Ilford AC Press Report 20th April 2021  

Apr 202021
 

Essex Half Marathon
Debden
Sunday 18th April 2021

On Sunday club stalwart, Terry Knightley, was the sole Ilford AC representative at the Essex Half Marathon at Debden disused airfield in Saffron Walden in Essex.

Over a three lap course around the old airfield designed in the shape of an aeroplane, Terry smashed the 26 Year Old Male Veteran Over 60 Club record by 1 minute and 13 seconds that was held previously by Ilford AC Great, Gerry Pells.

Terry recorded a new Ilford AC Club MV60 record time of 1 Hour and 28 minutes and 31 seconds to finish 54th Overall in the race out of 256 runners that incorporated the socially distanced ‘Rolling’ Start.

All finishers received a superb commemorative medal.

  Ilford AC Press Report Monday 12th April 2021  

Apr 122021
 
VAC Masters 5km
Wimbledon Park
Sunday 11 April

The Veterans Ac organised a 5km masters b road race in and on the roads around Wimbledon Park which included a steep incline after a mile. The race had an interesting entrant, Andy Muray – not the famous tennis player but a runner from Dulwich.

Tony Young and Rob Sargent from Ilford Ac entered the event and Tony produced a good performance finishing 49th in 21 mins 39 secs beating his previous personal best by 39 seconds. Rob placed 78th and was the 4th in the M65 age category to finish in 26 mins 17 secs.

 

Blackheath and Bromley Open
Bromley
Sunday 11 April

Three Ilford athletes represented the club at the Blackheath and Bromley open meeting on Sunday. First up was veteran, dad, Paul Grange in the 800m. He took a commanding lead from the start and continued pulling away from the rest of the field to win by 3 seconds to 2nd place, and 5 seconds to 3rd place and local rival, Jack Exley. Paul finished  in a time of 1:58.31.

Second up was Jak Wright in the 1500m against a competitive field. Jak started perfectly with a 64 second first lap, before tucking in the chasing group and running the next lap in a slower 68 seconds. With 500m to go Jak broke away from the chasing pack and stated to claw back the 50 meter lead from Southend’s Sam Wheatley in the pole position. Pouring it on around the final bend, Jak was seriously eating into his lead. Jak then unleashed a monstrous kick down the home straight to close down the gap, throwing himself over the line to finish second by only 0.03 seconds in a time of 4:07.39. Jak is glad to open his season with a PB and is hoping to break the elusive 4 minute barrier this year. 

Up last was the youngest of the trio, Joseph Grange, in the 3000m, who was out to challenge his club president and coach’s 40 year old u15 club record of 9:31. After a quick start, Joseph tucked in to a small group to grind out consistent lap after lap exactly on pace. With 1km to go Joseph was on track to take the long standing club record. Passing the bell Joseph strung the group out, which included Holly Dixon who recently ran a sub 16 5km in the world record breaking podium 5k race. The 13 year old then shifted into top gear to run a swift 36 second last 200m; narrowly missing out on the club record with a time of 9:32. Joseph is now optimistic to shatter the 9:30 barrier this season.

CHINGFORD LEAGUE 5km
Redbridge Cycle Circuit
Monday 5 April

This winter’s  Chingford League resumed at the Redbridge Cycle Centre on Hog Hill after the partial lifting of the Covid restrictions. The third match of the series was split into 4 races with wave starts for the 5km challenging race. The final results were determined by the compilation of the times from the 4 racers. Ilford Ac had a good turn out 28 runners who ran well and returned good results to give the club a successful afternoon.

Paul grange led the results with a new personnel best of 16 mins 02 secs with support from Tom Gardner in 6th with 16 mins 19 secs and jumior man Jak Wright in 10 with a new best time for the distance of 16 mins 39 secs. Next home was Alex Richards in 11th in 16 mins 41 secs The team was completed by two more junior Men (under 20 age category) Bradley Deacon with 16 mins 52, another with a personal best time, in 15th and Thys Edwards 18th with 16 mins 58 secs.

The team finished first in the division 2 match and are in pole position to gain promotion to the top league in their first season in the competition. The team were in such good form that their score would have won the first division match which was held in the same race.

Ryan Holeyman was another with anew best time has he finished first in the under 17 category in 17 mins 29 secs.

Club middle distance coach Wayne Hick, who was a track athlete in his competitive days, ran his first ever road race recording 22 minutes 10 secs and Steve Crane made his club debut recording 21 min 42 secs. There was also a personal best for Dan Holeyman of 18 mins 35 secs

Jordan Hinds led home the Ilford Ladies  in 31st place in their race with 22 mins 52 secs with The ever green Bree Nordin 37th , and 3rd female in the F60 age group, with 23 mins 04 secs. Next home in 43rd spot was Alison Sale who improves with every race recording a new best time of 23 mins 44 secs. Gaye Young recorded 23 mins 53 secs for 17th and Julia Galea was timed at 28 min 11secs in 101st. There was a fine run from Carol Muir who completed the scoring team in 108th with 28 mins 58 secs.

The ladies completed the club’s winning double topping their match result. They are also top of division 2 and are favourites to gain promotion for next season

Other Ilford athletes in action – Men:  Steve Philcox ( 61 18.56) Diarmuid MacDonnell (87  19.48) Adam Coals ( 107 20.57) Terry Knightley (124 21.34) Dennis Briggs ( 136 22.00) Ed Skinner ( 192 26.02) Rob Sargent ( 195 26.14) Steve Cheal (198 26.21) Trevor Robinson ( 221 29.46) Bradley Brown (224 30.20)

Ladies: Frieda Keane (112 29.19)  Pramila Monro ( 123 30.17)

There is one match left in this shortened season; the relays at Central Park Dagenham next Saturday (10th)

St Clare Hospice 10k
Harlow
Sunday 11th April

A Trio of Ilford AC athletes traveled to Hastingwood in Harlow on a cold and windy Sunday Morning to contest The Annual St Clare Hospice 10K Road Race.

Over a one lap countryside hilly road course against a field of 349 other runners with a socially distanced ‘Rolling Start’ the first finisher for Ilford AC was Danny Holeyman in 13th Place in a speedy new Personal Best of 38 Minutes Exactly and 3rd in the Male Veteran Over 40 Category.

Club Stalwart, Terry Knightley, followed him home in 24th Position in 40 Minutes and 14 Seconds to Win The First Male Veteran Over 60 Trophy.

Julia Galea ran a great race to finish in 206th Place in 57 Minutes and 45 Seconds for 23rd in The Female Veteran Over 55 Category.

All Finishers received a commemorative medal.

  Ilford AC Press Report Tuesday 6th April 2021  

Apr 062021
 
Chingford League
Redbridge Cycle Track
Monday 5th April 2021.

 

 

The Chingford League continues to pull out all the stops to get races on during these difficult times and on Easter Monday a series of races, to abide by current social distance measures, was held at the Redbridge cycle track.
Ilford AC competed in the first race of the day at 12:10 and were up against Barking Roadrunners, Trent Park and Harold Wood.
Despite challenging hills and cold wet weather Ilford AC athletes provided 28 of the 97 runners who took on the challenging 5k course.

Ilford runners after months of no competition put in a great performance on the day placing 1st and 2nd and having 7 runners in the top 10
Paul Grange put in a great performance placing 1st in 16:03, followed closely by Tom Gardener in 2nd place for 16:19.
Closely bunched in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th place were Jack Wright 16:39, Alex Richards 16:41, Bradley Deacon 16:52 and Rhys Edwards.
Another notable performance was Ryan Holeyman who was first U17 runner on the day, finishing in 11th place in a time of 17:29

First female home was Jordan Hinds in 42nd place, and third senior female in a time of 22:52. Jordan was supported by Bree Nordin a place behind in 23:04, Alison Sale in 52nd in 23:44 and Gaye Young 54th in 23:53

Altogether a very successful return to competition after months of lockdown.

Ilfords supporting cast, all putting in outstanding performances were:-

Danny Holeyman 18:35
Stephen Philcox 18:56
Diarmuid Macdonnel 19:48
Adam Coals 20:57
Terry Knightley 21:34
Steve Crane 21:42
Dennis Briggs 22:00
Wayne Hick 22:10
Edward Skinner 26:02
Rob Sargent 26:14
Stephen Cheal 26:21
Julia Galea 28:11
Carol Muir 28:58
Frieda Keane 29:19
Trevor Robinson 29:46
Pramila Monro 30:17
Bradley Brown 30:20

 

Footnote: If any readers have taken up running during lockdown and would like to join or get involved with a running club please contact Ilford AC at ilfordathletics@gmail.com

 

 

 

  Happy 80th Birthday John Batchelor  

Jan 262021
 

On Saturday club legend John Batchelor celebrated his 80th birthday.
His daughter secretly had a special cake made reflecting his interests – and John thinks she got it spot on!
The lettering on the side of the cake is the Periodic Table of the Elements as John was a chemistry researcher

  Ilford AC Press Report 15th December 2020  

Dec 152020
 
Essex Remembrance Day 10k
Saffron Walden
13th December 2020

On a Very Cold and wet Sunday, Four Quality athletes from Ilford AC travelled to Saffron Walden in North Essex for The Essex Remembrance Day 10K Road Race.
Held around an old disused World War 2 Airfield near Debden Army Barracks, the two lap race with socially distanced wave starts, was originally scheduled for Remembrance Sunday in November, however due to Lockdown it was rearranged for 13th December.
First home in the biting wind and torrential rain running his first 10K on a course that was unfortunately ‘long’ by 150 metres was Ryan Holeyman in 36 minutes and 51 seconds for 13th place from around 200 competitors.
Next home was Ryan’s dad, Danny Holeyman in 38 Minutes 25 seconds for 24th position and 11th Male Veteran Over 40.
He was followed by Super-Veteran Terry Knightley in 32nd place for 40 Minutes and 14 seconds for 3rd Male Veteran Over 60.
Kim Baxter ran well to finish in 65 Minutes exactly to finish 142nd and 3rd in the Female Veteran Over 60 category.

PB5K Winter Race Series
Ardingly Showground
13th December 2020

The PB5K Winter series is held on a flat straight course to encourage quality athletes from around the country to come and race against other top athletes and aim for a PB.
Although the poor weather meant that conditions were not ideal, Ilford AC athlete Ahmed Abdulle did indeed achieve a PB, racing in Wave 1 and finishing in a time of 14:45 for 11th place and third athlete in the U23 category