Press Report 16th November 2021  

Nov 152021
 

STEBBING 10
Sunday 14 November

The Stebbing 10 took place over a rolling course from the picturesque village of Stebbing on an unseasonably mild November morning..

The race started just after 11 o’clock and a short Remembrance Sunday service. It was a good day for Ilford Ac with 7 Essex medals and 6 personal best times.

The race incorporated the Essex 10 mile championship and the Ilford AC challenge was headed by Malcolm Muir who is in excellent form at the moment coming home in 15th place overall in a time of 59:53. Malcolm was closely followed by Danny Holeyman 24th place in 1:02:02 who attained a new PB over the distance.
Next home, and continuing to add to his V60 achievements was Terry Knightley in 30th place 62:55, a time that broke his own V60 club record and secured him an Essex V60 Silver medal.

This completed the team of 3 which finished in 5th place.
Backing up the team with excellent performances were Stephen Philcox 34th 1:03:48 for a Silver V55 medal, Dennis Briggs 95th 1:11:34 with an impressive PB and Tony Young who also secured a PB for 160th position in a time of 1:17:28

Leading the ladies home, continuing her fine form with a new PB was Carlie Qirem in 87th place in 1:10:50. Gaye Young was next home securing the first of 5 ladies Essex medals with a Bronze V50 medal for 180th place in 1:19:44. Completing the ladies scoring team was Hannah Sheikh who earned a Bronze V45 medal to finish 183rd in a time of 1:20:25.

The ladies secured 4th place on the day.

The team were excellently backed up by Alison Sale and Freida Keane who took Silver and Bronze in the V55 category in 305th and 361st positions in times of 1:30:34 and 1:35:40. These were followed by Julia Galea in 388th in 1:39:37 for a Silver V65 medal and Carol Muir in 423rd in a time of 1:43:18

  Press Report 9th November 2021  

Nov 092021
 

Interclub Vets Race
Loughton
Saturday 6th November

Four male vets ventured across town to the home of Loughton AC to compete in their annual Interclub vets race at Loughton. Reigning male team champions IAC were slightly depleted in numbers due to very late notification of the event being received but they equipped themselves well finishing third overall on the day in a strong field comprising 7 teams.
Gary Coombes had a fantastic run on the undulating 5.2 mile 3 lap course  finishing 2nd overall in a time of 31.15. He was closely followed by Ilford debutant Fabrizio Stefanoni in 7th place (33.36) with Danny Holeyman finishing in 11th spot (33.59) with Diarmuid McDonnell in 20th place (36.19) making up the team.

Billericay 10k
Sunday 7th November

On Sunday Two intrepid Ilford AC athletes travelled to the Essex Town of Billericay to compete in the 25th Annual Billericay Striders 10Km Road Race.
In ideal weather over a one lap rural course and against a huge field of over 600 athletes the two Ilford Runners did the club proud.

First home in 24th position and winning the First Male Veteran Over 60 prize was Terry Knightley in a season’s best time of 38 Minutes and 6 seconds. Knightley had won the race outright back in 1998.

Following him home in 97th place was the ever dependable Adam Coals who clocked 43 Minutes and 52 seconds.

All finishers received a commemorative medal and Mars Bar.


Roding Valley Half Marathon
Sunday 7th November 

Starting and finishing at Ashton playing fields in Woodford, the Roding Valley Half Marathon follows one small lap of approx. 1m before looping out along two longer laps of approx. 6 miles each.
This year in it’s 37th running the race had 2 Ilford entrants, Alison Sale and Frieda Keane.

Alison, who had been chasing a sub 2 hour half marathon for a while, was delighted with her PB time of 1:56:21 to finish in 94th place. Frieda was equally pleased with her time of 2:08:43 which was just 1 second outside her best time for the distance and placed her 126th


British Masters 5km Championship
Barrowford, Lancs
Sunday 7th November

Rob Sargent of Ilford AC travelled north again, this time to compete in the British Masters 5k Championships. The event was held on an overcast breezy Sunday morning over 4 1/2 laps at the fast flat cycling circuit in Barrowfield, near Burnley in Lancashire.
Rob ran a steady race throughout to finish 14th in the M65 age category in 27 mins 14 secs.

 

 

  Press Report 2nd November 2021  

Nov 012021
 

ESSEX CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE
Saturday 30 October
Writtle College, Chelmsford

The second round of this season’s Essex Cross-country League was held at Writtle College on the outskirts of Chelmsford On Saturday and there was a strong turn out from all 24 clubs in the league.
The course was a flat grassland lap which was a little slippery after overnight rain.

The first race of the day in which Ilford were featured was the U15 Boys race, which was also a trial race for Essex selection for the SEAA Inter Counties XC Champs at Oxford later in the year.
The race, over 4k, consisted of a very strong field with the first 3 runners finishing just 2 seconds apart.  In a thrilling finish Ilford’s Joseph Grange came home second in a time of 13:54 which was enough to earn him the coveted Essex vest in what is proving to be a great season for the youngster.
Also continuing to impress in his first season with the club was Samuel Crane who ran a strong race to finish 27th in a time of 16:02

The Senior ladies raced over 2 laps for a distance of around 5.5km and the Ilford AC ladies team was headed by Jordan Hinds in her first senior league race having just moved up from the junior ranks. In an impressive run she came home in 15th place in 22mins 55 secs.
Next home was Carlie Qirem with 24m 35s for 31st, with Alison Sale 54th in 26m 34s. Alison was also 3rd in the F55 category in this race. 
Gaye Young completed the scorers in 62nd with 26m 59s.
The Ilford ladies placed 4th in this second division in this fixture but remain top of the table after their win in the first match at Hockley.

The team was completed by Hannah Sheikh placing 66th with 27m 21s and Sharon Honey in 88th, and 4th F60 on the day, in 29m 21s. Dianne Crisp placed 95th in 30:54 and Launa Broadley completed the squad in 123rd in 38:28

The men raced over 3 laps from a distance of 8km with Ahmed Abdulle giving a strong performance to come home second in 26mins 09 secs.
Supporting him was  Gary Coombes in 34th with 29m 54 secs, placing him as 3rd M45, and the ever reliable Malcolm Muir in 39th in a time of 30m 12s. Dan Holeyman came home 76th in 32m 34s with John Crawley running close to him all the way in the race just 3 spots behind with 32m 40s.
Terry Knightley placed 1st in the M60 age grouping in 97th with 33m 49s . He completed the scoring six which placed the Ilford team 8th in this fixture but they remain 5th in division 1 of the league.

Neil Crisp returned to racing after a break to place 116th in 35m 32s and Denis Briggs came home 148th in 38m 14s. The team was completed by Steve Cheal in 182nd in 44:03 and Rob Sargent 192nd in 48:44

In the u17s male age group race, which was over the same 2 lap course the ladies raced on Ilford had the one runner. Ryan Holeyman ran a strong race and placed 16th in a good time of 20m 42s

WIX 5
Sunday 31 October

A day after representing Ilford AC at the Essex League  cross-country race at Writtle, Terry Knightley braved what can only be described as ‘Biblical’ Weather Conditions of driving torrential rain and Gale force winds at the Annual Wix 5 Miles Road Race.

On a one lap course around the flooded country lanes of Manningtree and Wix in North Essex, Knightley braved the weather conditions with 80 other athletes to finish in a ‘seasons best’ time of 31 minutes and 43 Seconds and 9th position overall and claim the First Male Veteran Over 60 title !

Hexham 10km
Sunday 31 October

Tony Young returned to his native Northumbria at weekend to take part in the Hexham 10km. The race is held on one of the fastest courses in the north east and Tony was rewarded with a new personal best of 45m 44s placing 91st  in a field of over 400.

Serpentine 5km
Hyde Park
Friday 29th October

On a very windy 2 lap course Ilfords Carol Muir found the going tough but did well to finish in a time of 29:22 which placed her 6th in the FV50 category and 129th position overall

 

 

  Press Report 26th October 2021  

Oct 262021
 

CHINGFORD LEAGUE
Olympic Velopark
Wednesday 20 October

The third fixture in this winter’s Chingford League was held at the floodlit Olympic Velopark in the Queen Elizabeth Park at Stratford .
The 5km race was just over 3 laps of the fast circuit and Ilford AC had teams in both the mens’ and ladies’ events.

The ladies were headed by Anna Crawley in 19th spot in 20m 55s with Carlie Qirem close behind in 21st with 21m 10s. Amy-Loise Bird completed a powerful trio for the club in 23rd recording 21m 28s.  Next home was Gaye Young in 22m 53s for 39th with Alison Sale 42nd with 23m 22s. One place behind Hannah Sheikh completed the scorers with 23m 31s.
On the night the ladies team finished 5th in the first division of the league.
Supporting their colleagues were Pauline Tester (72  25.06)  Sharon Honey (81  26.13)  Frieda Keane (103  29.01) Launa Broadley (111 33.226)  Karen Kufour (113  26.33)

The Ilford men were led home by Dan Holeyman in 18mn 18s for 49th place with Diarmuid Mac Donnell in 70th recording 19m 13s. Next over the line was Adam Coals with 20m 24s for 99th, with Tony Young 153rd in 22m 42s. The team was completed by Rob Sargent 208th with 27m 05s and Trevor Robinson in 211th for 27m 47s.
In the match the men finished in 9th spot in division 1.

Report – man in the bushes

SEAA Cross Country Relays
Wormwood Scrubs
Saturday 23 October

The SEAA Cross Country relays were held on an unseasonably warm Saturday morning  at Wormwood scrubs.

41 teams had entered the men’s race, which consisted of 4 laps of 4000m over a tough undulating course, including 2 teams from Ilford AC.

The SEAA consists of the very best runners in the south of England so it was always going to be a tough challenge for our teams. The challenge was made even harder when none of our registered runners turned up.

* NOT sent to press !

  Press Report 19th October 2021  

Oct 192021
 

Chelmsford Marathon incorporating The Essex County Marathon Championships
Sunday 17th October

On Sunday a Dynamic Duo of Ilford AC athletes had a very successful morning of racing at the Chelmsford Marathon which incorporated The Essex County Marathon Championships.

The race of over 550 athletes was held On a One Lap Course starting at Chelmsford City Centre and then heading out to the surrounding country lanes and finishing back in Central Park in Chelmsford.

First Home for the Club in 4th Overall position was Amin  Koikai in a superb time of 2 Hours 42 Minutes and 18 seconds to Win The Bronze County Senior Medal as well as winning Essex Gold in the Male Veteran Over 50 category.

Following him home in 54th Position was Terry Knightley in 3 Hours 8 Minutes and 11 Seconds to Win The Essex County Gold Medal in The Male Veteran Over 60 Category.

Terry continues to break long standing Ilford AC V60 records, this time smashing a 40 year old Ilford Half Marathon record by 8 minutes and 12 seconds.


Yorkshire Marathon
Sunday 17th October

The Yorkshire Marathon has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the UK’s sporting year. This popular and picturesque one lap run,, takes participants past some of York’s most historic sights and along scenic country lanes.

This year’s race was also part of the England Athletics ‘England Masters’ programme where 100 athletes from across the country are chosen to wear the England vest and represent the country. Amongst these was Ilford AC’s Paul Holloway, who finished in a very respectable time of 3:02:20

The London Mini Marathon
Sunday 3rd October.
The Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon is the official British road championships for young athletes aged between 11 and 17 years.
The course takes place over the final miles of the London Marathon course, stretching from Old Billingsgate to The Mall.
Representing their schools were 4 Ilford AC Youngsters who all put in superb performances on the 2.6k course.
Joseph Grange finished 13th overall and 3rd U15 in a time of 8:13
Ryan Holeyman finished 92nd overall and 33rd U17 in a time of 8:36
Ronan Edwards finished 105th overall and 46th U17 in a time of 8:47

Matthew Hick finished 144th overall and 82nd U17 in a time of 9:26

Lullingstone 10K
Sunday 17th  October

Hosted by Eynsford Running Club [ERC] the Lullingstone 10K is a hilly off road two lap course with an elevation gain of over 800 feet. Parts of the course feature some enticing names such as: DeFrib Hill, Leg Stretcher, Root 66 (tree roots), Death Drop and Ankle Break Alley. 

Ray ‘Sparra’ Everingham took on the course which he found tough going just 2 weeks after competing in the London Marathon. Despite the challenging course he finished in a time of 1:14:13 placing him 117th on the day and 9th VM60