Press Report 14th October 2014  

Oct 142014
 

Tiptree 10 miles – inc Essex Champs
Sunday 12/10/2014
A small but very competitive squad of runners from IlfordAC enjoyed some excellent racing as they took on the Essex 10 mile road championships around the quiet rural lanes of Tiptree last Sunday. Club captain Malcolm Muir led the way winning the race in an Essex Gold medal winning time of 55.56, over 30 seconds clear of the rest of the field.
He was backed up by a superb performance from Kevin Newell who recorded a personal best of 57.31 and together with fellow veteran Steve Philcox, also breaking the hour mark and equaling his best of 59.32, the Ilford trio finishing in bronze medal position in the team competition.  Newell was particularly delighted with his run slicing a massive 1 minute 23 seconds from his previous best effort over the distance.

Sam Rahman was another happy to improve on his best when also just dipping under the 60 minute barrier finishing 23rd in 59.44. Kevin Wotton 61.53 30th and over 50 Neil Crisp 62.43 34th also enjoyed good runs offering some great support.  Not to be outdone Declan Cullen also weighed in with a PB clocking 77.42 for a Ronnie O’Sullivan 147th.
In the women’s race multi county medalist Breege Nordin added an Essex silver to her collection in the FV55 category only just losing out to Harwich’s class act Claudine Tisbury and bringing the ladies home in73.26 for 114th. Jenni Sheehan 74.43 (PB) 127th and Dianne Crisp 85.01 219th completed the women’s scoring team. Carol Muir ran 92.54 for 298th recording yet another personal best in the process. 393 runners completed the course.

Chicago Marathon and Cardiff Half

Further afield Nicola Hopkinson competed in the 37th running of the Chicago marathon. Nearly 45,000 runners hit the pavement to participate in this year’s marathon ,sponsored by The Bank of America. The Chicago Marathon is one of the largest, most exciting marathons in the world. With over 1.7 million spectators lining the 26.2 mile course, the energy was high and the support was strong to cheer on their family and friends.
On a fast predominantly flat course and in near perfect conditions Hopkinson recorded an impressive 3.46.33 placing her in position8497 running even paced and going through halfway in 1.52.36.
The previous week Declan Cullen completed the Cardiff half marathon in 1.43.02. He reported that conditions were very good if somewhat crowded on the course with 20000+ runners – the 2nd biggest half marathon in the UK.

 

 

  Press Report 6th October 2014  

Oct 062014
 

Southend on Sea 10km
Sunday 5 October

There were 4 runners from Ilford AC in the annual 10km along the Southend seafront. The large field of 972 were headed by the home team’s England International Adam Hickey in a time of 30mins 26secs. The first of the Ilford quartet home was Kieran McKenna in62nd spot in 39m 49s, while Carol Muir recorded 56m 01s in 564th and 123rd female. Nicola Chester crossed the line in 610th place with 56m 55s and Pam Jones put in a fine run to take the award for 1st F65 in 653rd spot with a time of 58m 22s.

Enervon Activ 10km
Manila, Philippines
Sunday 5 October

Ilford Acs Blair McWhirter, who is teaching in Manila for a year, took part in his first race in the country in this event staged on the same day as the Manila Marathon. The race started at the unusual time of 5am, when the temperature was already 26C and the humidity 90%. Blair took to the conditions well finishing in an excellent 3rd place in 33m 01s.

Report by our Man in Manila

 

  Press Report 30th September 2014  

Sep 302014
 

Valentine’s Park 5km
Ilford
Sunday 28 September

Ilford AC fielded no less than 26 athletes in the local Sunday’s Valentines Park 5k and event co hosted with East London Runners. It was a very successful day for the Club with 9 finishing in the top 20. Warm sunshine greeted the field of over 200 runners in what was also the final fixture of a very successful ELvIS summer series, a grand prix event comprising 7 local races between 8 competing local Clubs.

Tom Gardner was always in the leading pack and took control of the race on the second of the two laps to win in 16mins exactly. 16 year old Ahmed Abdulla was close in second in a new personal best of 16m 09s. The ever reliable Malcom Muir was 4th with 16m 53s taking the M40 category prize, while another 16 year old also recorded a personal best in 6th spot with 17m 04s. Steve Philcox placed 8th and second in the M40 grouping with 17m 26s and Kevin Newell continued to show good form ahead of his run in next month’s Dublin Marathon, in 9th with 17m 36s. Kevin Wotton came home 16th in 18m 18s , Tony Hyde 17th with 18m 19s and Neil Crisp placed 2nd in the M50 category in 20th with 18m 30s.

The men were completely dominant in the team match retaining the ELvIS league title they won last year after a season long tussle with East London Runners

In the ladies match there were also good performances from the Ilford team. Krystle Balogun came home second in a new personal best of 19m 40s, while Jenni Sheehan moved through the field on the second lap to finish 5th in 20m 50s, which smashed her previous best time for the distance by 45 seconds. Bree Nordin was again the F55 group winner in 21m 32s for 9th lady and Mel Jones gave a brave performance to finish 15th despite being troubled by an Achilles tendon problem in 22m 52s and won the F45 category.

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The ladies finished a close second to East London in the ELvIS match and East London came out worthy winners for the season competition.

Veteran Peter Ryan, more renown for his Racewalking exploits , won the M60 age group in 20m 27 in 49th overall while 78 year old Gerry Pells had a run out finishing in 34m 08s. Another notable prformance came from Carol Muir who equalled her personal best of 25m 55s finishing 139th.

Also in action: Kieran McKenna (26th 18m 59s) Rohan Alexander (32nd 19.26) Declan Cullen (91st 22.53) Billy Green (104th 23.47) Steve Cheal (121st 25.01) Suki Jandu (129th 25.26) Nicola Chester (145th 26.48) Sharon Honey (148th 26.58) Julia Galea (153th 27.27) Pam Jones (161st 29.07)

ESSEX CROSS COUNTRY RELAY CHAMPS 2014
Ilford had 2 teams at these championships held at Hockley last Saturday both competing over 3 legs each of 3k.
U/17 team
Jack Maher,the Club’s track specialist opened on on Leg 1 coming home in 12th place but still not too far adrift of the leaders. This meant that on Leg 2 Usamah Patel had the task of pulling back the lead putting in a excellent run and bringing the team up to 4th place in a tight finish. This left Ahmed Abdulle on the anchor leg to give chase. Having one of Essex top athletes George Ellliott of Chelmsford with him he broke him about half way through the last leg to bring the team home in 1st place & champions

Ilford XC relay squad
U/13 Team
This team who have only been together for a short time & never run in a event like this before were outstanding coming home in 3rd place for the bronze medal. On Leg 1 Arun Manget got them off to a excellent start,with Bradley Deacon on Leg 2 holding it together. This left Manraj Gill on the anchor leg to bring the team home for this superb performance.

Walkers News
Folks,
Ilford AC walkers were in action on Wednesday at Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park
within sight of Egbaston Cricket Ground, for the annual 10 Kilometres’
Championships of both the British Police and Civil Service. These 2 separate
events were held in conjucton over 6-and-half laps on a sunny afternoon but
using a course with fallen leaves and conkers spelling danger with possibilities
of athletes turning ankles on such obstructions.
Overall winner was Sussex policeman Gary Witton, one better known as an
accomplished steeplechaser, in 51.47, with fellow early pace setter Pete Ryan
(Essex Police) 2nd in 53.46. 3rd was stalwart John Hall (Civil ervice)in 56.32.
4th was Civil Service Walking Secretary Steve Uttley in 57.23 who started well,
but eased back after a caution late into lap 2 from a fussy judge. Uttley
rallied well to edge ahead of Stuart Bennett (Metropolitan Pollce) who clocked
57.23. Former Ilford AC members John Llewellin (7th) & Gary Smith (9th)
represented their Organisations as did Civil Servant Bob Dobson, 18th in 68.49,
who has more appearances in this event than anybody else!
Medals were claimed by Ilford AC members, as the 2nd Police athlete was Ryan,
and 2nd Civil Servant was Uttley. Bennett was 3rd in the Police stakes and was
in the Metropolitan Police team which retained their British Police
Championship, with 2nd placed Essex Police including Ryan in their ranks.
On a hot Saturday afternoon at the delighfully situated Hemel Hempstead track,
the Enfield League held their annual “One Hour” race in which competitors have
an hour to race walk as far as they can. Clear favourite was star teenager
Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Harringey AC) who opened a small gap over Ilford’s
protagonist Francisco Reis in the early stages before hotting-up his pace just
before halfway when storming to victory by covering an impressive 12,860 metres,
as Reis came 2nd with 11,579 metres under his belt. Captain Steve Uttley walked
soundly to reach 10,603 metres and 6th spot, while Team Manager Stuart Bennett’s
10,120 metres secured him 7th position.
Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)

  Press Report 22nd September 2014  

Sep 222014
 

Pleshey Half Marathon
incorporating the Essex County Championships
Sunday 20 September

On a calm Sunday morning a field of over 400 gathered in the picturesque Essex village of Pleshey for the annual half marathon, which once again included the Essex County Championships within the race. The route is over a rolling course on quiet roads around the village and is a test for all standards of runner.

Ilford AC fielded 10 entrants in then Championship and were led home by a great performance by Kevin Newell in 8th place in a new personal best of 1 hr 18 mins 19 secs. Supporting him were Steve Philcox in 12th with 1h 19m 04s, just seconds outside his best time for the distance, a run which won him the county silver medal in the M40 age group. The team scorers were closed by Neil Crisp. who showed good form with 1h 24m 31s in 37th and took the bronze medal in the M50 category. Ilford were placed 5th team in the county championship.[shashin type=”album” id=”141″ size=”medium” crop=”n” columns=”max” caption=”y” order=”date” position=”center”]

Bree Nordin was best of the club’s ladies placing 14th in the race with 1h 37m 18s and once again took the county title in the F55 category. Another club athlete putting in a good performance was Jenni Sheehan who in her debut at distance recorded 1h 41m 33s for 170th overall and showed much promise for the future. Dianne Crisp recorded 1h 51m 24s in 257th and Carol Muir was 330th with 2h 03m 25s.

Rob Sargent ran his best half marathon time for two years with 1h 42m 22 in 179th, with Declan Cullen close behind in 186th and 1h 43m 09s. The squad was completed by Graham Williams who finished 354th and 4th with M70 age category in 2h 04m 21s.

Blackwater Sprint Triathlon
Sunday 21st September 2014

Ilford AC Super-Veteran TerryKnightley and club photographer Kim Baxter competed in the 12th running of the Blackwater Leisure Charity Sprint Triathlon on Sunday 21st September 2014 in Maldon. At 7.30am sharp the 200 competitors started lining up in their triathlon suits and goggles for the 400 metre pool swim to commence the event.After completing the weakest of his three disciplines in 11 minutes and 4seconds, Knightley raced into transition and speed off into a chilly headwind round the 23km undulating two lap bike course finishing in 49 minutes and 9seconds but he really came into his own on the 6km two lap multi-terrain run which he completed in just 25 minutes and 17 seconds overtaking many competitors on the way !

The NineTimes Essex County Road Running Champion Knightley finished in 65th place overall in 1 hour 28 and 44 minutes taking 6th place in his age category whileBaxter knocked 8 minutes off her personal best time and came home 130th in 2hours 3 minutes and 40 seconds for the event.

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BH5K – Sunday 21/09/14
On Sunday Ilford AC’s Chris Togwell took part in his 7th BH5K, a bi-annual fun run around the beautiful woodland grounds of the Naturist Foundation in Orpington (Brockenhurst Wood). The club is set in 50 acres on theside of a hill and the course is 2 and a half circuits of their perimeter path with a couple of circuits of the meadow first; this ranges from concrete roadways to woodland paths, which were rather pitted this time due to the excessive rains of the last year. There was a good turnout of 45 runners. Starting at the top of the course, Togwell led the field around the first circuit of the meadow, but dropped to 4th place on the second. Running without a watch he guessed his pace was faster than normal but felt comfortable.Staying with this group, he was able to move up to 3rd place on the second main lap. However, this was at the cost of a slight twitch in his right ankle, so he settled in and held his position until the end finishing in a time of 20:04 on a course that was slightly less than 5k.

Round Norfolk Relay
Saturday 20th September / Sunday 21st September 2014
Meanwhile Ilford AC 2nd claimer Sally Gillam competed in the prestigious Round Norfolk Relay which is a 197 mile continuous relay in 17 separate unequal multi-terrain stages,
the ultimate club challenge and a unique experience.Sally ran leg 11 which was the 12.45 miles between the Norfolk villages of  Eresham and Scole. Competing for her first claim Cub Harwich she set off slightly behind schedule at 10.40 pm on Saturday night on a miind blowing straight stretch virtually all on the A143. As this was a night leg on a major road she had to be accompanied by a support car with a flashing amber light and Ilford AC’s Martin Clarke on a push bike. Undeterred by the rapidly falling temperature and the onset of a driving drizzle Gillam picked up the pace closing down some runners towards the end finishing very strongly and vrtually bang on her predicted time of 1hour 52 minutes being only 9 seconds adrift.