Essex Road Relay Championship – Chelmsford plus BMAF Cross Country Championship 16th March 2013  

Mar 182013
 

ESSEX ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP – CHELMSFORD

The Essex County Road Relay Championship was held on a very wet Saturday afternoon on a rural course from the Chelmsford track. Ilford AC entered 2 mens and a ladies team in the event. The men’s A team were led off by Tom Gardner who ran the 3.7 mile course in 19m 40s, followed by Steve Philcox (21m 26s) and Sam Rahman (21m 41s). Team captain Malcolm Muir took over on the anchor leg in 8th and moved up to 6th during his leg of 19m 40s. The B team consisted Tony Nixon (24m 11s) Tom King (22m 50s) Peter Clinch (20m 45s) and Andy Catton (24m 02s) and they finished 16th. Steve Cheal also completed a leg for the C team.

Mel Jones led off for the club in the ladies 3 leg event and passed on to Jenni Sheehan in 16th place after her run of 27m 27s. Sheehan moved the team upto 13th with a leg of 27m 07s before Breege Nordin ran the anchor in 26m 12s to place the team 10th overall.

Report by Hank in the Bushes

BMAF CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP – SUNDERLAND

A small squad from Ilford AC travelled north for the British Masters Cross-Country Championship held at Herringto Country park just outside Sunderland. the weather conditions were much better than down south, cool,dry with sunny spells. The race was over a 2km lap on soggy, energy sapping grassland.

The first race was the men o-65 and ladies and consisted of 3 laps. Both Ilford ladies were racing in the F50 category and both started slowly and moved steadily up the field. Dianne Crisp, in her first race since November following a foot injury, came home 9th in 31m 04s, while Nicola Hopkinson put in a gritty performance and finished just 6 seconds and 2 places behind her.

The mens team was weakened by the withdrawal of Neil Crisp and Kevin Newell with injuries,although they did make the trip to support their teammates. The two Ilford runners both found the going tough with Steve Parker finished 128th in the overall placing in the 4 lap M35-64 mens race in 40m 23s.and 25th in the M55 category. Rob Sargent came home in 43m 10s for 138th overall and 31st in the M55 age grouping

Report by Geordie Jim

 

 

 

  St Clare Hospice 10K Road Race – 17th March 2013  

Mar 172013
 

On A Cold, Wet And Windy Sunday Morning at Hastingwood in Harlow, Sole Ilford Athletic Club Representative, Terry Knightley, Ran in the The St Clare Hospice 10K Road Race. Battling for position over the undulating country lanes with David Johnson of Thurrock Harriers, Terry Finally Finished in 5th Position Overall out of a field of well over 300 Athletes to claim The First Veteran Over 50 Trophy in a time of 37 minutes and 9 seconds and also beating the first veteran over 40 by almost 2 minutes. The Race was won By Mike Briggs of Benfleet Running Club in a time of 34 minutes 55 seconds.

 

 

 

 

  Racewalking Report – 12th March 2013  

Mar 132013
 

REIS IS ON TRACK

FRANCISCO REIS brought another National title to Ilford AC on a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon, not that conditions troubled competitors disputing the British Masters Athletics Federation National 3,000 Metres Walk, for it was at Lee Valley’s centrally-heated indoor arena in North London. Reis was an emphatic winner, with a most impressive blast from gun-to-tape which none could match, seeing him finish in 13 minutes and 54 seconds which was well clear of 2nd placed former Olympic representative Ian Richards (Steying AC). The Ilford athlete’s performance drew praise from both from colleagues and rivals alike.

  National Title for Ilford AC Member – Racewalking 10th March 2013  

Mar 122013
 

After a well-earned 5 months’ lay-off following her Olympic appearance, Ilford’s Bethnal Green-based Lithuanian International athlete NERINGA AIDIETYTE made it 3 wins from 3 starts since returning to action in late January.On a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon on a multi-lap course inside Hackney’s Victoria Park, Miss Aidietyte won the National 10 Miles Women’s Championship “by a distance” to borrow a term from the turf. From the gun the Ilford star went clear of all rivals and pressed on; without chasing company offering any threat, to clock an excellent 79 minutes and 43 seconds at the finish, streets ahead of 2nd place Lauren Whelan (Belgrave harriers).NeringaOn the same programme was the National Men’s 10 Miles, in which Ilford AC went to post as defending team champions. Across the card, including supporting events, turnout was lower than expected as athletes scratched on account of intense cold and also due to major traffic chaos following closure of the Dartford crossing. With last year’s 3rd placed athlete FRANCISCO REIS competing, and winning, the National Indoor 3,000 metres Championship at Lee Valley, it was left to Captain STEVE UTTLEY to head Ilford’s challenge, which he did with distinction gaining a high 5th place in 89 minutes and 11 seconds despite completing his entire journey virtually in his own company! Consistent STEVE ALLEN was 8th in 93.50 and, with evergreen former International ED SHILLABEER 13th in 103.32, Ilford AC were 2nd National team just a shade behind Ashford AC. In 19th place came former Captain DAVE KATES who eased himself back into racing after a long injury. He was delighted to record 107.46 on a day not conducive to fast times.In conjunction with the National 10 Miles was the Essex 10 Miles Championship in which Uttley was 3rd behind Colchester Harriers International twins Daniel & Dominic King, who were 1st & 2nd Essex competitors respectively. With Shillabeer not eligible for Essex events it was Kates who closed home Ilford’s team which retained their County title. Ilford AC member Mrs CLAIRE LEVY is now Essex County Athletics Association President and she was on hand to make the awards.
Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)