Press Report 6th September 2022  

Sep 052022
 

Hillingdon 20
Sunday 4th September

Sam Rahman gave an excellent performance on Sunday in the Hillingdon 20 mile road race. The race, the oldest of this distance in England, is over 4 challenging undulating laps of suburban Ruislip.
Rahman was in the leading group from the start and reached halfway in 63 mins 30 seconds. The course took its toll in the second half and he came home in 2 hrs 10 mins 51 secs for 9th place in a field of over 230.
The result indicates that he is in good form and is hopeful of a sub 3 hours in  the forthcoming Amsterdam Marathon

The Vitality Big London Half
Sunday 4th September

Three Ilford runners were amongst the 10,000 runners who took to the streets of the Capital in The Vitality Big London Half Marathon.
The race starts by Tower Bridge and finishes at the Cutty Sark, passing by some of the greatest sights our capital has to offer.

In a field of over 8,000 runners Sameena Ahmed run a 3 minute Personal Best to finish 5th in her age category in a time of 1 hr 26 mins 15 seconds.
Second home was Richard Woolterton in a time of 1 hr 30m 05 secs, followed by Steve Chissell in 1 hr 39 mins 19 secs

 

The Essex Way
Essex
Sunday 4th September

Ilford AC had 10 hardy runners flying the flag for the Club in the iconic 33rd running of The Essex Way. 

This is one of the County’s truly inspirational events, with 82 teams from clubs from all over the county and beyond racing on the ancient trails and footpaths which make up the 82 miles of the historic Essex Way that runs from Epping Station to Harwich Old Lighthouse in a 10 leg relay.

The route takes runners across ploughed fields, through large crops, across many a stile and kissing gate and plenty of overgrown bushes and nettles.

There are also the logistics of getting runners back from their finish point to their cars where they started which is why the event is a true ‘team event’ with team members turning up at all start and finish points to both cheer on their colleagues and get them back to their cars where they started before moving on to the next leg.

Alison Sale duly set off from Epping Station at 8am on Sunday morning to represent Ilford on Leg 1 finishing 7.5 miles later at Chipping Ongar.

Leg 2 saw Anna Crawley, making her debut in the competition,  run the 9.5 miles to Good Easter.

Leg 3 had Gary Coombes  running another 9.5 miles to Little Leighs.

Leg 4 was Dennis Briggs running the 10.1 miles to Cressing Church.

Leg 5 saw Tony Young run the 9.4 miles to Great Tey. 

Leg 6 had Billy Green set off to West Bergholt

Leg 7 saw Malcolm Muir run his usual leg of 11.2 miles to Dedham

Leg 8 saw Sharon Honey take up the baton to run the 8 miles to Bradfield 

Leg 9 saw Mandy Reid take on the 6 miles to Ramsey.

The final leg had Stephen Lacey, another debutant of the event, take on the 5.5 miles to Harwich lighthouse

Of the 82 teams entered, Ilford AC finished a very credible 15th place overall

The day finished with a few of the team meeting up for the traditional Fish and Chips and photo on the Lighthouse.

A big thanks to Robin Davies, who every year makes sure the first runner is in place and gets back to their car, and is there for all the later stages giving lifts and grabbing a place for us in the Fish and Chip Queue 

  Press Report 30th August 2022  

Aug 302022
 

KIMBOLTON HALF MARATHON
​Sunday 28th August

The Kimbolton Half Marathon runs from the picturesque Kimbolton Castle, once the home of Catherine of Aragon and now a school, on a route featuring two notable hills around the local villages and back to the grounds of the school.
Ilford AC had three male runners in the field, all training for autumn marathons  and showing that training is going well.

Sam Rahman came home in a creditable 10th spot in 1hr 20 mins 26 secs with Seb Parris coming in less than 45 seconds outside his personal best for the distance in 1 hr 23 mins 31 secs for 17th.
The third club member over the line was Diarmuid Mac Donnell, who is aiming for the Chicago Marathon, recording 1 hr 30 mins 54 secs in 33rd.

Amy Louise Bird was the sole Ilford female in action finishing in a fine fifth spot in the ladies race with 1 hr 36 mins 44 secs. The race was of particular interest to Amy, as Kimbolton Castle was where she attended School

PHIPPS 5K – ELVIS RACE 7
​Barking Park
Monday 29th August

There was an excellent turn out of 33 members of Ilford AC in action in the annual Bank Holiday 5km in Barking Park, which was also the 7th race in the 2022 ELvIS series

The men’s team were led home by Fabrizio Stefanoi in 16th place in a good time of 17 mins 37 secs, while Steve Philcox in 21st took 1st place in the M50 category honours with 18 mins 05 secs. Aaron Browne was next home with 18 mins 10 specs for 23rd spot and there was a new personal best time for Richard Woolterton of 19 mins exactly.  One place and one second behind was Diarmuid Mac Donnell with Ryder Islam recording 19 mins 24 secs for 39th. Craig Livermore finished 40th with 19 mins 27 secs and Joel Denning came in at 19 mins 30 secs for 43rd.

The men’s team finished 3rd on the day and remain 3rd in the league.

Terry Knightley won the M60 age group with 19 mins 57 secs for place 52.

Further down the field Sean Costello and Seamus O’Connell made their club debuts recording 23:14 and 28:59 respectively

Ilford’s Neringa Masilioniene won the ladies race, her third victory in the series this season, in 18 mins 31 secs in a close finish and Jordan Hinds placed 4th lady and 35th overall with 19 mins 10 secs, a new best time for the distance.
Sameena Ahmed came home 6th lady and 49th overall in 19 mins 43 secs to win the F40 grouping, Anna Crawley was 15th (87th overall) in 21 mins 49 secs and Bree Nordin was 18th  (96th overall) and first in the F60 category. Hannah Sheikh returned from illness to finish 25th (117th overall)  in 23 mins 16 secs and closed the teams scorers.

The Ilford ladies won the match and have set up a grandstand finish at the final match at Valentines Park in September with East London and Eton Manor where any of the teams could be crowned champions.

Mandy Reid set a new personal best of 25 mins 03 secs.

Also ran: John Crawley (48th  19.41)  Steve Chissell (67th  20.44) Dennis Briggs (71st  21.00)  Gary Floate (83rd  21.41)Tony Young (92nd  22.15)  Bradley Brown (99th  22.32)  Gaye Young (119th  23.22) Alison Sale (123rd 23.31)  Sharon Honey (171st  26.04) Rob Sargent (191st  27.23)  Dianne Crisp (197th  27.48)  Jim Huddart (202nd  28.07)  Julia Galea (213th  28.34)  Carol Muir (228th  29.33)  Launa Broadley (229  29.35)

After the main Event there was a Junior 2k race which was won by Ryder Islam in 7.32 after also competing in the main race

Ilford had 16 other runners in the race, many running their first race for the club finishing in the following times Ichalif Ali 8.35 / Jeremiah Brown 8.37 /  Anika Sharma 8.43 / Joshua Denning  8.50 / Damien Kwarteng  9.05 / Noah Crawley 9.39 / Luke Thake 9.59 / Jayden McDermott 10.02 / Jude Crawley 10.47 / Hashim Khan 10.54 / Ibrahim Khan 10.59 / Mathiaus Semper 11.11 / Daniel Gutava  11.14 / Ruby Moffat Virk 11.45 / Andre Mullings 13.00 and Mustapha Samb 13.13

SPITFIRE 10K
RAF Museum Hendon
Saturday 27th August

The Spitfire 10K is held to commemorate the Battle of Britain and all the men and women who defended Britain’s skies during the summer of 1940, with all the runners wearing the name of a Battle of Britain pilot with their race number.

The race takes runners around the historic London aerodrome in Colindale, out onto local streets before finishing through the museum past the Spitfire, through Hangar 1 and under the beautiful Short Sunderland Flying boat, before crossing the finish line.

This year Billy Green was the sole Ilford Entrant finishing in a time of 53 mins 56 secs for 88th place

LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5K
Hyde Park
Friday 26th August

Carol Muir ran the Last Friday of the Month 5 km in Hyde Park finishing 134th in 31.08, over a minute faster than her time in the previous month

RACE WALK DIVISION

Southend City Mile
Garon Park Track
29 Aug 22 – ‘B’ Race

The annual Southend Mile Walk now renamed Southend City Mile, reflecting the Borough’s new status, was held over 4 laps of a well appointed Garon Park track on Bank Holiday Monday morning.
It returnS to fixtures lists after a 2 years’ Covid absence.
In a combined race former Commonwealth Games representative Dan King (Colchester Harriers) was a clear gun-to-tape victor clocking 7 minutes a 1 second, but in his wake Ilford’s inform Emma Dyos had the race of her life to place 2nd, not only bettering several men’s performances but also setting a new Women’s mile track record of 8:48, previously held by Loughton AC’s Melanie Peddle. A tight race for 3rd spot saw Belgrave Harrier Colin Harle and Ilford’s John Arthur battling throughout as they’d done a day earlier at Hendon’s London’s StoneX Stadium over 5,000 meters, where the Ilford man got the better of it. This time Harle, who crossed ahead of Arthur, as he filled 3rd place in 9:15 with Illford’s man breathing down his neck to clock 9:17. Rachel Lawless was 6th in a personal best time of 9:32 slightly ahead of Simon Morgan whose 9:36 was a season’s best.  Lesley Morris was the pick of Ilford’s other 5 entrants when filling 9th spot in 10:18.

John Arthur’s morning of athletics wasn’t over, as he entered a Masters 800 meters run and collected a bronze medal!

Photo of some Ilford AC members after racing :  L-to-R : Lesley Morris, John Arthur, Emma Dyos, Rachel Lawless, Dave Ainsworth & Sheda Arthur.


Ilford AC give ’em the old 1-2

Ilford walkers achieved a 1-2 finish in Sunday afternoon’s London Inter-Club Challenge meeting at the StoneX Stadium, home of Saracens Rugby Club, where the Club’s John Arthur and Belgrave Harrier Colin Harle, the reigning British Police champion, strode to the front from the “off” being trailed by Steve Uttley some 15 metres in arrears. Steve Uttley gradually closed the gap and hit the front shortly before halfway in the 5,000 metres race.  He extended his lead to 30 metres by the finish line which he crossed in 30 minutes and 32 seconds. Most interest was shown in a tight battle for remaining frame positions, as John Arthur edged ahead of Colin Harle to claim 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, clocking 30:58 and 31:04.  In a concurrently held 3,000 metres walk, Shaheda Arthur clocked 30:08, so gaining valuable team points for Ilford AC.

Picture : Action approaching halfway as eventual winner Steve Uttley (162) trails race leaders John Arthur (159) and Colin Harle (157).

  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