Essex cross-Country League Match 3
Hylands Park, Chelmsford 7 December 2013.

The third match of this years Essex Cross-Country league was held at Hylands
Park, Chelmsford last Saturday on a firm, fast grassland course in good
conditions. Ilford Ac fielded teams in both mens and ladies matches, who
produced their best results of the season so far, but the best performance
of the day came from Usamah Patel in the boys u/15 race where he had a
superb run to come home 2nd in 12mins 40secs for the 4km course, just 5
seconds behind the winner.

The ladies raced held over 6.4km saw the Ilford team pack well. Bree Nordin
led the way in 35th, and 1st in the F55 category, in 29m 20s. Mel Jones was
next over the line 12 seconds behind to take 36th, and 4th in the F45
grouping, while Dianne crisp finished 38th with 29m 54s (5th in the F45
category). the team was closed by Jenni Sheehan one place and 4 seconds
behind her Mother. Nicola Hopkinson gave her normal battling performance for
47th in the 92 strong field in 30m 55s. Overall the club finished 9th in the
match in the 21 team league.

The men were boosted by the first appearance in the Essex League this year
of Malcolm Muir who came home 14th in 27m 37s for the 8km race. Spencer
Hempstead continued his excellent form over the country finishing in 20th
with 27m 50s [1st V40], while Tom Gardner finished 27th in 28m 07s. Next
home was the in form Kevin Newell in 51st and a good time of 29m 33s and
Neil Crisp was a creditable 81st (5th in M50 group) with 31m 23s. Bradley
Brown closed the scoring 6 in 116th and 33m 24s. Also in action were Darren
Bottrill (135th 35.02) and Steve Cheal (196th 41m 55s). There were 206
finishers in the race and the Ilford squad placed a season high in the match
of 8th.

At the half way point of the season the Ilford teams are place: men 9th and
ladies 10th

Report by Hank in the Bushes

picture courtesy of Jenni Sheehan

Indoor Middle Distance Meeting
Lee Valley Wednesday 4 December 2013

At the indoor track at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre a series on middle
distance races was held on the banked 200m track.

The first event of the evening was the 1000m where Ilford AC’s Krystle
Balogun handled the track well on her first indoor outing to finish 4th and
1st lady in heat 2 in a time of 3 mins 19.19 secs.

In the 3000m there were 5 men from the endurance squads at Ilford on the
entry list. In heat 1 Tom Gardner finished 9m 13.42 secs, while there was an
impressive performance from 15 year old Usamah Patel in heat 2. He came home
3rd in a new best time for the distance of 9m 26.19s. Also in this heat were
Kevin Newell, who also improved his best time for the event to 9m 29.14s, in
5th and Sam Rahman 9th with 10m 07.35s. Steve Philcox ran a well judged race
in heat 3 to take the victory with a time of 9m 52.96s.

Report by Warrior Dog

Brixton 10k

Brockwell park Sunday 8 December 2013

Nicola Chester and Carol Muir made the short journey to South London to take
part in a very hilly and tough event. Nicola Chester ran well clocking 55:26
for a new PB. Carol Muir finished in 61:02.

Report by Carol Muir

Malaga International Marathon

Malaga Sunday 8 December 2013

In the Malagar International Marathon Sunday morning (8th Dec) on a nice
part waterfronted course lined with happy weekend holiday Spaniards, Helen
Hooper (v45) running barefoot was well satisfied with her time of 5hours
01min 04s knocking off some 19 minutes from her previous best time set in
London.

Report by Gerry Pells

Southwark Park Run

Saturday 7 December 2013

Dad and I missed last week’s run as he made some excuse about having sore
muscles. Personally I think it was either because it was Southwark Park’s
run number 13 or possibly because there was a very fast VM55 visiting from
Exeter and Dad didn’t want to look like a slug. This runner looked
remarkably like Andy Catton, but when I suggested that it was him in
disguise checking up on us, Dad said that it couldn’t possibly be, as Andy
is a VM60!

After the last run, we talked tactics. I suggested that we fit rotating
blades to the buggy axles to stop runners overtaking us, but Dad thought
that this was un-sportsman like and said that I had to stay awake instead. I
agreed and so promised not to nod off this time. Dad also had promised after
last week to ‘practise’ before this race, so he didn’t have sore muscles
again. He said that he had done 46 miles running over the last week. This
must have been right as story times were really short and Dad was snoring
long before I was asleep most nights.

Dad started really strongly this time and I kept guard on runners trying to
sneak past us. We actually managed to pass a couple of runners as the
‘practise’ seemed to have worked. We steamed round the course at a great
rate of knots, but on lap 3, I succumbed to the smile of the lady behind and
let her pass us. I don’t think Dad minded this one slip. He kept strong
until the end and we finished 17th in 22:13, which was 44 seconds up on last
time. I said to Dad that if he kept this up, we would have the World Record
in the bag by summer. He wasn’t convinced.

Report by Lukas Togwell (Aged 10 months)

Downton Half Marathon near Salisbury

Salisbury

Sunday 24 November

On a cold crisp morning Kevin Newell lined up at the start of the Downton
Half Marathon near Salisbury. The Ilford ac athlete is on a good run of form
of late & he didn’t disappoint this time. On a very up and down course
taking the runners through the beautiful New Forest, passing the odd horse
on the way, he led from start to finish to come home in a time of 80 mins 25
secs. 205 runners finished the race

Report courtesy of The Cowboy from the Abbey

Chelmsford 10km
Sunday 24 November

Six runners from the endurance squad of Ilford AC tackled the rural course
of the 408 entrant strong Sunday Chelmsford 10k, which finishes on the
Melbourne Park track. Heading up the team, who returned good times for the
autumn season, was Malcolm Muir, just back from injury, in 11th with 34 mins
15 secs, with Steve Philcox 20th and 2nd in the M45 category with 37m 24s.
Tony Hyde recorded 38m 08s for 36th and Darren Bottrill, who has returned to
the team after a couple years away from the sport, 88th in 41m 43s with
Bradley Brown just 2 places and 2 seconds behind.

Report by Hank in the Bushes

Southwark Park Run

Saturday 23 November

My dad Chris and I took put in our second Southwark Park Run yesterday, I had
a grandstand view from my buggy as he pushed me round the flat 5Km course.
He started well, running at a good pace mid field. My job was to psyche out the
following runners so that they didn’t overtake us, which I can do effectively as my
buggy seat is rear facing. This I did for the first 3 and a half kilometres until
I fell asleep, inevitable I’m afraid with the lulling motion of the buggy round the
winding course. This gave the runner behind his opportunity and he passed us to
leave us finishing in 16th place out of 34 runners. Dad’s time of 22:57 was 53 second
s up on last week’s effort and was good enough for 1st VM55 runner; not difficult
as he was the only VM55! However, Park Run do a handicap % figure
(the % of the world record for age and gender) and using this figure of 68.12% he was
placed 3rd. Not bad as I’m sure the world record wasn’t set pushing a buggy and baby!
Report by Lukas Togwell (aged 9 months).

Stebbing Remembrance Day 10 Road Race

Sunday 10 November

Nearly 500 runners lined up for the start of the Stebbing 10 mile race on a
very crisp and windswept Remembrance Day morning. Ilford AC were well
represented with no less than 7 men and 6 women competing in this Essex
Championship race over a rural course of quiet yet exposed country lanes and
track.

The eye catching performance of the day came once again from Kevin Newell
who continues to improve on his personal bests, this time clocking 58.53 for
14th place. He was ably supported by a strong well packing trio consisting
of Steve Philcox 60.41 (24th) Kevin Wotton 61.06 (28th) and Sam Rahman
61.58 (33rd).

In the women’s race Breege Nordin proved a class above her opposition
winning the over 55 category in a good time of 73.37 and taking the Essex
gold medal in the process. The mother and daughter pairing of Dianne Crisp
and Jenni Sheehan closed the team with 79.58 (216th) and 81.10 (235th)
respectively. Nicola Hopkinson 81.23 (240th) led the ladies B team home
which also included good runs from Carol Muir 95.54 (420th) and Nicola
Chester 97.50 (433rd).

Others performing with some distinction were Dan Cogan making his 10 mile
debut for the club and coming home in a creditable 71.23 (117th) followed by
superveteran Martin Clarke making a welcome appearance at a 10 mile finish
with 77.59 (193rd).

The hapless Terry Knightley started the race but unfortunately had to pull
out at 3 miles due to a troublesome hamstring injury.

Ilford’s Claire Levey attended the race in her capacity of County President
presenting the prizes afterwards as well as lending her considerable vocal
support to the runners as they passed.

Top performer of the morning was once again Billericay’s Crispian Bloomfield
who triumphed over some stern opposition mainly provided by Orion Harriers
and Springfield Striders to blast home in 53.56.

Report by a man rapidly going backwards. Pictures below courtesy of Kim the
Blur

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Chingford League – Hog Hill 5km
Tuesday 5th November

The third match of this winter’s Chingford League was held at the Redbridge
Cycle Circuit and attracted a large field of 258 despite the clash with
Bonfire Night. There were 11 in the race from Ilford AC’s endurance squad,
who ran as guests as the club are not members of the league. Heading the
club home was Kevin Newell, who is in fine form at present, in 21st place in
a good time of 17mins 55 secs for the demanding hilly course. Next home was
Steve Philcox in 30th and 3rd in the M40 category with 18m 16s and Kevin
Wotton in 19m 09s for 52nd. The leading lady for the club was Krystle
Balogun in 97th and 7th in the ladies section with 20m 52s.

Rob Sargent finished 158th with 22m 50s and Ted Skinner was 163th in 22m
55s, while Breege Nordin was the second Ilford lady to finish placing 170
overall in 23m 10s.

Also in action were: Peter Spelman (227th) Nicola Chester (236th) Carol Muir
(247th 30.01) and Meredith Floate

Report by Hank in the Darkness