Pembrokeshire Coastal Ultra

Little Haven, Pembrokeshire

Saturday 3 May

Ilford AC’s New Zealand sensation Blair McWhirter continued his winning ways at the Pembrokeshire Coastal Trail Ultra Marathon. The race is over undulating rugged but scenic terrain in the Pembrokeshire Coastal national park measuring 34.8 miles. Blair, running on his London Marathon training, finished 1st in a new course record of 4hrs 31mins 31 secs, which was previous held by sub 2:09 marathon runner Mark Steinle. His winning margin was over 23 minutes.
McWhirter now intends to concentrate on shorter distances over the early summer looking to set new personal bests at 5km and 10km.

Night of 10000m PBs
Parliament Hill, Hampstead
Saturday 10 May

A series of 5 10000m races were held on the track at Parliament Hill, the home of British Cross Country racing. The final 2 races were trials for the British teams at this summer’s European and Commonwealth Championships and runners achieving the target times were Andy Vernon, Jo Pavey and Beth Potter.
Ilford AC were represented on the night by Malcolm Muir who ran in heat 2. Malcolm gave his usual gutsy performance moving up the field as the race progressed to come home 14th in a field of 23 in a new best time for the distance on the track of 32mins 48.36 secs.

Crystal Palace Open Track Meet
Saturday 10 May

Bradley Brown of Ilford AC has been concentrating on trackwork of late and his efforts were rewarded with a new personal best of 5mins 16.87 secs as he placed 6th in heat 1 of the meeting at the Crystal Palace track

We Own The Night 10km
Victoria Park, Hackney
Saturday 10 May

Krystle Balogun was another Ilford AC athlete in good form at the weekend. She took part in the bizarrely named We Own The Night 10km race for women only in Victoria Park and on the fast flat course ran an evenly paced race to set a new nbest time for the distance of 41mins 28secs in 17th spot.

Bluebell 5 – Report by Kim the Blur

Two Ilford AC runners along with 250 other athletes went for a 5 mile race through the muddy Little Havens Wood Nature Reserve at Thundersley on Sunday 11th May in the annual BLUEBELL 5 MILES RACE. Across a picturesque undulating cross country route Steve Philcox boldly came home 3rd finishing in a spritely 30.26 winning the first over 40 veteran award. He was followed by Over 50 Veteran, Terry Knightley, in his first race of the year after a 3 month lay off from the sport finishing in 40 minutes and 24 seconds Taking 52nd Position. The Overall winner of the event was Crispian Bloomfield of Billericay Striders.

Grand East Anglian Run 10km
King’s Lynn
Sunday 4th May

13 runners from the endurance squad of Ilford AC travelled up to Norfolk to take part in the Gear 10km which incorporated the British Masters Championship. The fast, flat course,, ideal weather conditions and a field of over 2000 led to them returning their fastest times for many years.

First over the line for the club was Malcolm Muir in 7th with 32mins 31 secs, backed up by Kevin Newell in 36m 18s for 71st and Mike Horsey taking spot 168 in 39mn 46s. Together they combined to finish runners up in the British Masters Championship in the M35-44 age group.

Neil Crisp was the club’s leading runner in the M45-54 age category in 93rd place with 37m 07s, Steve Parker was next up in 42m 49s for 271st and Rob Sargent came home 400th in 45m 18s.This team placed 4th in the BMAF event.

Kieran McKenna finished in 39m 45s, while Steve Cheal recorded 48m 55s in 600th.

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The ladies had a good day. Melinda Jones finished 48th in the ladies race and 370th overall in 44m 41s and took the silver medal in the F45 category in the British Masters race. Nicola Hopkinson had a fine run for 64th lady (489th overall) in 46m 50s and Dianne Crisp recorded 47m 22s for 69th, 509th overall. Combined they won the British Masters Championship in the F45-54 grouping and took home the gold medals.

Pam Jones had a close battle with Anne Martin of local team Wymondham AC winning the F75 category by just 6 seconds in 57m 51s for 278th lady. Pam also won the British Masters medal for this group, moved to number 1 at 10 km and number 3 all time at 10km for F75.

Carol Muir smashed her personal best time by almost 2 minutes to 54m 15s in position 195th in the ladies listing.

Victoria Park 5 miles
Hackney Saturday19th April

The 48th Victoria Park 5 miles road race was held on a fine spring afternoon last Saturday. The event which also doubled as this year’s Ilford AC Road Championships saw a number of club runners who were not in last week’s London Marathon line up in a starting field of over 200. The race was won in a quick time of 23m 39s by Southend’s British International Adam Hickey with Ilford’s Malcolm Muir 8th in 26m 20s, a few seconds outside his best time for the distance.

Next home for the club was Steve Philcox who was just under 30 minutes in 57th with 29m 53s while club coach put in a creditable run of 36m 47s in 129th.

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Krystle Balogun smashed her personal best by over 2 minutes to place 6th in the lady’s race in 32m exactly while there was also a new best time for Nicola Chester of 44m 13s for 174th overall and 47th in the lady’s race.
Carol Muir was 51st female in 46m 18s and Pam Jones took the trophy for 1st lady in the F65 category in 47m 47s.

Also in action were Steve Cheal and new club president Gerry Pells who clocked 39.01 and 46 minutes exactly respectively.

In the team competition the Ilford ladies were 4th,while the men placed 5th