Essex Cross Country League – Hockley
Juniors

Ilford AC had a small turnout of four younger athletes for the final fixture of the season at muddy and wet Hockley but all performed well.

Competing in the U11 race, over a distance of 1.5k was Danilo Reina for his fourth appearance of the season. Danilo had his best run of the year to finish in 17th place in 6 mins 01 secs. Danilo will move up an age group next year and has shown good endurance in training sessions which will help him over the slightly longer distances.

In the under 15 boys were Fabio Reina making his league debut for the club and Luke Thake racing over a challenging 4k course.
Both had performed well in the previous week on the road surface at Victoria Park but this was a very different experience with the course getting tougher as each race made the ground more difficult. Fabio started cautiously but moved well through the field to finish in an excellent 19th place in 16 mins 55 secs. Luke like his older brother will excel on the track in long term but displayed good endurance to finish in 33rd place in 18 mins 14 secs, and now looks forward to the upcoming track season with confidence

Finally we had Samuel Crane in the under 17s race over a very challenging 6k.
Samuel has had a mixed cross country season but had his best league race of the year to finish in 6th place in 18 mins 36 secs. He is racing in the national cross country championships at the weekend and hoping for another good result at the iconic parliament hill course.

Mercury 10 Epping Forest 

Saturday morning saw the 102nd running of the Mercury 10 in Epping Forest.
Incorporating tough muddy hills the 10 mile race, whilst picturesque in places, is a real challenge for runners and one really only for the brave.
This year saw a large field of 176 runners ready to take on the challenge, including 4 from Ilford AC.
Leading the team home was men’s captain Danny Holeyman, who has been having a great Cross Country season, in 23rd place in a time of 1 hour, 16 minutes and 33 seconds.
Danny was chased all the way by teammate Seb Harris who finished just a place and nine seconds behind him.
Jim Tilbrook ran an impressive 1 hour 37 minutes and 54 seconds for 93rd place and completing the team was women’s captain Alison Sale, who ran a strong race for 104th place in a time of1 hour 41 minutes 31 seconds

CHINGFORD LEAGUE 5 Miles

Victoria Park

Saturday 1 February

The final individual event of this winter’s Chingford League took place on a revised course  of one small lap and 2 longer ones rather than the traditional figure of eight course in the park.

Ilford AC had a team of 29 take part in the event with the men racing over the fast flat course in division two. Their challenge was led by Ronan Edwards, who is in great form at present, finishing 4th in an excellent time of 26 minutes 04 seconds. Next home was Josh Adler, who is improving in every race, in 11th in a new personal best of 27 mins 42 secs. Tomas Krukauskas who impressed on his club debut came in on 30 mins 01 secs for 17th spot. One place behind was Manuel Vigo with 30 mins 03 secs. Donagh Horley was another making his club debut coming home 20th with 30 mins 19 secs and Richard Morris completed the scoring team in 22nd in a time of 30 mins 22 secs

In the match Ilford placed 2nd and they remain on top of the division 2 table and look good for promotion to the top tier with just the relays to come in March.

There were also personal bests for Joel Denning with 31 mins 24 secs in 29th and Jim Tilbrook, who is having a great winter of racing, in 58th in 35 mins 29 secs.  Steve Chissell equalled his personal best of 33 mins 27 secs for 42nd place, which he set in the same fixture last year.

The Ilford Ladies race in division 1 and first home was Jordan Hinds in 10th recording 32 mins 20 secs, with Anna Crawley next across the line for the club in 34 mins 13 secs for 15th place. Pauline Tester and Alison Sale both were timed at 38mins 55 secs for 59th and 60th respectively. Dianne Crisp was 111th in 45 mins 19 secs and Launa Broadley completed the team in 127th in a new personal best time of 47 mins 46 secs.  In their match the ladies were placed 8th and occupy the same spot in the league table.

Also running in the men’s race were:  Dan Holeyman (23rd  30.26) Richard Woolterton (28th  31.17)  Sam Joseph (33rd  32.28)  Bradley Brown (38th  33.19) Tarik Qirem (47th 35:05)  Neil Crisp (49th  35.17) Mike Perkins (61st  36.51)  Tony Young (68th  37.58)  Nick West  (69th  38.25)  Andy Catton (80th  40.19)  Sean Costello (85th  40.50)  and Joe Ramen (98th  46.28)

And for Ilford Ladies:  Frieda Keane (130th  48.29)  Julia Galea (139th  51.39)

17 junior athletes from Ilford AC took on the challenges of the final Chingford league race of the current season 

The under 11’s raced a 2k course
For the boys, Danilo Reina , despite falling at the start, finished in 6th place with an impressive run of 6.32m
Debutant Hannah Lawes completed an impressive first fun clocking 8.09m to finish in 21st place for the girls.

The Under 13’s ran a 3k course

Khalif Ali produced his best run of the series finishing in 5th place in a time of 12.07m for the boys. Teammate Elias Furreedan continued his impressive form this season with a 7th place recording a time of 13.18m. Ever improving Hashim Khan clocked 14.03m to finish in 8th place. Ever reliable Daniel Guiba completed the team in 12th position timed at 15.44m

The girls again produced really encouraging performances 

Leading the team home was Iris Wan in 12th place in 14.39m closely followed by Sophie Lawes in 13th place in 14.50m. D.L Majen-Akande continued her great form with a fast finish in 15th place timed at 15.30m just managing to hold off teammate Alicia Adams in 16th place with another encouraging run of 15.47m

Ilford’s U15 boys, running 4.5k,  proved to be the stars of the day with the impressive Fabio Reina claiming First place in a time of 17.43m followed by his equally impressive teammate Barney Perkins in Second place recording 18.09m

Luke Thake made a welcome return to the team and ran consistently well to finish in 8th place timed at 20.49m . Completing the team was debutant Robert Stanciu running the distance for the first time finishing in 18th place with 24.07m

For the U15 girls, Hawaa Patel ran another strong race giving her all finishing 6th in 24.12m

U17 athletes Ryder Islam and Leila Lauder both produced personal best runs with Ryder Islam finishing 4th for the boys in 17.20m and Leila Lauder claiming 1st place in the girls in 21.01m.
Both ran over the same 4.5k distance

The results are testament to the hard work put in by the athletes and their coaches with huge thanks to our parents and supporters.

Two Ilford Ac athletes swapped their Ilford vests just for the weekend to represent their university and county.

Rhys Edwards raced the short course (8.2km) at the British University Cross Country Championships in Cardiff. He placed 367th in a top class field and was first finisher for Queen Mary University (London).

Samuel Crane qualified to represent Essex schools in the South East Inter Counties School Match. This was his first county vest. He acquitted himself well over the 6km course finishing as 6th Essex finisher in a good quality field.

Chingford League
Epping Forest
Saturday 18th January 2025

16 of Ilford ACs Junior runners braved the cold and muddy conditions at the Orion Chingford League race on Saturday morning

In the U11s race Danilo Reina continues to impress with a 7th place finish clocking an impressive time of 8.28. Chasing Danilo around the testing course was teammate Ewan McKinstry who ran another strong race to finish in 15th place with a great time of 9.17m. Great runs by both athletes.
Georgia Broom continues to impress with her determination moving through the field to close in 13th place with a time of 10.22m
47 runners took part in the race

The U13 boys race saw Khalif Ali continue to run consistently well, despite very little training finishing in 4th position with a good time of 8.19m maintaining 2nd place overall in a very tightly contested series with one race remaining
Teammate Elias Furreedan added to his recent great form with another battling performance for his team sealing 7th place in 9.14m
Hashim Khan produced a best ever performance just behind his teammate with an excellent 8th place and clocking 9.21m
Daniel Guiba closed the team with a typical battling performance from him finishing in 11th place with a time of 10.31m
Ilford’s ever improving U13 girls all produced performances to be proud of. Debutant Sophie Lawes ran a fantastic race leading the team home in 9.33m to seal 10th place. Iris Wan contributed with a solid run of 10.43m in 13th place, proving what a great asset she is to the team . Iris was closely followed by Alicia Adams , who yet again showed her potential with a great run in 14th place recording 10.50m. Alicia held off a brave challenge from fellow teammate D.L. Majen-Akande who added to her recent good performances finishing in 15th place, clocking 10.52m
The togetherness of this group is testament to all of their hard work and determination.
U15 athletes Fabio Reina and Barney Perkins continue to impress with outstanding Fabio finishing in first place clocking 18.59 on the testing hilly course
Barney Perkins finished strongly in second place in a time of 20.19m a great performance which maintains his lead in the overall series individual competition.
Ethan Guiba found the course tough going but he backed up his teammates in 15th place with a gutsy run of 29.30m
Lone U15G athlete Hawaa Patel added to her recent run of good form finishing very strongly in 4th place with another impressive run of 24.53m
The U17B race saw Ryder Islam run another strong race in this series finishing in 18.51m securing a hard earned 4th place , maintaining his position of 4th in the overall series competition
Another successful competition for Ilford ACs ever improving youngsters. A big thank you from our team to all of the Chingford league series organisers and volunteers who enable these races to go ahead.

Special thanks to our Coaches, helpers, supporters and parents for getting us to these great events