AMSTERDAM MARATHON
Sunday 16th October

The Amsterdam Marathon was held in good conditions with a slight breeze and Ilford AC had three representatives in the field of 12658 finishers.

The trio were led by Sam Rahman in 580th place. He went through the halfway point in 1 hr 26 mins 29 secs and kept the pace going to finish in a good time of 2hr 53 mins 37 secs.  Aaron Browne ran his fastest marathon for six years coming home in 3 hrs 11 mins 17 secs. Tony Young reached halfway in 1hr 58 secs 59 secs but was troubled with a leg injury in the second half but continued to cross the line in 4hrs 45mins 11 secs.

Essex Cross Country League
One Tree Hill Thurrock
15th October 2022

The first race of this year’s Essex League Cross Country season took place on the challenging course of One Tree Hill in Thurrock over the weekend, and Ilford AC were very well represented with 21 runners on the day.

First up was the Under 15 boys and Ilford AC entered 3 runners on the 4k course.

First home was Samuel Crane in 15:39 for 20th place, closely followed by Ryder Islam in 16:08 in 28th place. Competing in his first season for the club Aron Berhe impressed with a time of 16:45 for 33rd place. The boys finished in 6th place on the day, although with 4 needed to complete a team a 4th runner would have seen them in the top 3.

Next up was the U17 men and whilst Ilford AC were, unfortunately, only able to enter one runner Joseph Grange proved it was quality over quantity as he came home in 2nd place in a time of 22:05 over the 6k course.

The Senior ladies also ran the same 6k course and Ilford AC were well represented with 7 runners.

Leading the team home and continuing to impress in only her second season as a senior lady was Jordan Hinds in a time of 28:21 for 16th place. Jordan was backed up with great runs from Amy Bird in 31:24 for 35th, Melinda Jones in 33:04 for 51st and Hannah Sheikh just one place and one second behind in 52nd place. The ladies’ team of 4 did well to finish 6th in Div. 1 on the day.

Backing the team up with good performances was Alison Sale, just outside the scoring team by 2 seconds in 33:07 for 53rd , Anna Crawley in 35:39 for 71st and Diane Crisp in 93rd place in a time of 39:31.

Final race of the day was the Senior men over a challenging 8.2k course and Ilford AC put out 10 runners.
Leading the men home was Tom Gardner in 6th place for 27:51 backed up by Alex Richards in 12th place in 28:23. Gary Coombes made a welcome return to come home 42nd in 31:13 whilst Dylan Harrod had a great run to come home 82nd in 33:36. Completing the team of 6 with excellent performances were Richard Woolterton in 35:!9 for 106th place and Stephen Crane in 35:42 for 110th.
Backing the team up were Terry Knightley in 36:45 for 122nd place, Neil Crisp 37:55 for 134th, Bradley Brown 41:51 for 173rd and Jim Tilbrook 47:46 for 200th place.

The men’s team finished 8th on the day

Great South Run 10 Mile
Portsmouth
16th October 2022

The Great South Run is The South Coasts biggest running event attracting over 20,000 runners for the fast flat 10 Mile course.

In a high quality field, which saw the first five athletes running in Sub 48 minutes and the eventual winner Ben Conner finishing in 47:19, Ilford AC’s Ahmed Abdulle kept with the early pace but slipped back slightly to finish in a still very highly credible 12th place in a time of 49 mins and 55 seconds

Kosice Peace Marathon
Slovakia

The 94th edition of the oldest marathon in Europe was held this weekend in Slovakia.

Included in the starting line-up was Ilford’s Zuzana Sinalova

After moving back to her home country Slovakia a few years ago Zuzana remains a loyal member of Ilford AC and continues to run in the clubs’ vest

This was Zuzana’s 4th Kosice Marathon, and she smashed her personal best time over the distance finishing in a time of 3 hours 26 mins 25 secs and placing 20th in her age category

RACE-WALKING SECTION

 

GOOD SHOW BY ILFORD AC

Ilford AC contested the 2022 Enfield Race Walking League’s penultimate, held on Saturday morning at Enfield’s Queen Elizabeth II Stadium track. In football seasons, athletics is a morning activity as afternoons are for Isthmian League Enfield Town FC’s fixtures.

The race was an annual “One Hour” event, which sees competitors lap the track for exactly 60 minutes. In the men’s race Ilford’s inform John Arthur led home his Club’s entrants, despite having a bad night’s sleep in preparation.  He shot off to a convincing opening 35 minutes before hitting a bad patch, which took much willpower to get over. When getting  properly going again, he had the satisfaction of finishing strongly to account for 9,319 metres for 4th position.  In 5th came another Ilford man enjoying fine form as Simon Morgan recorded 9,017 metres. Stalwart Dave Kates was 7th in 8,705 metres. The race had Essex County Championship status, and as the first Essex man home, John Arthur received the coveted Phil Embleton Memorial Cup, which was presented by Tokyo Olympic 20 Kilometers’ walker Callum Wilkinson of the host Club, Enfield & Haringey AC.

The women’s race saw victory by Melanie Peddle of near neighbors Loughton AC with 10,148 metres to her credit. Lesley Morris walked well for 4th spot with 8,535 metres with Shaheda  Arthur 9th with 5,782 metres on the board. Rachel Lawless gave it her best shot, but was unwell and had to retire from the action. 

With one race to go, over 7 miles at Enfield on November 12th, Ilford have already done enough to have won the Enfield League title.

LONDON MARATHON
Sunday 2 October

There was an outstanding run from Sameena Ahmed of Ilford AC at Sunday’s London Marathon as she finished in 3 hrs 09 mins 34 secs for 2775th place in the field of 40000 and 56th in the F40 category. Sameena ran at a steady pace throughout the race reaching halfway in 1 hr 34mins 53 secs. Her time was a personal best by 42 minutes and also a new Ilford club record for her age group and the 5th fastest Ilford lady in its 99 year history. She was one of the 8 Ilford runners in the race.

Amy-Louise Bird was making her debut at the distance finishing in 3 hrs 31 mins 39 secs while Sebastian Parris, found the going hard in the latter stages of the event recording 3 hrs 32 mins 47 secs

Dennis Briggs crossed the line in 3 hrs 45 mins 11 secs, followed by Gaye Young finishing in 4 hrs 11 mins 38 secs.

Deeper in the field were Ray ‘Sparra’ Everingham in 5 hrs 15 mins 45 secs, Julia Galea with 5 hrs 30 mins 04s and Brennie Gabbidon in her first marathon in 5 hrs 45 mins 28 secs.

Brennie’s partner Rhoan Gabbidon also ran the Marathon virtually on the day in a time of 4 hours 51 mins 45 secs

 

Ilford AC also had 8 runners in the London Mini Marathon the previous day, recording outstanding results.
For the U17 boys Joseph Grange finished 3rd with Ronan Edwards recording 28th.
There were 4 boys representing the club in the U15 boys race. Samuel Crane led the pack in 30th with good performances also from Aaron Hick in 49th, Ryder Islam in 77th and James Thake in 102nd.

Ilford had one girl in the race Sofia Crane, Ilfords youngest runner on the day, who ran well for 134th in the U13 girls category.

 

CHINGFORD LEAGUE
Eastbrook End Country Park
Saturday 1 October

The first of the winter’s cross country events was held at the Eastbrook End Country Park In Dagenham in bright conditions.
Ilford AC had 3 runners in the Senior  Chingford League match over about 4 miles. Andy Catton came home 122nd in 32 mins 45 secs with Bradley Brown 147th with 34 mins 32 secs and Jim Tilbrook finishing 203rd in 39 mins 29 secs.

In the earlier Junior races a brilliant run over the approximate 2k course by U11 athlete Khalif Ali saw him share 3rd place in a time of 11.38

Next home for the club was Hashim Khan who despite suffering breathing difficulties came home in 22nd place in 16:31

In the U13 race the first Ilford runner was Damien Amaniampong in 14th position and a time of 14.42.  Followed closely in 15th position by Ibrahim Khan in a time of 14.49.

The U17 race was ran over 4.2 miles due to some marshalling errors but Mohamed Zergouat dug in and finished strongly for 3rd place in a time of 30.46

All the athletes were making their competition debuts and all produced great performances. 

 

Ingatestone 5
Sunday 18th September 2022

There were 6 Ilford AC runners in this long established race. 

The race takes place on a challenging course starting from the Anglo-European school in Willow Green, taking in Fryerning and a challenging Beggar Hill before heading back to the finish at the back of the school.

First home for the team was Steve Philcox in 8th spot with 29 mins 37 secs which placed him first in the M50 category title.
Next home, and first for our ladies was Mel Jones in 56th with 37 mins 52 secs, to also claim first place in the F50 category.

Alison Sale was next for the ladies in 66th overall with 38 mins 53 secs. Next home was Frieda Keane in 113th place in 47 mins 31 secs, closely followed by Launa Broadley closing the team in 117th place in a time of 47 mins 58 secs. The ladies finished 3rd on the day.

Backing up the team, finishing in 122nd place in a time of 48 mins 56 seconds was Carol Muir

This charity race has strong links with Ilford AC, being founded by Ilford Legend Howard Williams to raise money for Ingatestone Boys Club. Sadly Howard passed away in 2017, but nevertheless every year a willing team of Club volunteers keep Howard’s legacy by providing a team to administer the on the day entries and results service. Special mention therefore goes to the team of Martin Clarke, Danny Holeyman, Carlie Qirem, Ernie Forsyth, Satha Alaga, Declan and Ethne Cullen, and Billy Green