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Press Report. Monday 20th March 2017

Press Report. Monday 20th March 2017

*SENIORS* *Essex Road Relays Harwich 18th March 2017 * ​ Harwich, a Haven town and port oft sleepy, tranquil and serene on a Saturday morning was curiously abuzz with activity as a record 98 teams declaring themselves fit to do battle descended on a small oval shelter along the Dovercourt seafront for the annual running of the Essex Relay Open and Veteran Championships. Thankfully the strong winds of the previous night had mostly abated leaving a brisk cross breeze that did little to deter the enthusiasm of either the competitors or the stoic yet somewhat amusing efforts of those stalwarts attempting to erect the Witham pop-up tent. It was equally heartening to see teams from the length and breadth of the County, some surviving vast and tortuous journeys all for the privilege ...Read more


Ilford Press Report 14th March 2017

Ilford Press Report 14th March 2017

*​Ilford AC Press report March 14th 2017​ * *​Bath** Half Marathon* *​12th​ March 2017*​ ​Blair McWhirter produced probably the best performance of the week finishing 4th of over 12,500 runners in the Bath Half in a time of 1:09:44​. The two lap traffic-free course, which is well known for being flat and fast, straddles both sides of the River Avon, taking runners through the beautiful World Heritage Site of Bath. *Colchester Half Marathon​12th​ March 2017* On an overcast but dry morning over 2600 runners took part in the annual Colchester Half Marathon, including a trio of Ilford AC athletes. The challenging course was won by Thomas Kaye representing the Army in an impressive 1:14:25. First Ilford athlete home was Stephen Parker who ran well for 362nd place in a time of 1:39:55. Stephen was ...Read more


Press Report 6th March 2017

Press Report 6th March 2017

Brighton Half Marathon (26th Feb), Essex 20 Langham (5th March) Ilford AC’s Blair McWhirter has been in excellent form of late narrowly missing out on a podium finish at the prestigious Brighton half marathon 2 weeks ago. The Ilford man clocked a speedy 68.58 just 3 secs behind the 3rd place man and with only 21 seconds covering the first 4 places.The race was won by Kent AC’s Jonathan Tipper clocking 68.37in a high class field with the first 6 home all breaking the 70 minute barrier. Coincidentally it was another member of the same club Kent AC who was to deny McWhirter of the victory spoils a week later in the Essex 20 miles Road Championships held around the rural lanes ...Read more


Press Report 28th February 2017

Press Report 28th February 2017

National Cross Country Championships Wollaton Park Nottiingham 25th February Ilford AC’s Malcolm Muir was the Club’s sole representative in the 2017 Saucony English National Cross Country Championships held at Wollaton Park, Nottingham last Saturday. Near on 1800 runners toed the line at the start of the senior men’s race with veteran Muir finishing in a fine 303rd place over 12k of the muddy and testing course. Muir’s time was 46 minutes 33 seconds. The men’s title went to Ben Connor of Derby in 39.35 with Jessica Judd of Chelmsford triumphant in a time of 29.07 over the 8k of a hard fought senior women’s race. Lee Valley Veterans Inter Area Meeting Sunday 26th February Last Sunday Ilford veteran John Batchelor represented the SCVAC at an ...Read more


Press Report 21st February 2017

Press Report 21st February 2017

Chingford League 8km Victoria Park Sat 18 February A trio of Ilford AC runners took part in the Chingford league match at Victoria Park last Saturday as guest competitors to test their winter training progress. Dennis Briggs, who will be running in April’s London Marathon, is shaping up well finishing the flat, fast circuit in 34 mins 13 secs for 93rd in a field of excess of 180. Nicola Hopkinson continued her fine form of the winter coming home in 114th, which placed her 21st in the ladies result, with 36mins 40secs. Completing the squad was club legend Pam Jones in 177th with 50 mins 6 secs. Veteran Indoor Championships Ilford supervetran John Batchelor has been extremely busy over the past fortnight opening up his indoor ...Read more


Press Report 14th February 2017

Press Report 14th February 2017

Press Report 14th February 2017 A light falling of snow greeted the runners for the final Essex League fixture of the season at Basildon on Saturday. Although the snow meant that some of the fields were a little down in numbers, this was a real cross country test, with repeated ascents and descents of a steep hill on every lap. First up was Matthew Hick in the Under 13 race. Matthew had hit a bit of form in the last few weeks and his confidence was high and this showed in the way that he started the race. After the opening 400m, Matthew was up with the leaders nicely placed around 11th. The course then took the runners out of view to ...Read more


Press Report 7th February 2017

Press Report 7th February 2017

Young Athletes A small number of Ilford AC young athletes competed in some high quality races in the last week doing the Club proud with their performances In the year 7 Essex Schools X country Championships, 253 athletes competed. Matthew Hick, representing his school, as opposed to the borough, went off with the leaders from the start. Matthew continued to battle during the race and was outsprinted by 2 athletes at the end , but came a very promising 6th. As a result of this performance Matthew has been picked to represent Essex in the intercounties in March. Subsequently Matthew’s team won the team event and he won his first ever Essex medal. In the Havering Mini Marathon trials, Matthew Hick and Jack ...Read more


Press Report 31st January 2017

Press Report 31st January 2017

South of England Cross-Country Championship Parliament Hill Fields Saturday 28 January 2017 The Senior Men’s race was contested over the usual 15km course which is one of the toughest in the country. Ilford AC entered 4 men and were led home by the ever reliable Malcolm Muir who put is usual 100% effort to finish 136th in a field of over 1000 runners from all over the South of England in a time of 53 mins 49 secs. Paul Holloway battled away to record 61 mins 17 secs for 390th with Neil Crisp 518th in 64 mins exactly. Seb Parris was running at the venue for the first time came home 539th with 64 mins 28 secs. 100 up for Julie Ilford AC also extend ...Read more


Young Athletes Report 24th January 2017

Young Athletes Report 24th January 2017

Aaron & Ahmed storm to victory Ilford AC only had a small representation of athletes at the Essex Schools X Country Champs in Colchester on Saturday but still came away winning 2 of the 6 County individual titles available. First up on Saturday,on a very cold day ,was the Junior Boys race. The Club had 2 athletes in this age group and had high hopes of success before the start of the race. Aaron Samuel ,who has gradually improved during the X Country season took the lead from the very star and immediately raced into a 20 metre lead. He maintained his momentum as he continued to pull away from the field. Coming to the final part of the race he still had ...Read more


Press Report 16th January 2017

Press Report 16th January 2017

Essex Cross Country League Braintree 14/01/2017 Ilford Young Athletes had some encouraging runs at the fourth Essex League held at Braintree on Saturday. The snow from Thursday had but gone, but the freezing conditions meant that parts of the course were still frozen and slippery underfoot. First up was Matthew Hick in the Under 13 race. After a slow start Matthew began to move up through the field and on the twisty part of the course he was flying along. The final part of the course involved a switchback followed by a steep uphill section and long downhill run into the finish.After negotiating the switch back, Matthew flew up the hill and was still taking people as he came into the finish for ...Read more