Chingford League 5 miles
Victoria Park
Saturday 1st February

The last match of the Chingford League for this winter was held on the fast flat road course in Victoria Park. On a breezy Saturday morning Ilford AC had 19 athletes in action, ten of whom  finished with personal best times showing the club’s winter training has been going well.

First home for Ilford in 32nd place in a strong field  of over 300 was Sam Rahman who looked strong recording 29 mins 17 secs. Next home was the improving Haydn Newland with 30 mins 27 secs for a personal best time in 47th. Close behind in 49th was Dan Holeyman with a new best time of 30 mins 33 secs. Diarmuid Mac Donnell was another with a new personal best in 62nd with 31 mins 06 secs.
The list of new best times for the distance continued with Adam Coals in 33 mins 27 secs for 101st, Dennis Briggs in 33 mins 32 secs for 104th place,  Alan Pearl in 33 mins 54 secs for 113rd spot, Ray ‘Sparra’ Everingham in 43 mins 59 secs for 265th and James Huddart who placed 296th in a time of 48 mins 51 secs.

The Ilford Ladies were led by Anna Crawley who finished with 34 mins exactly in 117th overall for a personal best. Carlie Qirem closed the personal best group on the day in 135th spot recording 34 mins 54 secs. Two of the Ilford ladies who are just returning to racing after injury were Gaye Young 242nd in 42.07 and Doris Gaga 278th in 45.28

Also in action were: Tony Young 184th in 37 mins 42 secs, Jim Tilbrook 210th in 39 mins 30 secs,  Ernie Forsyth 217th in 40 mins 18 secs, Rob Sargent 266th in 44mins 02 secs and Mandeep Bassi 301st in 49 mins 23 secs

In the U15s 4.7km race Ilford junior Vitor Martins-Dureas placed 7th in 28 mins 24 secs.

BUC’S University Cross Country Champs 
Edinburgh
Saturday 1st February

Ahmed Abdulle representing St Mary’s College took on the short course champs which comprised of one short lap & two large laps.
Ahmed took the pace on early, but slipped back into the chasing pack on the last lap, finishing in 20th place in 27:25 some 42 seconds behind the winner Joe Wigfield 26:43 in a field of 634

Benfleet 15
January 19th 2020

Three Brave and intrepid Ilford AC team members took on the tough and gruelling 30th Anniversary Benfleet 15 Miles Multi-Terrain Race on Sunday Morning.
A Very Challenging 15 Mile Multi-Terrain Course incorporating sections of the Canvey Island Sea Wall and the brutally hilly and very slippery and muddy Hadleigh Downs.

First home for the Club in a huge field of over 850 athletes was Diarmuid Macdonnell in 60th place and gun time of 1 hour 53 minutes and 24 seconds for 19th Veteran Male Over40.

Next home in 115th position was Terry Knightley in 2 Hours and 2 Minutes and 3 Seconds and 8th Male Veteran Over 50.

Anna Crawley completed the Ilford AC team finishing the course in gun time of 2 Hours 14 Minutes and 2 Seconds in 215th place and was 21st Female overall.

All finishers received a specially Anniversary Engraved medal and T- Shirt.

CHINGFORD LEAGUE
Hackney Marshes
Saturday 18 January

Last Saturday the Chingford league was held over a flat course around the famous Hackney Marshes Football Pitches with a couple of muddy trials through the woods at the edges on each of the two laps. The race was a combined male and female race over 5 miles  and Ilford AC had several runners in action.

Leading the way was Sam Rahman who had a good run over the country in 34th place in a quick 31 mins 44 secs. One place and 4 seconds behind was Gary Coombes Gary Coombes who returned to action after missing a few weeks with a minor injury. Tony Young came home 139th in 39 mins 33 secs, while Trevor Robinson finished 170th with 42 mins 23 secs. Gaye Young was the leading ILford lady with 46 mins 58 secs for 218th. Rob Sargent came in 221st in 47 mins 40 secs and Jim Huddart   and Brennie Gabiddon found the going tough finishing 225th and 237th respectively

Essex Cross Country Champs
Basildon
4th January 2020

The Essex Cross-Country Championship was held at Gloucester Park in Basildon over a two lap 10km course which features several climbs on each lap. Ilford Ac produced good results despite both their senior mens and ladies teams going hit by  a few withdrawals due to injuries and illnesses.

The Ilford men were headed by Ahmed Abdulle who was up with the leaders finishing 5th in 33mins 28 secs. Next home was Tom Gardner in 35 mins 38 secs for 19th and Alex Richards in 29th with 36 mins 08 secs. Paul Grange recorded 36 mins 18 secs for 31st with Oscar Peris one place and 5 second behind. Paul Holloway made up the scoring team in 69th spot in 39 mins 27 secs.
They combined to place Ilford men 5th in the county team race.

Seb Parris showed good country form in 84th and 40 mins 10 secs while John Crawley impressed with 40 mins 57 secs in 97th. Next home were Diarmuid Mac Donnell in 106th with 41 mins 30 secs, Sam Rahman with 41 mins 53 secs for 112th and Dan Holeyman in 117th recording 42 mins 29 secs.

Completing the Ilford men’s squad were Haydn Newland 133rd in 43.15,  Terry Knightley 140th 43.59, Alan Pearl 144th 44.18, Jim Tilbrook 202nd  53.58 and Trevor Robinson 211th 55.30

For the ladies Anna Crawley continues to show good improvement coming home 32nd with 45 mins 14 secs to lead the Ilford ladies challenge. Amy-Louise recorded 48 mins 03 secs for 52nd and the ever green Bree Nordin finished 59th in 49 mins 23 secs. Sharon Honey closed the Ilford team in 78th with 55 mins 02 secs.
Ilford ladies were the 11th club to finish in the team rankings.

Alison sale had a good run for 88th with 55 mins 53 secs and Julia Galea was consistent in 108th in 61 mins 44 secs. Doris gaga picked up several places with a strong second lap coming home 112th in 62 mins 36 secs while Frieda Keane found the going tough in 116th and 64 mins 06 secs. Lovedip Dhaliwal with 68 mins 12 secs for 120th and Launa Broadley in 124th with 70 mins 07 secs completed the Ilford Ladies squad.

A very good performance from both teams on what was a difficult course in challenging muddy conditions.