relay - 56.7s - 2nd
  
  U/17 Girls:
  
  Vanessa Samuels - B String on both - 100m - 13.8s - 3rd  & LJ - 3m 73cm - 2nd
  Jessica Manning - A String in both - 100m - 12.9s(PB) - 2nd & LJ - 4m 72cm - 1st
  Charlotte Hossack - A String in all - Javelin - 9m 90cm - 3rd, Discus (distance to come) - 4th, SP - 6m 34cm - 4th
  Latoya Thompson - B String in both - Shot Putt - 6m 07cm - 3rd & Javelin - 7m 59cm - 4th
  4 x 100m Relay - 55.4s - 2nd
  
  The next meeting for the girls and ladies is the Southern womens League at Mile End Stadium, to be hosted by Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets on Saturday 21st May followed by the boys and girls EYAL Meeting @ Stevenage on Sunday May 22nd.
   
  On the road Terry Knightley competed in Sunday's Frinton and Walton half marathon. Four times winner Knightley still struggling to find
   his best form could only manage 10th place this time finding the going tough in the latter stages and finishing in 1hr 23mins 30secs
  
  Ilford AC show great pride in Ashford
  
  Ilford Athletics Club completed the first Southern Mens League meeting with heads held high last Saturday. Ilford AC came third with a depleted team against strong division 1 competition demonstrating great team spirit and no lack of ability.  Honours go particularly to the young sprints team who won a storming 4x100m in 44.4s.  The team also excelled in their individual events with 100m by Dan Grant (11.4) and Terry Driver (11.9) and 200m by Aaron Balogun (23.3) and Garry Smallman (23.5).  These feats were matched by the 4x400m team of Jon Manning, Francis Okwei-Nortey, Peter Clinch and new boy Jack, who hadn¹t originally come to compete.  The strong throwing team also surpassed expectations, with an impressive debut from Jason Bartley who showed great potential in the shot putt (9.76m) and discus (25.61m) and class from club president, Wes Clarke with 43.44m in the hammer.  Craig Burrow showed immense versatility, managing to coach his young prodigies as well as throw impressively in the javelin (49.10m), discus (38.36m), shot (11.90m) and hammer (35.15m), while still finding time for an impressive debut in the 110m hurdles.  Other notable performances included welcome returns from Amin Koikai (15:56) and Iain Wilson (17:10) in the 5000m and a personal best performance by young Iain MacDonald in the 800m (2:18).  With reliable support from John MacDonald (800 and 1500), Ashley Pearce (1500), Malcolm Muir and Matthew Maple (both steeplechase) and the ever present Peter Whiting, things look promising for the next match at Plaistow in two weeks time.
   

• Press Report 3rd May 2005 - SWL Cricklefields, Essex T&F Champs Day1, EYAL Cambridge, Ted Pepper 10k
  
  
  Southern Womens League - Cricklefields
  
  Ilford Athletic Club hosted the first of this Seasons Southern League womens matches at Cricklefields Stadium this Saturday. Claire Gains, Charlotte Hossack and Pauline Tester were the main points scorers in a depleted senior womens squad, the best performances of the day coming in    the Under 15 section where Rachael Giwa, Shanice Anderson and Lydia Hall recorded notable victories in the 200m 800m and 1500m respectively. Ilford AC finished the match in 4th postion.
  
  
  Results: 100m V.Samuels 14.4 (3rd) C.Gains 14.7 (3rd)
  200m C.Gains 31.4 (3rd)
  1500m P.Tester 5.56 (2nd)
  3000m P.Tester 12.16 (2nd)
  Shot Putt C. Hossack 6..42 (3rd), C.Gains 5.27 (3rd)
  Discus V Samuels 16.63 (2nd) C.Hossack 13.74 (2nd)
  Javelin C.Gains 14.84 (3rd) C.Hossack 11.74 (2nd)
  Hammer C.Feetham 12.65 (3rd)
  Pole Vault C.Gain s 1.00 (1st)
  Long Jump V.Samuels 3.64 (4th)
  U15 - 100m S Kigozi 14.42 J Dougan
  200m R.Giwa 27.0 (1st) C. Dougan 31.3 (2nd)
  800m S Anderson 2.31.3 (1st) a.Jones 2.44.4 (1st)
  1500m L.Hall 5.28.9 (1st)
  High Jump L.Hall 1.25 (2nd)
  Long Jump S.Kigozi 4.25 (3rd), C.Dougan 3.69 (3rd)
  Shot Putt J.Dougan 6.29 (2nd) S.Kigozi 5.73 (2nd)
  Discus J Dougan 17.97 (2nd), R.Giwa 13.37 (1st)
  Javelin S Anderson 12.5 (2nd), R.Giwa 11.32 (1st) 
  4x100m Relay Ilford 3rd
  
  Essex Track and Field Championships - Day 1
  
  Ilford AC had 4 young athletes competing On Sunday, Day 1 of the Essex Track and Field Championships held at Colchester Garrison Track on Bank Holiday Monday.
   
  Lydia Hall ran 5min 29.2s to finish 6th in the heats of the  U/15 Girls 1500m. This was a good race for Lydia following Saturday's performance for the southern women match @ Ilford but not quite good enough to qualify for the final. 
  
  Alexander Best  ran a fantastic race in the U/13 Boys in the last of the 3 1500m heats finishing 2nd to qualify for the final. Alex improved his personal best by over 8 secs clocking 5min 11 secs. The final however didn't go according to plan as Alex suffered from Cramp and end up trailing in at the rear with a time of 5min 28.7secs.
  
  Laura Townsend ran a very good race in th2 2nd of 5 heats in the U/15 Girls 200m recording a time of 29.1secs (PB) to finish in 4th place and ualifying for the semi-finals as one of the fastest losers. In the 2nd semi-final Laura excelled herself again by recording a time of 28.9secs, yet again beating her (PB) and  finished 5th, but didn't qualify for the final.
  
  Kamilah Bartley took part in a very competitive and strong U/13 Girls Shot Put. Due to this field she found it hard to be at her best and may have suffered from a touch of nerves. Kamilah did get three extra throws from the original six and finished in that position with a distance of: 6m 96cm  which is slightly below her best.
  
  Eastern Young Athletes League
  
  Ilford AC were well represented by 29 young athletes and their supporters last Sunday on a very sunny day at Cambridge in the Eastern Young Athletes League achieving some very encouraging results.
  Rachel Giwa in the under 15's girl clocked an excellant 200m time of 28.2 to finish 3rd. Alexander Richards, again a debutant ran a very good 1500m in the u/13's boys in a time of 5min 24.7secs to finish 3rd.
  
  In the sprints and long jump two athlete's excelled. Jerrell Alleyne 100m - 14.1 sec (1st) & Debutant Nethaneel Blake 14.5 sec (1st) both in the u/13's. They continued this on to the Long Jump Jerrell Alleyne, 4m 87cm & Nethaneel Blake, 4m 26 both again 1st.
  
  Laura Townsend powered her way around the track in the u/15 girls 300m in a superb time of 45.7 secs to finish 2nd, this only her 2nd 300m race. Lastly Aimee Jones u/13's girls - 800m recorded a time of 2min 41.6 secs to finish 3rd, all bodes well for the essex champs.
  
  Results for the meeting as follows:
  
  u/13's Boys:
  
  J. Alleyne - 100m - 14.1sec (1st)
                 - LJ - 4m 63cm (1st)
                - 200m - 29.1 sec (1st)
  N. Blake - 100m - 14.5 sec (1st)
               - LJ - 4m 26cm (1st)
              - Discus - 16m 25cm (2nd)
  A. Best  - 1500m - 5m 24.7 (3rd)
  L.Leddy- 800m - 3m 00.2 (6th)
              - Discus - 9m 13cm (2nd)
  4 x 100m - 62.8secs (4th)
  
  u/15 Boy's
  
  B. Al-Akku - 100m - 13.0sec (5th)
                  - 200m - 26.4 sec (4th)
                  - LJ - 4m 92sec (3rd)
  S.Stuart - B String on all - 200m -29.3s (4th), LJ - 4m 64cm (1st) & HJ -1m 35cm (1st)
  O.Nzeako - A String on all - 100m -13.0s (1st), 400m - 60.5s (2nd) & HJ - 1m 45cm - (2nd)
  H.Samuels - B String - 400m - 72.6s (5th)
  M.Whitfield - A String - 1500m - 5m 34.8s (6th)
  C.Dawe - A String on both - Discus - 17m 36cm (4th) & Javelin - 15m 36cm (5th)
  D.Hughes - B String - Discus - 16m 41cm (2nd) &  A String - SP - 6m 84cm (5th)
  M.Hughes - B-String on both - SP - 5m 42cm (6th) & Javelin - 10m 06cm (2nd)
  4x100m Relay (Stuart, Nzeako, Al-Akku & Whitfield) - 53.6s (3rd)
  Non Scoring Event:
  SP - N.Whitfield - 6m 16cm & H.Samules - 4m 76cm
  
  U/17 Men
  G H.Ditta - A String on both - Javelin - 10m 34cm (6th) & HJ - 1m 25cm (5th)
  S.Juffs - A String - 800m - 2m 47.7s (7th)
  
  U/13 Girls
  
  A.Jones - A String on all - 800m - 2m 41.6s (3rd), LJ - 3m 72cm (2nd) & 200m - 31.4s (5th)
  K.Bartley - A String on both - SP - 7m 39cm (2nd) & 100m - 16.8s (7th)
  
  U/15 Girls
  
  S.Kigozi - A String on all - 100m - 14.3s (4th) & LJ - 4m 20cm - (2nd)
  L.Townsend - A string on all - 300m - 45.7s (2nd) & SP - 6m 74cm (3rd)
  S.Anderson - A String on both - 800m - 2m 38.1s (3rd) & Javelin - 12m 85cm (4th)
  M.Whitfield - B String on all - 1500m - 6m 09.4s (4th) & SP - 4m 36cm (5th)
  M.Thompson - B String on all - Discus - 11.0m (5th) & 75m Hurdles - 16.6s (4th)
  J.Dougan - A String - Discus - 15m 78cm (5th) & B String - 100m - 14.6s (4th)
  L.Hall -  A String on all - 1500m - 6m 00.8s (4th), 75m Hurdles - 17.8s (6th) & HJ - 1m 20cm (6th)
  C.Dougan - B String on all - 200m - 32.7s (4th) &  LJ - 3m 63cm (4th)
  R.Giwa - A String on both - 200m - 28.2s (3rd) & Javelin - 11.04cm (2nd)
  F.Crowe - B String - 300m - 52.3s (4th)
  
  U/17 Women
  
  J.Manning - A String on all - 100m - 13.7s (2nd),  200m - 30.1s (6th) & LJ - 4m 62cm (2nd)
  V.Samuels - B String - 100m - 14.5s (3rd)
  C.Hossack - A String on all - SP - 6m 51cm (6th), Discus - 14m 23cm (3rd) & Javelin - 13m 02cm - (4th)
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  On the road race scene Ilford's superveteran Pam Jones ran 49.59 in Mondays running of the Ted Pepper Memorial 10k Road Race at Beckenham, Kent.
  
   

• Press Report 26/04/2005  Nicola 5, Paris Marathon
  
  
  From Joan (re Nicola 5)
  
  Owen decided on Friday we should try to do the Nicola 5.  On Sunday morning he was desperately trying to get out of it.  Anyway, we started at the back of the field and within 9 1/2 minutes we had blasted our way to the one mile marker.  We were both struggling but Owen seemed to think he was struggling more than me and told me to go on.  I got a few yards ahead but eventually he eased passed me again and at 4 miles began to "surge" well ahead as I began falling further and further back.  Owen ended up 2 minutes ahead of me at the finish.  I can't remember Owen's unofficial time but my unofficial time was 45.37 (official was probably just under 46).  It was my first race as an o/50 and my slowest ever 5 miler - things can only get better!
  
  Ilford Ac's Hidir Yildrim followed his recent success at the Paris Marathon where he ran hrs 56 mins by finishing with in a very respectable 30mins 57 secs in last Sunday's Nicola 5 mile race held at Canvey Island.
  In very warm conditions the ladies team represented by Nicola Hopkinson, 36.05, Sally Gillam 38.14, and Cheryl McDonald
  and 38.23 were highly placed.
  Owen Phipps and Joan De'ath, both making a return to race competition following a long break, ran cautiously finishing with 43.40 and 45.58 respectively.
  In the walking race club stalwart Dave Sharpe was first home overall in 32.29 with Lawrence Dordoy completing in 38.14.
  
   

• Press Report 18/04/2005 Flora London Marathon
   
  
  Ilford Athletic Club were represented by over 20 athletes in the 25th running of Sunday's Flora London Marathon and with London looking at its finest in the warm spring sunshine, large crowds supported every yard of the 26.2 mile course. Terry Knightley was first home for the club in a very respectable 2hrs 56 minutes and 42 secs from Ashley Pearce who despite tumbling over a speed bump and gashing his leg completed in 3hrs 06mins 29secs. Bree Nordin, running in the womens elite race clocked 3hrs 13 mins 53 secs to lead the women home.
  
  Amongst those competing over the distance for the first time Darren Bottrill's performance of 3hrs 25mins 11 secs is worthy of note. Keelie Brooks was delighted to crack the four hour mark with an excellent 3hrs 47mins 15secs..Helen Hooper (37), in only her second race ever and running with a knee injury sustained in training managed to complete in 5hrs 43mins 46secs raising over £900 for much needed equipment for her local stroke support unit. 
  
  Many volunteers from the club successfully manned the Ilford water station at the 19 mile point at Canary Wharf bringing much needed rehydration to 33000 tired and exhausted runners 
  
  Some good performances were achieved by younger athletes in the mini marathon ran over the last 2.65 miles of the marathon course. The best performance of the day goes to Alex Richards running in his first mini marathon coming in 9th overall in the 11-12 age group in a time of 16.01 min. Also competing in the age group was Nathaniel Whitfield finishing in 128th with a time of 18.41 mins. In the boys 13-14 age group sprinter Abu-Bakr Al-Akku ran well to finish in 155th in a time of 18.08 min. In the oldest age group Iain MacDonald finished in 121st with a time of 16.13. The girls were represented by Lydia Hall in the 11-12 age group finishing in 98th with 20.23. In the 13-14 girls Shanise Anderson was 99th in 19.43 and Madeline Thompson finished in 19.51 in 106th and finally Laura Townsend finished 180th in 22.05 mins
  
  Times and results:- Terry Knightley (2.56.42), Ashley Pearce (3.06.29),  Pathrose Louis (4.35.22), Bree Nordin (3.13.53), Abdi-Karim Berleen (3.15.23), Darren Bottrill (3.25.11). Robert Spelman (3.29.05), Peter Spelman (3.32.11), Mark Cottam (3.36.43), Keelie Brooks (3.47.15), Sally Gillam (3.55.41), Kim Webb (4.27.44), Jack Webb (4.27.44), Nikki Martin (4.31.25), Pathrose Louis (4.35.22), Dave Sharpe (5.03.01) Roy Gill (5.03.21), Jan Sargent (5.05.00), Shaune Smith( 5.26.19), Helen Hooper (5.43.46), Sukhbindar Jandu (6.27.15).  
  
   

• Press Report 11/04/2005 Pitsea PB5, Paris Marathon, Young Athletes Spring warm up Mayesbrook
  
  
  The Ilford AC mens road squad swept all before them when they took the team award in the Pitsea PB 5 mile road race held on the closed roads outside Gloucester Park Basildon on Sunday.
  
  Iain Campbell gave ex Paralympic 5000m champion Noel Thatcher a terrfic run for his money on a flat but windy course. The two swapped the lead for the first 4 miles before the partially sighted Thatcher opened up a small but decisive gap finishing in 25mins 54secs  to Campbells 26mins 04secs. Campbell also took the mens over 40 trophy. Terry Knightley was 2nd man home for the club with a good run of 28.40.
  Martin Clarke, using the race as a sharpener for next weeks London marathon completed the winning trio with a time of 30.02 securing the mens over 50 prize.
  
  In the ladies race Nicola Hopkinson clocked 36.14 just in front of an excellent effort by Sally Gillam whose 37.20 was yet another personal best.
  
  Knightley, Clarke and Gillam will now join several other Ilford AC athletes in next weeks Flora London Marathon. The club is running its water station at 19 miles situated at North Colonnade, Canary Wharf. 
  
  In Sunday's 29th running of the Paris marathon Ilford's Hidir Yildirim ran a personal best to join the sub 3 hour club in an exceptional time of 2 hours 56 mins 19 secs. 
  
  Ilford AC's young athletes were also out in force in the spring warm up meeting at Mayesbrook Park on  Sunday. Many were competing for the first time but there were some excellent performances showing great promise for the future.
  
  Kamilah Bartley threw an exceptional 7m 13cm in the girls  u/13 shot girls - Kamilah  has only taking up the shot within the last two weeks and is now preparing for the Essex Champs in a few weeks time.
  
  Alexander Richards ran an impressive 5min 20.4 secs to place 3rd in the  u/13 boys 1500m - This was Alex's first competitive run over this distance and is looking to improve at the Essex Champs.
  
  Laura Townsend  ran 30.0sec finishing 4th  in the u/15 girls 200m -  Again this was a debut at this distance, and with the right training there is certainly more to come in the month's ahead.
  
  Gull-Hassan Ditta clocked 13.9secs in the u/17 men 100m to place a creditable 5th in a hard race with good athletes.
  
  Liam Leddy ran 2min 53.6 secs finishing 5th in the u/13 boy 800m. Liam has only been at the club for around a month and again did exceptionally well to easily break the 3 min barrier in his first race.
  
  Rebecca Stanley  recorded 3min 34.3secs for 3rd place  in the u/11 girls 800m. Rebecca only being 9 years of age, coped well in her first middle distance race and proved that with continued training , she could become a good athlete in the future.

• Press Report 04/04/2005 Paddock Wood Half Marathon
  

  
  On Sunday 3rd April Nikki Martin and Peter Spelman ran the Paddock
  Wood Half Marathon in Kent as a final preparatory race prior to the
  London Marathon on 17th April.
  Despite some very warm sunny conditions Peter (vet male 50) finished in
  1hr .41mins and Nikki completed her first half marathon in 1hr 43mins.

  On Friday 8th April Ilford AC are hosting a parents evening to be held at Ilford Sports Club Cricklefields Stadium at 7pm. Parents will have an opportunity to meet the coaches and other club officials who will in turn explain how Ilford AC is trying to get 8 to 16 year olds more involved in Athletics. Wine and refreshments will be served.

 

• Press Report 28/03/05 Victoria Park 5
  
  
  Ilford AC ladies led the way in Saturdays Victoria Park Open 5 mile race at Hackney. Nicola Hopkinson and Pam Jones dominated the veteran womens section of the race and their times of 36mins 18 seconds and 39 minutes 43 seconds won them the 1st lady vet 40 and 1st Lady vet 50 prizes respectively.
  
  Lydia Hall ran superbly well to clock 41.13 for her two laps and took the under 15 girls prize. Andy Catton was the club's only male athlete and returned a creditable 39mins 52 secs, just missing out on the the over 50s award.
  
  On Friday 8th April Ilford AC are hosting a parents evening to be held at Ilford Sports Club Cricklefields Stadium at 7pm. Parents will have an opportunity to meet the coaches and other club officials who will in turn explain how Ilford AC is trying to get 8 to 16 year olds more involved in Athletics. Wine and refreshments will be served.
  
   

• Press Report 21/03/05 Essex Vets Road relays, Springfield, Oakley 20
  
  
  Ilford AC narrowly missed out on a county medal in Sundays Essex Vets Road Relays Championships.The race was held over 3 legs of 4 miles on a new, fast and flat 2 lap course in Springfield Chelmsford.
  
  Terry Knightley led off with high expectations but quickly found he was up against some quality athletes and could only hand over to in form Iain Campbell in 7th place. As Campbell sped through the changeover point at the end of lap 1 It had become obvious that the flying Scotsman  was already eating up the ground on the leaders, Colchester, Chelmsford and Thurrock.
  
  Campbell's 19.30 proved to be well over 30 seconds faster than anyone else and had lifted Ilford from 7th up to 4th spot as team captain Martin Clarke took over for the final leg some 30 metres adrift of Thurrock's Steve Williams in 3rd. Clarke managed to close up the deficit in a quick first mile and they came through the halfway point locked together. Despite a desperate attempt to drop the Thurrock man on the long stretch at the back of the river, Clarke was outsprinted in the final 200metres as Williams turned on the power to deny Ilford of the bronze medal. 
  
  Times and positions
  Teams
  1st Colchester 2nd Chelmsford, 3rd Thurrock 4th Ilford
  
  Ilford A - Terry Knightley 22.10, Iain Campbell 19.30 Martin Clarke 22.25
  
  Ilford B - Andy Catton 23.04 John Mckenzie 24.28 Gary Murdoch 25.58
  
  Elsewhere Ilford's top woman distance runner Bree Nordin continues her  marathon preparations with another solid outing clocking 2hrs 27 minutes in the Bedford Oakley 20 mile road race. Nordin's performance won her yet another over 45 prize and she is now confident of a sub 3.15 clocking in London next month.
  
  Sally Gillam found this course a bit more demanding following a recent string of PBs. With heavy mileage in her legs and some tough hills to negotiate Gillam's clocking of 2hrs 51minutes was a little bit off her best.
  
   

• PRESS REPORT 14/03/2005 Essex Road Relays, Chelmsford, Brentwood Half Marathon, Finchley 20, YA Hornchurch
  
  
  Ilford AC Athletes enjoyed a hectic weekend of road racing following their annual club dinner and dance on Friday evening.
  
  The club fielded 2 senior mens teams and one ladies team in the Essex County Road relays held at North Melbourne, Chelmsford on Saturday. The Mens 'A' squad put up an excellent fight against some strong opposition and despite holding third spot for much of the race eventually finished just outside the medals in fourth with Basildon, Havering Mayesbrook and Chelmsford taking the honours.
  
  Iain Campbell was Ilford's fastest man of the day running leg 2 in an excellent 18mins.57 seconds. Malcolm Muir ran 19.22 on leg 3 with Rob Nixon returning to fitness clocking 19.43 on the opening leg. Matt Maple closed the team in 21.09. Ilford's B string consisting of Ashley Pearce (21.24), Terry Knightley (21.33), Martin Clarke (22.35) and Andy Catton (22.42) placed a creditable 16th.
  
  The womens team consisted of 3 athletes preparing for the marathon and with heavy mileage in their legs and all due to race the following day the 3.7 mile course was never really going to be Ideal. Nevertheless the squad of Bree Nordin (24.41), Keeley Brooks (27.13) and Sally Gillam (28.09) managed 8th team home out of 12.
  
  Fastest legs of the day were Basildon's Rob Denmark (17.48) and Southend's Sarah Mullins (20.54). 
  
  Sunday morning saw 3 of the team competing in the Brentwood half marathon where Matt Maple ran a personal best of 1hr 23mins, Martin Clarke 1hr 30 mins and Keeley Brooks also ran a personal best of 1hr 42mins. Malcolm Muir competed for Essex in the Inter-Counties half marathon on the tough Hastings course finishing along the seafront in 76minutes and 30 seconds.
  
  In the afternoon the club were further represented in the Finchley 20 mile road race over a hilly 4 lap course on the roads of North London. Bree Nordin led the club home in 2hrs 26mins followed by two more personal bests - Darren Bottrill 2hrs 35mins and Sally Gillam 2hrs 46mins. Pathrose Louis ran 3 hrs 21mins.
  
  In the Young Athletes section Sunday also saw the first track warm up meeting of the season held at Hornchurch Stadium. Ilford had two athletes taking part, in the 1200m making his club debut was Alex Richards in the U-13 boys coming a creditable 2nd in a time of 4min 24.6s. In the 300m Laura Townsend competed in the U-15 girls finishing 4th in a time of 47.5s.
  
   

• PRESS REPORT 07/03/2005 Inter Counties XC Champs, Nottingham, Ilford Road Champs, Mini Marathon Trials
  
  
  Two Ilford AC Athletes competed for the Essex County Senior mens squad in the prestigious Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships held at Wollaton Park Nottingham this weekend. Malcolm Muir and Iain Campbell acquitted themselves well finishing 187th and 211th repectively in a field of 300 athletes representing all the counties of the UK. Muir placed 5th Essex man out of 9 with Campbell following him home in in 6th. The race was won by Warwickshire's Glyn Tromans who took an unprecedented 5th Inter-counties title.
  
  On Sunday Ilford AC held their annual Road championship race held over a tough 4.7 mile course around the hilly lanes surrounding Chigwell Row village. Club Captain Muir still with the Inter-counties race of the previous day in his legs sat on the early leaders Matt Maple and Terry Knightley. Muir made his move on the last big climb before the finish and just had enough to hold off a fast finishing Knightley clocking 26minutes and 46 seconds to win by 2 seconds. Maple finished third in 26.56.
   
  Just behind Martin Clarke won the battle of the 50year olds recording 28.11 to Andy Catton's 28.21. John Platt and Peter Spelman were next home coming in together with the identical time of 34.31. 
  
  The Eastway Cycle Circuit in Stratford saw the mini marathon trials for the London Boroughs of Redbridge, Newham and Waltham Forest. Ilford AC was well represented with 10 athletes taking part in this tough qualification with only the first 8 from each Borough to go through to the main race on April 17th. In the 11 & 12 year old girls Lydia Hall ran a good race to finish 3rd for the Redbridge team winning a medal. In the boys race of the same age group Ilford  had two competitors Alex Richards coming home in 2nd place and Nathanial Whitfield in 5th place. In the 13 & 14 year old girls the club was represented by Shanise Anderson finishing 5th,Madeline Thompson finishing 8th and Maria Whitfield just missing out on qualification in 9th place. In the boys race  sprinter Bakr Al-Akku finished 6th and Sam Burgues was in 18th place. In the eldest age group. the 15 -17 years old boys,  first home was Iain Mcdonald in 8th place and Niraj Gorshia running with an injury finished 16th
   

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• PRESS REPORT 28/02/005 Roding Valley Half Marathon, AAAs indoor champs, Birmingham
  
  
  Ilford AC athletes came away with a clutch of medals from the 23rd running of the Roding Valley half marathon held at Ashton Playing fields Woodford Green on Sunday.
  
  Malcolm Muir, recently called up to the Essex County Cross Country team, celebrated in fine style by placing 2nd to Shaftesbury Barnet's  Orlando Edmund in this popular race of over 650 runners. Muir's performance also earnt him the Essex Gold medal and he is now set for yet another Essex call up to the intercounties half marathon championships to be held in Hastings next month
  
  On a cold Icy morning Muir contested the lead for much of the undulating 2 lap course before finally having to give best to the Shaftesbury man by the slender margin of some 20 seconds clocking an impressive 73minutes and 28seconds. Ilford's Terry Knightley (81.05) and partially sighted Ashley Pearce (83.08) completed the mens A team which finished just outside the medals in 4th place.
  
  In the over 50s race Martin Clarke came through strongly to take an Essex bronze clocking 85.31 not far behind Thrift Greens Stan Coleman and Woodfords Bill Wooton.
  
  In the womens race Ilford's class act was Bree Nordin who dominated the over 45 section returning an excelent 91mins 57 seconds to take the Essex Gold medal. Bree also took the bronze for 3rd Essex lady home in the overall race. Solid performances by Sally Gillam (106.04) and Keeley Brooks (107.01) earnt the Ilford ladies a well deserved bronze in the team race.
  
  Other Ilford times were Matt Herbert 85. 20,  Matt Maple 85.27, Abdi Berleen 87.44, Steve Allen 88.36, Gary Christie 95.48, Darren Bottrill 97.02, Peter Spelman 99.55,Ian Burdin 104.04, Pam  Jones 112.32 and Helen Hooper 157.36.
  
  A small group of Ilford Athletics Club's top Under 17 men competed in
  Birmingham at the AAA National Indoor Championships. The turnout for theevent was excellent with the cream of Britain's young athletes competing in the Under 15 and Under 17 age groups for both boys and girls.
   
  After last weeks success at the Essex Indoor championships Aaron Balogun from Chadwell Heath was again in good form competing in the 60 Metres on Saturday where he was knocked out in his heat in a time of 7.40s. On Sunday he ran well to reach the semi-finals and his time of 23.20s which was the 7th fastest time of the day ranking him highly in the Uk.
   
  Also on Saturday, Jason Bartley a pupil at Chadwell Heath school threw in the Shot Putt placing 9th in the final with a throw of 12.45m. In his first
  time of competing in this event Jason admited to being very nervous and this perfomance was well below his personal best.
   
  A freak injury playing Basketball in the week to Essex Indoor Silver
  Medalist Ekow Quagraine robbed him of his chance to perform in this top
  flight competetion, having to withdraw with a sore knee.
   

• PRESS REPORT 22/02/2005 Essex indoor champs
  
  
  Ilford AC's young track and field stars were again out in force this weekend when they succesfully  competed in the  the Essex Indoor Championships coming away with three gold medals.
  In the Under 17 Men's 60m race Aaron Balogun (7.1s (pb) / 7.4s / 7.3s) and Ekow Quagraine (7.5s / 7.4s (pb) / 7.5s)  ran to their full potential both running PB's and finished first and second respectively in the final.
  
  The boys lead their respective heats and semi's all the way and their performance bodes well for next week's England AAA's championships in Birmingham.
  
  In the Under 17 Shot Jason Bartley beat a strong field in his first ever
  shot putt competition and became essex champion. His put of 13.54m was a ersonal best and puts him in a confident mood for next weeks AAA's championships. Jason also competed in the U17 High Jump clearing 1.55m a personal best and the 60m  Hurdles running 10.1s.
  
  Craig Burrow won the senior shot with an under par performance 11.48m in a weak field but is looking forward to the outdoor season with some aniticipation.
  
  Terry Driver competing for the first time in these events ran and jumped to two personal bests in the 60m Hurdles and Long jump. James Warren with no event to compete in also competed in the U17 Shot and
  threw over 8 metres in his first try, a solid performance.Ilford A.C look forward to the boys all progressing further in the next few
  months,
  
  Ilford's prolific international veteran athlete Pam Jones competed in the  BMAF indoor Champs finishing 2nd in the 1500metres  on Saturday in 6mins.44.7secs. The winner Kath Stewart is a newcomer to the womens over 65 category breaking the world record in a time of 6.03.7. Unphased Pam returned to the arena on Sunday to take the 3000 metres tittle in a closely fought contest  in 14mins11.8secs.
   

• PRESS REPORT 21/02/2005 National XC Champs, Birmingham
  
  
  Good but very cold    weekend in Brum.
  
  Ilford Athletic Club were well represented by three athletes in the National Cross Country Championships held at Cofton Park, Birmingham on Saturday. Nearly 1500 runners contested the senior mens race, won by Coventry Godiva's Glyn Tromans, over an undulating 3 lap course of 7 and a half miles. On a bitterly cold afternoon Malcolm Muir led the club home in an impressive 308th position (45mins.16secs) more than ably supported by Matt Maple 629th (49mins 14 secs) and veteran Martin Clarke 804th (51mins 42 secs).
  
  The previous Saturday a group of Ilford's AC's young track and field stars participated in the National Indoor Athletics open meeting in Birmingham. None of the athletes had competed indoors before and the
  huge Birmingham indoor arena must have seemed daunting to them.
   
  The highlight of the day was the attitude of everyone who competed as all
  the athletes made the most of the opportunity by setting personal bests..
   
  In the 60m Daniel Grant(23), Ekow Qugraine(16), Aaron Balogun(16) ran
  7.18, 7.55 and 7.38seconds  respectively. Balogun also competed the 200m running an impresive 22.93s along with Terry Glover(16) who ran 25.40s a good performance in his first competitive race. 
   
  James Warren (15) ran his first ever competitive 400m and was well satisfied with a good race and his time of 58.68s.
   
  Mathew Gordon competed in the Pole Vault.

• PRESS REPORT 14/02/2005 Deaf Olympics, Melbourne, Essex 20, Rochford
  
  
  Ilford AC's Polish import Konstanty Bakowski was welcomed home to Cricklefields stadium last week clutching an Olympic gold medal which he won in the Deaf Olympics 110metres hurdles event held at the Olympic Park in Melbourne Australia. Bakowski a deaf and dumb athlete clocked 15.86 in the final to defeat Yaraslov Prokapenko of the Ukraine on 20th January, day 4 of the Olympic festival.
  
  26 year old Bakowski who hails from Warren Road, Leyton joined Ilford AC at the beginning of last year and was undefeated for the club in the Southern League division 1 track and field season. Apart from his specialist event Bakowski also excels in other sprint events as can be seen from his impressive portfolio of personal bests:-
  
  110m hurdles 15.8, 100m flat 10.98, 200m flat 22.58, 400m hurdles 55.20, 400m flat 50.02. The club hope he will compete in some of these other events as well next season.
  
  Closer to home Ilford AC contested the Essex 20 miles road championships at Rochford on Sunday with some success. The open nature of the course made conditions far from perfect and times were always likely to suffer as the athletes struggled against the cold, wind and sleet. Nevertheless Club captain Malcolm Muir ran a magnificent race to secure 2nd place to Springfield's Gary Chandler in a time of 1hr 58 minutes.
  
  Muir spearheaded a bronze medal winning performance from the Ilford men's team with Terry Knightley (2hrs 12min) and partially sighted Ashley Pearce (2hrs 14min) completing the scoring trio. Triathlete Matt Herbert ran strongly in his first outing over the distance to record 2hrs 17 mins and Hidir Yildirim also chipped in with a fine 2hrs 19mins.
  
  In the women's race Bree Nordin and Nikki Martin both showed that their London Marathon preparations are well on schedule with Nordin taking the Over 45 silver medal in 2hrs 22mins and Martin not far adrift in a very respectable 2hrs 36mins.
  
  Other finishers were Darren Bottrill (2hrs 38mins), Robert Spelman (2hrs 41mins),  and Peter Spelman (2hrs 46mins).