Press Report 23rd August 2022  

Aug 242022
 

Isle of Wight Half
20th August 2022


Ilford AC stalwart Malcolm Muir took a short break in the Isle of Wight and took part in the Half Marathon organized by Ryde Harriers.
The course is one of the toughest Half Marathons in the UK and is an undulating, town and rural, single lap course passing through Yaverland, Whitecliff, Bembridge, St. Helens and back towards Sandown via Brading taking in some of the Islands beautiful coastline.

Malcolm put in his usual gutsy performance finishing in 15th place in a time of 1 hour 26 minutes and five seconds.

  Press Report 16th August 2022  

Aug 162022
 
Southern League
Woodford
Saturday 13th August

On Saturday Ilford AC Co hosted the Final Southern League match of the season along with Woodford at their venue at Ashton Playing fields.

Ilford members  provided good support staff although the turnout of competing athletes was a little disappointing on a blistering hot Saturday

Those members that did compete helped the club to 4th place and there was also an opportunity for some of the new members to race for the first time.
Ian Johnson, Mohammed Zergouat, Jeremiah Brown and Sherry Nantongo all made their debuts in the senior league competition.
All did the 100m with Ian running 11.91, Jeremiah 12.3, Mohammed 12.58 and Sherry 14.68. Jeremiah and Sherry returned later in the day to also gain points in the 200m.

Also competing in the ladies sprints were Krystle Balogun who came 2nd in the 100m, in a season’s best time of 12.85 and Aleena Lawrence who was 3rd in the B string. Ayshah Lawrence ran a pb and a sub 14 second time.
Krystle also came 2 nd in the 200m
Toyin Olufemi threw a pb distance of 27.04 metres to win the A string discus and she also placed 3rd in the shot putt.

On the Middle distance side Jordan Hinds gained her usual points by placing 3 rd in the 800m and 2nd in the 400m. She was backed up in the 800m by Gemima Eshimu Massmamba who was 3rd in the B string.
Sameena Ahmed contested the longest race of the day the 3,000m, and in very hot conditions placed a very good 3rd place.

Dylan Harrod had a busy day, after breaking 2 minutes for 800m for the first time in mid week, he had a much easier win in the 800m on Saturday in a time of 2 minutes 6 seconds. An hour later he was 3rd in the 400m in a pb time of 53.1 seconds,  In his third track race of the day he placed 2nd in the 200m in another pb of 24.78. Finally he also won the B string triple jump with 9 meters 54.
Rhys Edwards also had a busy day,  running seasons best times in placing first in the B string 400m and also winning the B string 1500m, before placing 3 rd in the A string Triple jump.

Joseph Grange competed in the 1500m, and had a very good run, finishing in second place only 1 second outside his pb. Paul Grange and Tom Gardener did the longest race of the day, which was the 3000m and completed wins in both the A and B string events.
Wes Clarke was ever reliable in the Hammer, but this time had to settle for second place, he was joined in the Hammer by Pete Whiting who took 3rd in the B string. Pete followed this up by also gaining points in the shot, discus and Javelin.

Ilford finished the match in 4 th place, which is also where they finished for the season.

SCVAC (Southern Counties Veterans Athletics Club) Match 4
Harrow
Monday 8th August

A small team travelled to a warm and sunny Harrow for the final match of the SCVAC season on the evening of Monday 8th August.
There were no Ilford competitors for the 800m so the first track entries were in the 200m.
Henry Ricketts came home 4th in 28.76 in the V50 category. Dave Butler placed 5th in a time of 37.96 in the V60 category.
In the 3000m Steve Chissell competed in the V50 category coming home 5th in 12.04.88. Dave Butler placed 2nd in 11.49.10.

In the V35 Javelin, Henry placed 6th with a distance of 24m 34.
Best results on the evening came from Pete Whiting who placed first in both V60 Javelin and Shot Put with distances of 23m 73 and 7m 11 respectively.

The team finished 6th on the evening and 4th overall for the season.

 

Colchester Fast Friday 5k
Friday 12th August

The Colchester Fast Friday event consists of 5 x 1k laps of a closed road circuit. Although the course is flat and ideal for fast times the weather was very hot even with the early evening start.

Despite the conditions the two Ilford Athletes competing Sam Rahman and Anna Crawley posted great times.
Sam ran 17:19 for a seasons best and finished 32nd and 3rd V40 Male. Anna was very close to a PB and posted a time of 21:19 to finish 55th and 6th Senior female

Pitsea Crown to Crown 5k
Wednesday 10th August

The Crown to Crown is a long established race normally taking place on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from Pitsea Country Park.
The course is a measured 5k undulating part trail and part road route, which is challenging in parts, yet equally picturesque.
The route takes runners out of the Country Park onto Lee Chapel Lane and into the Essex Wildlife Trusts’ Willow Park. The middle section is a clockwise loop round the nature reserve.

Ilfords only entrant in this years race was Gary Coombes who put in a strong performance to finish in 3rd place in a time of 18 mins 31 seconds

 

 

  Press Report 9th August 2022  

Aug 092022
 

FOREST FIVE (Elvis race 6)
​Chingford
Saturday 6 August

The sixth round of the 2022 Elvis league was held in the forest at Chingford on a warm sunny Saturday morning over a 1 lap 5 mile course which was dry and featured a few climbs. Another hazard for the runners was when a herd of cows wandered onto an early part of the course 

The Ilford AC men’s team put up a good challenge with Gary Coombes leading the squad in 8th place in 30 mins 03 secs taking the prize for the 1st M50 in the field, The in form Sam Rahman was next over the line with 30 mins 52 secs for 10th one place ahead of Steve Philcox who recorded 30 min 56 secs.
Seb Parris ran in his first Elvis race of the season taking 15th in 32 mins 42 secs. Diarmuid Mac Donnell came home in 24th with 33 mins 37 secs and Joel Denning closed the Ilford scorers in 40th in 36 mins 04 secs.

The Ilford men finished 2nd in the match and are now placed 3rd in the table with 2 matches to go.  The top 3 in the league are separated by a few points and the end of the season will be closely fought.

The Ilford ladies were under strength due to injuries and the holiday season but Sameena Ahmed put in a great performance to finish in 29th place and 3rd lady in 34 mins 07 secs while Joanne Reeves came in 74th with 38 mins 45 secs and Bree Nordin won the F60 category prize in 39 mins 53 secs for 85th.
Alison Sale placed 97th  with 41 mins 07 secs and Mandy Reid finished in 139th with 45 mins 17 secs. Sharon Honey completed the 6 scoring team in 149th with a time of 46 mins 19 secs

The Ilford ladies put in a good team performance to finish 4th and sit 3rd in a closely fought league where just 3 points separate East London, Eton Manor and Ilford.

Sean Costello made his club debut in this event with a time of 42 mins 14 secs for 106th overall.

Other Ilford Runners:  Adam Coals, 53rd  36.59,  Dennis Briggs 73rd  38.33,  Andy Catton 75th  38.58,  Bradley Brown 92nd  40.30,  Declan Cullen, 114th  43.09,  Rob Sargent, 156th  47.36,  Ray Everingham, 171st  49.53, and  Julia Galea 175th  50.07.

Hercules and Wimbledon invitational 1500m meet

After a successful season at the longer distance, Ahmed Abdulle stepped down to the shorter distance of l500m.
Looking for a 3:50 time, Ahmed exceeded his own expectations coming home in 8th place in 3:47 taking an amazing 9 second of his previous best over the distance. This time places him 3rd in the all time Ilford AC list over the distance.
The race winning time was 3:38

  Press Report 2nd August 2022  

Aug 022022
 

SCVAC
Lee Valley
25th July

Ilford Vets team travelled to Lee Valley on the evening of 25th July for match 3 of the SCVAC league.

Great performances on the evening resulted in the Men’s Team winning the event.

The Ladies team was represented by Emma Dyos and Lesley Morris who competed in the 2000m walk finishing 1st and 2nd in their competition age groups in times of 10.44.3 and 13.02.9. Shahida Arthur non-scored and finished in 19.38.9.

In the Men’s walk John Arthur and Simon Morris both won their age groups in 12.00.06 and 12.55.00. Stuart Bennett as a non-scorer finished in 13.03.1.

John Crawley debuting as a Vet covered all the track V35 events as follows:

100m 14.26 2nd

400m 62.86 3rd

1500m 5.14.51 1st

He also non-scored in the Triple Jump with the longest leap on the evening of 9m 81.

Henry Ricketts covered V40 sprints covering the 100m and 400m in 14.02 and 68.14 for 3rd in both events. This position was mirrored in the V35 Triple Jump (8m 45) and V50 Javelin (26m 16). In the V35 Discus the distance of 22m 10 secured 5th.

James Lambden competed in the V50 short sprint and finished fourth in 14.83. Unfortunately, an injury in the Triple Jump out paid to any further involvement on the evening.

Cliff Warren covered the V60 sprints where he finished 2nd in the 100m and 400m in 14.53 and 67.38. In the V50 Triple Jump he continued the trend of 2nd place finishes.

Due to the injury picked up by James, David Butler covered the V50 long sprint gaining 5th place in a time of 79.27. Staying in the same age group he competed in the 1500m finishing 3rd in 5.36.13. Steve Chissell ran as a non-scorer and came home in 5.48.69.

Fabrizio Stefanoni won the V40 age group and race overall in the 1500m in a time of 4.46.72.

Peter Whiting achieved 21m 98 in the V60 discus for 2nd place. He also threw the Javelin 21m 44 as a non-scorer in the V50 age group.

The medley relay team of Henry, Cliff, John, and Fabrizio brought the baton home in 1st place in a time of 4.25.46.

 

 

 

 

LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km
​Hyde Park
Friday 29 July

On a fine sunny day, the July edition of the Last Friday of the Month 5km took place in London’s Hyde Park.
The race, organised by Serpentine Runners, was over a surprisingly slightly undulating 2 lap course around the north side of the park and the starters included 3 runners from Ilford AC.

Sam Rahman showed that he is in good form at present with a 12th place finish in 17mins 23 secs, equalling his fastest time for the distance this year.
Rob Sargent also showed improved form coming home 96th in 27 mins 17 secs, his best time this year and placed him 5th in the M65 age category.
Carol Muir completed the Ilford trio in 114th in 32 mins 17 secs also placed 5th in her age group.

 

  Press Report 26th July 2022  

Jul 262022
 

Harold Wood 5km
Elvis Series – Race No 5
Wednesday 20 July

There was an outstanding performance from the Ilford AC ladies team at the 5th round of this years Elvis competition winning the match with three runners in the top 4 and all scoring six in the top 20

The race was mainly on grassland in the Harold Wood Park and adjoining area with a number of challenging climbs. The Ilford Ladies were led home by Neringa Masilioniene who won the race convincingly heading the ladies field from the start in 18 mins 58 secs, which placed her 18th overall in the field.
Jordan Hinds was third female and 27th overall in 20 mins 07 secs and Sameena Ahmed  4th female and 35th overall in 20 mins 40 secs and won the prize for 1st in the F40 category. 
Anna Crawley was next home in 9th spot, 62nd overall,  with 22 mins 05 secs and Joanne Reeves 13th, 69th overall,  in 22 mins 39 secs. Bree Nordin closed the scorers in 16th place,  86th overall with a time of 23 mins 56 secs. 
Just outside the scoring team was Alison Sale with 24 min s 14 secs for 18th female. 90th overall.

The win by the Ilford ladies moves them up to joint 2nd in the table just 1 point behind East London. With 3 matches left in the series there are 3 teams covered by 1 point so there will be an exciting end to the season 

The Ilford men’s team were under strength due to injuries and unavailability with Steve Philcox leading the team in 14th spot with 18 mins 24 secs and was the first home in the M50 age group.
Next up was the in-form Richard Woolterton in 26th place and 2nd in the M50 group with 20 mins 05 secs and Steve Crane placed 36th in 20 mins 48 secs. Joel Denning finished in 20 mins 52 secs for 38th and Terry Knightley once again won the M60 category prize in 21 min 01 secs for 41st place.
The scoring team was completed by Rohan Alexander who in his first race of the year recorded 22mins 43 secs for 70th overall.
In the match the Ilford squad placed 3rd and remain in 3rd place in the table and will be looking for better results in the remaining matches to improve their standing in the table.

Other Ilford performances: Bradley Brown (89   24.08)  Andy Catton (97th 24:34)  Tony Young (108   25.27)  Dianne Crisp (145  28.08)  Sharon Honey (150  28.45)  Mandy Reid (151  28.55)  Julia Galea (156  29.48)  Frieda Keane (169  30.52) Launa Broadley (181 32:23) and Julie Gillender (202  37:09)