Press Report 8th October 2024  

Oct 082024
 

Essex Cross Country League
 Hainault Forest
 Saturday 5th October 2024

The 2024/25 cross country season started on a sunny afternoon at Hainault Forest over Ilford’s usual tough course which featured a couple of muddy sections.

Ilford AC had a good turnout of 13 young athletes and twenty Seniors for the first league fixture.
For the youngsters, this was a big step for many of them to a higher level of racing and they all acquitted themselves well.

Competing in the league for the first time in the U11 race over 1.5km was Danilo Reina and Joshua Denning. Both boys ran strongly on a difficult course, Danilo finished 17th and Joshua 25th.

We had six athletes in the under 13s race over 3km.
The girls all stayed in sight of each other throughout the race and showed grit and determination. Iris Wan was a brilliant 20th, Drissialemoy Majen-Akande 22nd and Alicia Adams 24th. The boys raced at the same time with Khalif Ali just getting in the top ten in 9th, Elias Furreedan in 38th and Daniel Guiba 41st.

The Under 15 race was probably the most competitive race of the whole day. They also had the pleasure of the hard hills which the seniors would race later. Hawaa Patel came a promising 31st in the girl’s race and Barney Perkins (37th) and Ethan Guiba (54th) acquitted themselves well for the boys.

Finally, for the juniors we had Samuel Crane and Ryder Islam in the u17s, running over a 7km course. Ryder had a breakthrough performance coming 16th in a good class field, Samuel had a good season opener in 13th.

Leading the way for Ilford Senior Ladies in their race over around 7 km was Jordan Hinds in 24th place in 25 mins 12 secs with support coming from Alison Sale in 25th with 28 mins 37 secs and Bree Nordin recording 29 mins 59 secs for 71st. Pauline Tester came home 78th in 37 mins 03 specs.
Julia Galea completed the squad in 113th in 37 mins 03 secs.
The team compete in Division 2 this season and won the match.

The senior men raced over a course of about 8 km and Ilford were led home by newcomer to the team Manuel Caeiro Vigo in 37th place in 30 mins 34 secs with Steve Philcox 51st and 1st in the M55 category,
 Next over the line in 31 mins 12 secs and Malcolm Muir 61st with 31 mins 45 secs. Seb Parris put in a steady run for 87th and 33 mins 25 secs with Dan Holeyman 96th with 33 mins 49 secs .
Joel Denning completed the scorers in 111th spot in a time of 34 mins 43 secs.
The Ilford men compete in Division 1 of the league and placed 9th in the match
Andy Catton placed first in the M70 grouping with a time of 41:53

Also running for Ilford in this race were::  Steve Chissell (122nd  35.49) Terry Knightley (153rd  37.31)  Bradley Brown (156th  37.50)  Mike Perkins (160th  37.01)  Alan Pearl (161  38.08)   Tony Young (195th  42.19)  Jim Tilbrook (196th  42.27) and Rob Sargent (229  52.42)  

Eastern A.A Inter-County 10k
 Cambridge

This year’s winner of the Inter counties match were Essex, who included Ilford’s Jack Nixon, who finished himself in Second place to add a Silver medal to his Gold,  in a new Personal best time of 30 mins 38 seconds.

 

 

 

  Press Report 1st October 2023  

Oct 012024
 

Vitality London 10k

Last weekend over 15,000 runners took to the streets of our capital city, for the iconic Vitality London 10k. Included in the line up were 7 runners representing Ilford AC

The race starts on the Mall, takes in such landmarks as Trafalgar Square, St Pauls, Horse Guards parade and Parliament Square before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

Leading the team home was Amin Koikai with an impressive 34:36 which placed him 93rd and 2nd in his age category.

Zuzana Sinalova led the ladies home with an impressive run of 42:38 which placed her 111th and 20th in her age category.

Billy Green was next home in a time of 50:56

There then followed 4 Ilford runners all finishing within a minute of each other, Sean Costello 57:35, Joe Ramen 57:52, Mandy Reid 58:11 and Pathrose Louis 58:39


Vitality Westminster Mile

The day before the 10k 3 Ilford runners took part in the Westminster Mile.

Stephen Philcox led the trio home in a time of 5m 20s to place 3rd in his age group, Alan Pearl was 6m 23s for 2nd in his age group and Julie Gillender 9m 55s for 11th in her age group.


Inaugural Berlin 5k 

2 Ilford athletes took part last Saturday in the Inaugural Berlin 5k, held the day before the Berlin Marathon.

Ryder Islam had a very successful outing, placing 42nd and 2nd in his age group, recording a Personal Best time of 18m 02s. Ladies Team Manager, Carlie Qirem, was in Berlin supporting a friend in the Marathon and jogged round with her for the 5k in 32 minutes


Ipswich Half Marathon

The Ipswich Half Marathon attracts over 10,000 runners, starting and finishing at Portman Road Stadium, home of Ipswich Town Football Club. Ilfords Jack Nixon did something Ipswich FC haven’t been able to do this season by actually winning the race in a time of 1hr 08m 03s.

Valentines park 2K

Ilford youngsters had a good turnout at the Valentines park 2K run held for athletes under 15 years of age.

Luke Thake took a very early lead and ran a very strong race to win in a new personal best of 7 minutes 5 seconds,

Luke was followed home in third place by his ever improving team mate Elias Furreedan also in a PB of 8 minutes 18 seconds.

Newcomer Ewan McKinstry showed great form and a glimpse of what is to come in the future with a great run of 8.25m to clinch 4th place 

Hawaa Patel was first placed female in a time of 8.29m

Ever improving Iris Wan put in another PB performance to finish 6th place in a time of 8.48m

Ilford sprinter Kenina Nkrumah turned her hand to the longer distance finishing 7th in a very credible time of 8.43m excellent for a first attempt at the longer distance.

Josh Denning achieved a Personal Best for the distance in a time of 8.57m despite missing the start of the race , finishing in 8th place 

Future Ilford AC youngsters Chloe Chissell and Archie McKinstry took on the course accompanied by their dads and finished in times of 12.26m and 14.13m respectively. 

Ilford AC youngster Chloe Chissell producing a great spring finish
Kenina Nkrumah and Iris Wan in close competition
Hawaa Patel in a race to finish eighth Ewan McKinstry and Elias Furreedan
2K team. Hawaa Patel, Iris Wan , Luke Thake, Kenina Nkrumah, Ewan McKinstry, Elias Furreedan and Chloe Chissell
Winner Luke Thake

  Press Report 23rd September 2024  

Sep 232024
 
National Cross Country Championship
Shropshire

The 2024 National Cross Country Championships were held this year at Weston Park Shropshire.
The men’s race consisted of a really tough, hilly 3 x 4k laps.
Only one Ilford athlete was prepared to put themselves up against the best cross country runners in the Uk, and that was Jim Tilbrook who was very pleased with his time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 58 seconds which placed him 505th on the day

Valentines Park 5km (ELVIS)
Ilford

The concluding race of the 2024 ELVIS series was held on a flat fast course in Ilford’s Valentines Park.
Ilford entered a remarkable 31 runners, which resulted in both our men’s and women’s teams gaining 1st place on the day

First home for the men was Samuel Crane in 3rd place with a time of 17:10, Josh Adler came in very soon after in 17:36 for 6th place and Chris King was in 9th and 2nd Senior Male with 17:46.
In 11th, 12th and 13th place respectively were Stephen Philcox 17:49, Malcolm Muir 17:59 and Berekhet Berakhy completing the scoring team also recording a time of 17:59.
These 3 were also 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the M50 age category on the day.

With 6 runners in the top 13, all recording a sub 18 minute 5k, it truly was a great day at the office for Ilfords men, finishing 1st on the day and 2nd in the final league table

Leading the ladies home was Jordan Hinds, placing 5th female on the day in a time of 20:23. Jordan was backed up by Gemma Ellender in 11th place for 22:02, Leila Lauder in 12th place in 22:07, Carlie Qirem in 18th in 22:52, Breege Nordin in 20th in 23:47, which placed her first VF60,  with Alison Sale completing the women’s team of 6 coming home in 24:29 to claim 26th place.
A very good day for the ladies, claiming their first victory of the 8 match season and securing 4th place overall for the 

As well as the first, second and third M50 winners and first FV60 winner, Ilford AC also picked up the following prizes on the day:-

1st, 2nd and 3rd M60 prizes – Neil Crisp 28th 19:33, Dave Thomas 40th 20:13 and Steve Chissell 42nd 20:28
2nd VM70 – Andy Catton 88th 23:25
2nd VF60 Pauline Tester 110th (29th female) 24:52.

With the season reaching its conclusion, the following prizes will be awarded at next months awards night, with results based on the individuals best 6 of the 8 races:-

Stephen Philcox – 1st VM50
Danny Holeyman – 2nd VM50
Steve Chissell – 1st VM60
Neil Crisp – 2nd VM60
Dave Thomas – 3rd VM60
Andrew Catton – 1st VM70
Dianne Crisp – 2nd VF60

Ilford’s other runners on the day were:-

Ryder Islam 26th 19:25, Samuel Joseph 33rd 19:45, Tarik Qirem 51st 21:28, Adam Coals 57th 21:49, Aron Berhe 59th 21:57, Stephen Lacey 61st 21:55, Leila Lauder 65th 22:07, Stephen Crane 84th 23:03, Anthony Young 87th 23:23, Dianne Crisp 158th 28:19, Fabrizio Stefanoni 175th 29:35, Launa Broadley 188th 31:18 , Julia Galea 196th 31:57 and  Renee Chissell 203rd 33:07

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  Press Report 17th September 2024  

Sep 172024
 

PLESHEY HALF MARATHON (Incorporating the Essex Championship)

The Essex Half Marathon Championship was held in conjunction with the Pleshey half marathon for the 11th consecutive year.

The race from the village green in the picturesque village is held over rural roads on a rolling course and was held in warm conditions.

Ilford AC had 10 runners among the 300 or so finishers and came away with a handful of county medals.

Sam Rahman led the way for the club in 20th spot with 1:17:41 to claim a bronze medal in his age grouping. Next home was Stephen Philcox in 37th place in 1:23:03 to gain a silver medal in his age grouping. Next home was Danny Holeyman in 45th place in 1:23:57 followed  by Richard Woolterton in 1:26:41 for 61st and Diarmuid MacDonnell in 1:29:11.

Third medal of the day went to Steve Chissell who claimed a Bronze medal in his age grouping, coming home in 1:32:37 for 83rd place.

Terry Knightley was next home in 92nd place for 1:34:37, followed by Alan Pearl in 1:39:42, followed just one place and 2 seconds later by Tarik Qirem.
The squad was completed by Dennis Briggs, who came home in 121st place in a time of 1:41:29


DEDHAM 10K

Also running in Essex was Billy Green, who was Ilford AC’s sole representative in the Dedham 10k. The race, in its 30th year runs through Constable country in Essex and offers a very scenic, but challenging, hilly course.
Billy placed 114th, with a time of 50 minutes 54 seconds.


CAUSEWAY COAST HALF MARATHON

Further afield, John Crawley represented the club in the Causeway Coast half marathon.
The course traverses the Causeway Coastal Path and takes in some of the best scenery and trail running Ireland has to offer. A mix of terrain, from rocks, gravel and sand to mud, grass and seaweed with some steep climbs thrown in for good measure.
Given the difficulty of the course, John was pleased with his time of 1:47:33, which placed him 11th in a field of over 500.

  Press Report 10th September 2024  

Sep 092024
 

Southern Counties Veterans Athletic Club Final

Last Saturday, the Ilford Vets team travelled to Oxford for the 7 team finals day against the other divisional winners.

The day was going to be a test with a small team and athletes having to come down age groups to cover the middle distance events.

Sam Malekout had a busy start to the day covering 3 field events as M35 all scheduled for the same start time. He finished fourth in the long jump, seventh in the hammer and sixth in the pole vault where he injured his calf. In between the field events he also competed in the A string 100m finishing fifth. Despite the injury he also finished sixth in the shot, fourth in the discus and second in the javelin also as M35.

Akwasi Nkrumah was A string in the 200m, 400m and 800m finishing sixth, sixth and fifth respectively. In the B string 100m he finished fifth and second in the triple jump.

Chris Scott covered the B string 200m, 400m and 800m finishing sixth, fifth and third respectively.

Fabrizio Stefanoni ran the A string but placed as B string 1500m and 3000m finishing third and fourth respectively. He also ran over 800m as M50 finishing fourth.

Malcolm Muir ran B string but placed as A string 1500m and 3000m placing fifth and seventh.

Michael Osunsami ran the M50 sprints finishing seventh over 100m, 200m and 400m and placed fourth in the M50 high jump

Neil Crisp came down an age group to cover 1500m and 3000m M50 placing seventh and sixth.

Henry Ricketts covered most M50 field events finishing fourth long jump, sixth triple jump, sixth shot, fifth discus and fifth javelin. In the M35 high jump he placed sixth.

James Lambden as M60 finished fifth in 100m and seventh in 400m. He placed sixth in the high jump and fourth in the long jump.

Peter Whiting in the M60 discus and javelin placed sixth in both. In the M50 hammer he again placed sixth.

David Butler coming down an age group ran the 1500m and 3000m as M60 finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

Winners on the day were Wesley Clarke in M60 hammer, Steve Crane M35 walk and Steve Uttley M50 walk. Ernie Forsyth finished an impressive fourth in M60.

The 4 x 100m relay team of Henry, Michael, Chris and Akwasi finished seventh and the 4 x 400m relay team of Akwasi, Michael, Chris and Fabrizio finished sixth.

The team performed admirably to finish sixth on the day.

Huge thanks to Steve C and Ernie for helping with field judging all day other than when they were walking and to Claire Levey as track judge throughout the day.

Thanks to all the athletes over the season who competed for the team resulting in 3 match wins and then the finals day.

If you’re interested in vets athletics for next season, please get in touch. We are eager to welcome all age groups especially the younger age group and ladies to form a team.


THE VITALITY BIG LONDON HALF

Five 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.

First male and female finishers for the club, despite not running together, finished within 25 seconds of each other. Steve Chissell finished in 1 hour 36 minutes and 23 seconds, placing 7th in his age group very closely followed by Zuzana Sinalova in 1 hour 36 minutes 48 seconds.

Coincidentally the next 2 runners also finished very close to each other whilst not running together. Nick West finished in 1 hr 54 mins 05 secs, followed by Stephen Lacey in 1 hr 54 mins 26 secs. Closing the team out was Karen Kufour who was pleased with her effort, coming in at 3 hours 8 mins 27 secs.


DORNEY LAKE HALF

Situated just outside Windsor, Dorney Lake hosted the 2012 London Olympics rowing events and provides a wonderful backdrop for running events.

Sam Rahman of Ilford AC, who is currently training for the Chicago marathon, showed how well his training is going by running a 9 year PB to finish in 3rd place overall in a time of 1 hour 18 mins 08 secs.


THE GREAT NORTH RUN

Three Ilford AC runners made their way north to Newcastle for this year’s Great North run, joining in excess of 60,000 others running the 13.1 miles from Newcastle down to the coast at South Tyneside.

The race set off in typical geordie, late summer weather. It was wet and miserable. 

Leading the trio home was Tony Young, returning to his native North East, coming home in 1 hŕ 53 minutes 56 seconds, closely followed by Nick West in 2 hours 4 minutes 07 seconds.

Georgina Carney was very pleased with her time of 3 hours 17 minutes 20 seconds, which was a personal best for her over the distance.


TAKELEY 10K

The Takeley 10k is an off-road countryside race that starts along the Old Disused Railway Track and finishes back at the Takeley Silver Jubilee Hall. 

This yearly event is to raise funds towards the redevelopment of the Village Hall and Sports & Social Club in Takeley.

This year Mandy Reid was Ilfords sole representative, and she was pleased to place 16th in her age category in a time of 59 minutes 34 seconds