Ilford AC Press Report Week Ending Sunday 2 February 2014  

Feb 042014
 

Watford Half Marathon

Sunday 2 February

It was a bright sunny Sunday morning in Watford, something that has been a
rarity recently. Due to the Deluge of rain we’ve had recently this made the
course a little tougher due to the fact sections of the course were flooded.
1750 runners lined up at two separate starts of male and female of the
annual Watford half Marathon. Ilford Ac had 4 representatives in the large
field,. 1st home for Ilford was Blair Mcwhirter in an excellent time of
72.02 which was good enough for 6th place, then came kevin Newell in 65th in
81.25, Bradley Brown in 186th in a good time of 88.40, then came Ilfords
only female representative, Racjhel Allen, in 1305th in an excellent time of
2.01.46

Report courtesy of The Cowboy in the Vicarage

Serpentine, Last Friday in the Month 5k

Friday 31 January

Spencer Hempstead finished a very fine 5th out of 219 runners, and 1st M40,
in 16:29. Spencer’s age-related score was 84.7% John Batchelor placed 96th,
in 21:03, a sluggish but satisfactory run, scoring 87.2% (best male score),
largely due to the fact that I passed another birthday (73rd) a week
earlier. Conditions were cold and breezy, but luckily the rain held off for
the race.

Report courtesy of John Batchelor

Ashford and District 10k

Sunday 2 February

Held over an undulating scenic course in the Kent countryside, new recruit
to the Ilford fold, Matt Woodman, shot off the blocks at breakneck speed and
came home in 33.47 for 3rd place . Ben Jones went off a little too hard in
the first 2 miles and paid the price, never really regaining a steady
rhythm. He stumbled over the line of the revised out and back course in
37.33 for 30th place.

Report by Ben Jones

Ryde 10m

Sunday 2 February

Mike Horsey made the journey to the Isle of Wight for the Ryde 10 and
completed the undulating, aka hilly course in 69:00 for 98th position.

Report by Michael Horsey

LONDON GAMES INDOORS LEE VALLEY U/15 U/17 GRADED MEETING

Lee valley 2 February

Jack Maher, 16, in the top seeded race over 800 controlled this race from
the start running out a comfortable winner in a new indoor Pb of 2-01. His
training partner Usamah Patel 15 had to take on one of the top u/17 1500
athletes but still put up a good performance for 2nd place in a new indoor
Pb of 4-22

Report by Ian Gains

London Indoor Games

Lee valley 25 January

The London Indoor Games were held on the 200m bowl at the Lee Valley
Athletic Centre and Krystle Balogun of Ilford AC continued to show good
winter form. Running in heat 3 of the Senior Women’s 800m Krystle was
running in the leading group throughout and put in a storming last 100m to
take 2nd place in 2mins 24.94secs, just 0.02 seconds off the winner

Report by Warrior Dog

  Ilford AC Press Report Week Ending Sunday 26 January 2014  

Jan 292014
 

SEAA Cross Country Championships – Parliament Hill Fields

Saturday 25 January

Last Saturday saw the annual SEAA Cross Country Championships at Parliament
Hill Fields. As a result of the recent wet weather conditions were
challenging to say the least. All races started just in front of the lido
with the first of many climbs being the familiar 500m “slog” up to the
supporting fans. First up for the club was Usamah Patel. Looking for a top
20 position he had trouble with the condition & had to settle for 44th place
in the U15 race. Jack Maher, using these races in preparation for the track
season found the going even tougher finishing 173rd place in the U 17 race.

The weather was still bright when the Women’s race set off over two laps of
5 miles. Jenni Sheehan, on her first appearance in the Southerns didn’t
disappoint as she was fist Lady home in 238th . She was closely followed by
Dianne Crisp in 267th and Breege Nordin, despite a fall in the closing
stages in 277th. There were 466 finishers.

The last race of the day was the Men’s held over the “classic” 9 miles. By
now the course was well churned. Malcolm Muir had an excellent run as he
finished in 87th. Paul Holloway, also on his first appearance at these
Championships, battled his way round for 314th. Kevin Newell, off the back
of a few races, found the course challenging and was 391st. At this time the
heavens opened as Ben Jones finished in 482nd. Tony Hyde was 607th, Bradley
Brown 705th and Darren Bottrill 795th. The team was 59th and there were 988
finishers.

Report and pictures courtesy of Ian Gains, Neil “Wellies” Crisp & Jenni
Sheehan

  Ilford AC Press Report Week Ending Sunday 19 January 2014  

Jan 212014
 

SOUTH OF ENGLAND INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP LEE VALLEY

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 January

Ilfords young athletes Jack Maher 16 and Usamah Patel 15 competing in this
championship for the first time and over 800 & 1500 which they have never
done before indoors had a excellent weekend. Jack in the 800 came 2nd in his
heat beaten by the eventual winner of the 800 but good enough to make the
final in which he just missed out on a podium position coming 4th in 2-03 pb
for indoors.Usamah 1500 went one better in his final in a race where he got
pushed around being the smallest athlete in the field this did not stop him
from battling through to take 3rd place & a bronze medal in 4-23 pb indoors
& outdoors

Report and picture of courtesy of Ian Gains

Brass Monkey Half Marathon – York

Sunday 19 January

On a cold wet Sunday morning 1700 runners descended upon York for the annual
brass monkey half marathon, 2 ilford athletes travelled north for the
weekend, kevin Newell & Dan Cogan, kevin in the middle of his marathon
training was in first in 80.24 which gave him 60th place & Dan in his first
half with a very good time of 90.36 for 267th place, both celebrated
afterwards with a few well earned drinks and a cake or two!!

Report and picture of Kevin courtesy of The cowboy in Betty’s tea rooms!

Frimley Canal Race
Sunday 19 January

Three members of Ilford AC made the journey South to compete in the Frimley
Canal Race held over 8.2 mile of mixed Terrain of XC and fairly wet n muddy
toe path. A beautiful day and a very scenic race on undulating ground.
Spencer Hempsted was overall winner of the race, followed by Matt Woodman,
3rd and ably supported by Ben Jones in 8th [52:06]

Report by Ben Jones

Benfleet 15

Sunday 19 January

Peter Spelman was part of an Ilford Team at the Benfleet 15. However, he had
a bad cold and lagged way behind the other Ilford runners finishing in 3.30.

Report by Peter Spelman

Endurance Training

For further details of the endurance training (middle distance to marathon)
at Ilford AC please contact warriorsoftime@hotmail.co.uk

  Ilford AC Press Report Week Ending Sunday 12 January 2014  

Jan 132014
 

Essex Cross-Country League – Hockley
Saturday 11 January

The penultimate round of this winters League was held at Hockley on Saturday
in very wet and muddy conditions. The courses were shorter then usual due to
the tough going.

There was a poor showing from the senior men of Ilford AC, who fielded only
4 runners in the 4 mile event. Paul Holloway showed good form coming home
39th in 26 mins 48 secs, while Bradley Brown ran the second half of the race
well to move up to 71st with 29 mins 49 secs. Chris Togwell turned out for
the team for the first time in a few years finishing 78th in 30m 30s, and
Steve Cheal completed the team in 115th in a time of 38m 52s. Only having 4
of the necessary 6 for a full team meant the club could only place 13th on
the day and are now in 10th place overall for the season

The Ilford women fared better than their male colleagues fielding 5 runners,
despite losing one of their leading cross-country runners Mel Jones who is
out with a broken wrist. This injury was suffered in last weeks race.
Dianne Crisp put in her best run of the winter finishing 35th, and 2nd in
the F45 category, in 26m 39s for the 3.25 miles race and Bree Nordin was
once again the leading F55 competitor, in 37th with 27m 13s. They were
backed up by Jenni Sheehan in 42nd in 27m 41s and the consistent Nicola
Hopkinson placed 48th with 28m 47s. The evergreen Pam Jones came home 76th
and is the leading lady in the F65 category over the season. The team
combined to finish 9th team and like the men are 10th overall for the
season.

Report by Hank in the Bushes

Pictures Courtesy of Natalie Crisp and Jenni Sheehan

https://db.tt/4HceDxL8

South of England Indoor Championships
Lee Valley – Sunday 12 January

The first day of the 2014 South of England Indoor Championships was held at
the Lee Valley Indoor Athletic Centre and the programme included the 800m.
Krystle Balogun represented Ilford AC in the event and ran in the first
semi-final. She ran hard for the first 2 laps and was rewarded by finishing
5th in 2 mins 24.55 secs, a massive new personal best by over 5 seconds. The
performance ranked her 8th in the senior ladies competition.

Report by Hank in the Bushes

Endurance Training

For further details of the endurance training (middle distance to marathon)
at Ilford AC please contact warriorsoftime@hotmail.com