Press Report 21st January 2025  

Jan 202025
 

Chingford League
Epping Forest
Saturday 18th January 2025

SENIORS

The latest round of the Chingford League was held over a muddy, hilly course in Epping Forest and Ilford AC fielded a squad of 13 athletes in the senior races, which were over a distance of 8km.

Leading home the men’s team was Manuel Vigo in an excellent 28th spot in a large field, timed at 34 mins 16 secs. Next in was Seb Parris with 37 mins 09 secs for 67th, with Dan Holeyman 80th in 38 mins 13 secs. Steve Chissell kept up his winter form in 94th, and 3rd in the M60 age group to finish, 39 mins 26 secs.  The scoring team was completed by Bradley Brown (131st) and Chris kind (162nd). 

Also in action for the men were Jim Tilbrook 194th in 45 mins 58 secs, Mike Perkins 200th in 46 mins 08 secs and Tony Young 260th in 49 mins 30 secs

With the team winning in division 2 they maintain the top spot and will be looking to win promotion to the top tier in the final two matches of the season.

Alison Sale led the way for the Ilford ladies in 232nd overall in 48 mins 17 secs with Pauline Tester 294th with 51 mins 52 secs. Julia Galea finished 356th in 1:01:18 with Frieda Keane completing the ladies team just 5 places back in place 361 in 1:02:44

In their match they were 8th and are in the same position in the league and have a hard fight ahead to avoid relegation to the second division

 

JUNIORS

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

 

Benfleet 15
Sunday 19th January

 

On Sunday Two intrepid Ilford Athletic Club Athletes tackled the extremely Hilly and Challenging Benfleet 15 Miles Multi-Terrain Race. 

Held over the waterlogged and Boggy Thames Estuary Trails and on a route that ran from Hadleigh via Leigh-on-Sea out to Canvey Island and back again with over 760 fellow brave runners and finished with a steep climb to the finish line.

The first club finisher was Christopher King in 1 Hour 53 Minutes and 19 Seconds for 59th Position making his debut at the race. He was followed by Terry Knightley in 2 Hours 4 Minutes and 46 Seconds for 140th Place and was 4th Male Veteran Over 60. Terry first ran this event back 1991.

All finishers received a specially engraved medal and free Water Bottle.

  Press Report 14th January 2025  

Jan 132025
 

Metropolitan Cross Country League
Welwyn Garden City

Formed in 1966, the Metropolitan League is one of the oldest Cross Country leagues in the country.
Last weekend’s race was the 4th this season in the league and was held at Stanborough Park, Welwyn Garden City. 

In sub zero temperatures, 2 Ilford AC athletes represented the club.

In the Senior men’s race, Ronan Edwards ran well over the 8k course to finish in 112th place, and 4th U20 male in a time of 30 minutes 11 seconds

The veteran men also ran over an 8k course and Jim Tilbrook was pleased with his time of 43 minutes 51 seconds which placed him 164th vet and 24th in his age grouping.

Southern Counties Indoor athletics Champs
Lee Valley

Eight junior Ilford athletes competed in last weekend’s Southern Counties indoor athletics championships at Lee Valley.

U13 athlete Daniel Okereke made an impressive long awaited competitive debut reaching the 60m Final after clocking an impressive 8.37s in a high quality heat. Daniel clocked 8.61s in a very competitive final, finishing in 7th place marking a brilliant debut at the distance. Daniel also jumped 4.33m in the long jump final, a personal best jump which earned him 5th place overall.

Teammate Elijah Muirhead ran an excellent race in his U13 60m heat maintaining his technique to finish In a great time of 9.24s, a season’s best performance.

Star of the weekend was U17 athlete Jaydan Roberts-Edwards who reached the Semi finals of both the U17 Men’s 60m and 200m races with personal best times of 7.18s and 23.96s respectively.
Both performances are a credit to Jaydan’s hard work and hopefully he will achieve great success outdoors this coming season.

Donnell Lucky-Oligie also competed in the U17 200m and produced a personal best run of 24.98s finishing 6th in his heat.

Sisters Gloria and Victoria Ananwa both produced personal best performances in their respective events. Gloria excelled in her U15 200m and 300m races placing 4th and 5th in her heats with personal best times of 29.35s and 48.11s whilst Victoria recorded a personal best time of 8.55s in her 60m heat finishing in 6th place

Another athlete making her competitive debut indoors was Renee Chissell in the U17W 200m.

Renee did not disappoint, running an impressive time of 28.13s finishing 4th in a very high quality heat. 

The last Ilford athlete to compete was U15 Shot putter Dhanusshan Ponambalam who managed to throw an indoor best distance of 8.93m securing 8th place.

These Championships were of an exceptional standard and Ilford’s junior athletes did themselves and their Club proud.
Special mention to the parents and supporters who managed to get the athletes to the events in freezing and hazardous travel conditions

  Press Report 7th January 2025  

Jan 072025
 

ESSEX CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Basildon
Saturday 4 January

The Essex Cross Country Championships were held in Gloucester Park, Basildon once again.

In the Under 13s boys race, held over a challenging 3.1k course,  both Khalif Ali, 35th in 13 mins 43 secs, and Elias Furreedan, 54th 15 mins 41 secs, struggled on the hills but should be pleased with their performances in a quality race.
Likewise Barney Perkins, 32nd in 18 mins 09 secs, in the under 15 race, held over a 4.3k course, found the going tough but will come back stronger next year in the same age group.

Ryder Islam had his best championship performance to date to finish 19th in 23 mins 47 secs in the under 17 men’s race one place behind teammate Samuel Crane who was given the same time as Islam of 23 mins 47 secs.
Leila Lauder also returned to championship racing in the under 17 ladies event and showed her continued progress to finish in 20th in exactly 27 minutes over the 5.2k course.

Ronan Edwards had a great race to finish 6th in 28 mins 31 secs in the Under 20 race, over a gruelling 8k course and earned himself an Essex vest for the Inter Counties Championships in Nottingham in February.

The senior men and ladies raced over a 4km challenging course.
In the men’s event over 3 laps totalling 12km, Ilford Ac had 8 runners with Josh Adler leading the team home with his best championship performance so far in 52nd position with time of 46 mins 32 secs, while Dylan Harrod finished in 48 mins 31 secs for 67th spot. Manuel Vigo placed 81st in 49 mins 18 secs with Seb Parris coming home 116th with 53 mins 43 secs.
Steve Chissell finished 128th in 55 mins 05 secs and Terry Knightley closed the scoring team in 131rd place recording 55 mins 27 secs. 

In the team event Ilford finished 13th.

Also, running for Ilford were Steve Crane (172nd) and Jim Tilbrook (181st)

The ladies raced over 2 laps and 8km with Jordan Hinds leading the way for Ilford in a creditable 20th place  in 36 mins 59 secs.  Jordan held her position throughout the race and beat many ladies who had beaten her recently over the country
Next in was Alison Sale with 43 mins 1 secs for 59th and Shahnaj Crane placed 81st with 49 mins 50 secs.
The team was completed by Launa Broadley in 94th spot in 57 mins 07 secs.

The Ilford ladies finished 8th in the team event.

BRITISH MASTERS 10 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP (incorporating the VAC Championship)
Buntingford

The 2024 British Masters Championship over 10 miles was held on a chilly overcast damp end of the year morning as part of the Buntingford Year End 10 mile road race.The race runs through the town inn the first and last mile and around the rolling Hertfordshire countryside 8 mile loop.

Ilford AC had two entrants in the event with Rob Sargent coming home 455th in the overall race in 1hr 44mins 13 secs which earned him 5th place in the M70 age group in the British Masters Championship and he won the gold medal in the same category in the Veterans AC Championship. Julia Galea was close behind in 465th overall with 1 hr 46 mins 50 secs finishing 7th in the British Masters F65 grouping and 2nd in the VAC race and winning the silver medal.

Race Over the Glens
Country Antrim, Northern Ireland

Race Over the Glens of Antrim has been established for over 30 years and is one of the highlights of the Northern Ireland race calendar. The popular 6 mile trail race is raced around Glenariff Forest Park taking in every aspect of the stunning natural beauty the park and forest has to offer. The race attracts upwards of 400 runners from across NI and beyond as well as hundreds of spectators.
John Crawley represented Ilford AC and described the course as very hilly with a brutal climb over the last mile, made worse with the rainy conditions.

John finished 42nd of almost 600 runners, and 9th in his new age grouping of V40 in a time of 49 minutes 03 seconds

  Press Report 31st December 2024  

Dec 302024
 

Ilford AC’s 101st year concluded with 2 of the clubs longest running(excuse the pun) events, the Boxing day handicap which is 15 years old, and the 10m Cross Country Championships which has been part of the clubs running calendar since the early 1950’s

Ilford AC Boxing Day Handicap
Hainault Forest
26th December 2023

A field of 20 runners brushed off the Turkey and Christmas hangover to toe the line for the 15th annual Ilford AC Boxing day handicap.
The route is 3.3 miles through the hills and mud of Hainault Forest and forms one lap of the clubs own 10 mile championships which traditionally takes place a few days later
Each runner is given a handicap based on their previous form over the year.

This year’s winner was Shahnaj Begum who ran the course in 32:55 off of a scratch handicap.
Billy Green was next home in 33:46 (4 min handicap) followed by Barney Perkins in 33:50 (11 min handicap)

The actual fastest times on the day, handicap excluded, were Josh Adler 20.45, Samuel Crane 20.51 and Stephen Philcox 22.12.

Other runners on the day (actual times) were Rhys Edwards 22:37, Gary Coombes 23:24, Alfie Hick 23:35, Danny Holeyman 23:50, Jordan Hinds 25:11, George Hick 27:07, Steve Crane 27:24, Mathew Hick 27:25, Jim Tilbrook 28:52, Charlie Hick 30:15, Rachel Halpin 33:15, Diane Crisp 34:16, and Julia Galea 36:50


ILFORD CLEAN UP IN THE MUD

Ilford AC 10 Mile Cross Country Championship
Hainault Forest
December 28th 2023

On Saturday Ilford AC hosted their winter showcase 10-mile cross country event on a pleasantly mild December morning.
Runners were treated to the thick mud and hills that characterizes most of the 3.3-mile course which is negotiated 3 times.

First home for the club was Josh Adler, claiming first Senior Male prize in 63:55
In 5th place, claiming 1st VM50 was Stephen Philcox in 68:44.
There then followed the remaining 5 Ilford men in very close proximity:-
Christopher King 14th 73:37, Richard Woolterton 15th 74:21, Bradley Brown 17th 78:14, Diarmuid MacDonnell 18th 78:56 and Steve Chissell 19th 79:11
Steve Chissell’s time gained him 1st place in the VM60 grouping.

Josh, Stephen and Christopher made up the men’s team which finished 2nd on the day.

In the ladies race, Alison Sale led the team of 3 home in 6th place with a time of 91:42.
Alison was followed home by Pauline Tester who was 9th female finisher in a time of 95:37, which also gave her 1st place in the FV60 grouping.
Completing the team was Shahnaj Begum, 12th female finisher in a time of 102:58

The 3 ladies combined to finish first female team on the day.

With the race being Ilfords own Championship, medals were awarded to Ilford athletes in all categories.

Winners were :- 

Senior Men Gold Josh Adler, Silver Christopher King
V50 Men Gold Stephen Philcox, Silver Richard Woolterton, Bronze Bradley Brown
V60 Men Gold Stephen Chissell

V40 Ladies Gold Shahnaj Begum
V50 Ladies Gold Alison Sale
V60 Ladies Gold Pauline Tester

 

Of course this event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all the marshals, organisers and scorers, all of whom were club members, many traveling many miles to offer their support and help to the club.