Press Report 15th April 2014 – VLM 2014  

Apr 152014
 

VLM London Marathon – 13th April 2014

On a perfect Sunday morning for running 16 gallant Ilford AC athletes were among the 34000 plus on the start line at Blackheath for the 34th London Marathon. The club achieved a set of fine results, which included 7 new best times for the distance, showing their winter training program went well

There was another superb performance from the club’s Kiwi runner, Blair McWhirter. Blair ran a well balanced race reaching halfway in 71 mins and moved through the field in the second half to finish in a new personal best time of 2hr 23min 27secs to place 25th overall. This result places 2nd on the marathon rankings for New Zealand for 2014 and earns position 5 on the Ilford all time list.

The next two club runners home both recorded personal best, Robin McNelis with 2h 48m 50s for 531th and Sam Rahman in 758th in 2h 53m 23s.

Kevin Newell and Kevin Wotton completed the Ilford sub 3 hours runners with solid performances of 2h 58m 02s (1140th) and 2h 59m 33s (1349th) respectively.

Recent signing Mike Horsey was another setting a personal best of 3h 3m 55s, while Tony Hyde put a creditable run of 3h 16m 37s. Paul Holloway found the going tough in the second half crossing the line in 3h 19m 08s. A couple of runners making their marathon debuts were James Roberts in 3h 23m 47s and Richard Mould with 3h 41m 22s, while Rohan Alexander improved his best time to 3h 36m 39s.

There were big personal bests from Declan Cullen, who took 45 minutes off on his way to 3h 49m 35s and Satha Alaganandasundaram just missed breaking 4 hours with 4h 02m 39s, an improvement of 41 minutes.

Bree Nordin was the only female entrant from the club finishing 20th in the F55 age grouping with 3h 41m 45s.
The Ilford squad was completed by Peter Spelman with 4m 18m 20s still finishing in the top half of the field.

Event regular Steve Allen race walked the London Marathon in a creditable 5 hours and 12 minutes, keeping diligently to an even-paced schedule. A former postman he donned a traditonal Post Office peaked cap and also raised a tidy sum for Diabetes UK.

Many Club members together with family and friends helped rehydrate the runners cheering them through the water station at the 19 mile mark in Canary Wharf which was ably run by station leader Robert Spelman.

 

  Press Report – Pre London 8th April 2014  

Apr 082014
 
BMAF World Indoor Champs Budapest
Ilford AC’s superveteran John Batchelor has returned  from the British Masters Indoor World Champs in Budapest where the standard in the M70 distance races was unusually high.  Batchelor placed seventh in the 3000m after leading the field for the first kilometre, whereupon he was passed by a string of former World or European champions fighting it out for the major honours.  Although John was unable to stick with them in the mid-race section he closed on the leaders over the last few laps to finish in 11:48.03, close to his season’s best.
The Ilford man comfortably made the final of the 1500m, but in the final against similar high-quality opposition was again unable to pick up the pace when it mattered, and again, though finishing fast took another seventh place, in an indoor personal best of 5:32.58.

The Club now prepare for next Sunday’s blue riband event, The London Marathon, when 14 Ilford AC members will make their way to Blackheath and Greenwich Park for the early morning start. Once again family and friends will be lending their considerable support, cheering on and rehydrating runners at their 19 mile water station in Canary Wharf and also at other various places along the 26.2 mile route.

Martin

  Press Report 31/03/2014  

Apr 012014
 

Havering Spring Warm Up – Hornchurch

Iain Gains reports
“Two 10 year olds who have moved up from the u/11 squad competing in the u/13 1500 had excellent runs, Arun Manget winning in 5-32 Pb from his training partner Bradley Deacon who was running in his first 1500 in 5-44.In the u/17 800 Jack Maher in his first outing on the track this year won with ease in 2-01.The meeting was running late so the 1500 had u/17-20-seniors-vets in one race which meant Usamah Patel had to take on his training partner Tom Gardner who was having his first run due to injury. Tom won the overall race 4-14 with Usamah 1st u/17 and 3rd overall in 4-21.”
Endurance man Bradley Brown was also in action using the opportunity to work on his speed running the 100m (15.2) 400m (66.4) and 800m (2.36) for a busy schedule.”

Paddock Wood Half Marathon – Sun 30th March

After waking up and seeing that my garmin had been turned on for the last 24 hours and had no battery left I realised I’d really have to steady my pace to not over cook it.

Ran steady with the aim of around 85 mins with the shape I’m in right now and takin into account that my general runs have not been over 7 miles. Half way I was 42.50 and 10 miles I was, 1:04(ish) So to come home In 84 mins was really good for me and felt I really ran within myself and did not miss my watch. A real beauty of a race in the lanes with the shade and no wind. A proper PB course if your in the right shape – mostly flat with a few rolling inclines. Won in 65 mins and a top field of runners with 2070 on the start line.

Report by Ben Jones

World Masters Half-Marathon Championship
City Park, Budapest
Sunday 30 March

It was a bright, sunny morning in City Park, Budapest as a field of 500 lined up for the World Masters Half Marathon. The 9am start and the shady course meant that the runners avoided the heat of the day.
Ilford ACs Rob Sargent took part in the M55 category in the race which was over a 5 3/4 lap course. Rob start steadily and moved up the field to finish 31st in his age group in 1hr 44min 31 secs and was the 3rd scorer on the Great Britain team which once again finished in 5th spot.

Report by Rob

  Press Report 24th March 2014  

Mar 242014
 
ESSEX ROAD RELAYS – CHELMSFORD SATURDAY 22ND MARCH
Vet 45 Ladies shine once again!!
Last Saturday saw 20 runners from Ilford AC participate in the annual Essex Road Relays at Chelmsford. Ilford AC were able to field 2 teams in the Ladies race and 4 in the Men’s which made us one of the best represented teams there.
Over the normal 3.5mile  [approx] course round the country lanes of Chelmsford the Vet Ladies 45 team were the pick of the teams as Mel Jones [26:18 1st leg], Dianne Crisp [27:48 2nd leg] and Nicola Hopkinson [27:58 3rd leg] sealed an excellent team performance taking the bronze medal.
In the Senior Ladies race Jenni Sheehan [26:30 1st leg], Krystle Balogun [24:18 2nd leg] and the evergreen Pam Jones [35:34 3rd leg] finished a very creditable 6th.
Due to ineligibility on the part of our youngsters and Blair McWhirter, Ilford AC were unable to field their strongest Senior Men’s A Team. However, this did not prevent some excellent performances on the day.
The Men’s A Team of Sam Rahman [21:32], Tom Gardner [19:36], Kevin Newell [21:58] and Malcolm Muir [18:51] finished a fine 7th place. The Men’s B team of Usamah Patel [20:05], Blair McWhirter [18:35 and 3rd quickest of the day], Jack Maher [21:29] and Michael Horsey [23:00] combined well to finish 8th overall.
In the Men’s V40 race Steve Cheal [28:07], Kieran McKenna [23:23] and Rob Sargent [27:12] finished 11th.
The Men’s V50 team of Neil Crisp [22:20], Steve Parker [25:54] and Satha Alaganandasundaram [27:04] were just out of the medals in 5th place.
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Orion 15
Club stalwart Iain Wilson was Ilford’s sole representative at the 60th running of the classic Orion 15 on Saturday morning. In the usual very sticky and tough hilly conditions Wilson acted as pacemaker for his wife Mary who is training for May’s Edinburgh marathon.
Brentwood Half Marathon
After a good run in Saturday’s relays Ilford’s Sam Rahman was back in action the following day to post a  time of 82.19 for 32nd place in the Brenwood Half Marathon. Robin McNelis led the troops home with a fine 79.40 for 16th ahead of Steve Philcox who ran 81.37 for 26th place. Paul Holloway was not far adfrift clocking 85.30 for 51st and Richard Mould chipped in with 89.42 for 102nd. Breege Nordin was the only female Ilford representative producing her usual consistently good performance when recording 95.12 for 194th. Kent AC’s James Connor headed the field of nearly 2500 finishers.

  Press Report 17/03/2014  

Mar 182014
 

British Masters Cross-Country Championship

Tollcross Park, Glasgow
Saturday 15 March

The British Masters Cross-Country Championships were held on a testing but firm grass hard course at Tollcross Park, Glasgow on a windy Saturday afternoon.

The first race was the women’s’ 6km event over 3 laps. Ilford Athletic Club had two representatives in the race with Dianne Crisp finishing 73th in 28 mins 30secs who 15th in the F50 age group. Local legend Pam Jones crossed the line in 37m 48s for first in the F75 grouping to take the gold medal.

There was more success for the club in the men’s 8km race where Malcolm Muir placed 3rd in the M35 grouping with 26m 39s and was 6th overall. Kevin Newell recorded 30m 57s for 10th in the same age group and 70th overall, while Neil Crisp had a good run in 79th in 31m 25s. Also in action were Steve Parker in 122nd with 37m 05, Rob Sargent(127th 39.330 and Steve Cheal (36.36 128th). Crisp, Parker, Sargent and Cheal combined as a M45 team and were placed 6th.

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Colchester Half Marathon
Sunday 16 March

Blair McWhirter continued his winning form in the Colchester Half Marathon last Sunday. Ilford AC runner McWhirter led home the 2000 plus entrants in 69m 09 beating last years winner and local club man Adrian Mussett into second.

Further back there was a big new personal best for Satha Alaganandasundaram in 430th spot. His time of 1h 47m 26ss beat his previous best by 4 1/2 minutes.

Both of these runners are in the Ilford squad for the London Marathon.