South of England AA Championships
Parliament Hill
25th January 2020

 

The penultimate race on the long day of Cross Country running was the Senior ladies.
With the fields now well and truly churned up this was always going to be a tough race.
However the 5 Ilford ladies equipped themselves very well over the 8k course and did the club proud. Leading the way was Anna Crawley who has been in fantastic form over the last 12 months. Anna battled to a fine 215th position in a time of 38 mins 07 secs, an improvement of over 300 places in the same race last year. Coming in 2nd and 3rd for Ilford were two of the clubs Cross Country stalwarts Alison Sale and Frieda Keane finishing in 551st and 657th in times of 47 mins 29 secs and 55 mins 24 secs. Next in was a relative newcomer to Cross Country in her first season Lovedip Dhaliwal who came in on 59 mins 19 secs for 675th place. Completing the Ilford ladies squad was Launa Broadley who always gives 100% in 692nd place in a time of 67 mins 52 secs

There were strong results from the senior men of Ilford Ac with Tom Gardner particularly impressive coming home 136th in the 15km event in 55 minutes 18 secs. Next home was Oscar Peris, who is improving with each outing over the country, in 222nd with 57 mins 09 secs. Malcolm Muir gave his usual 100% coming in on 60 mins 45 secs for 375th.  Seb Parris finished a fine 501st in 63 mins 01 secs with Gary Coombes not too far back in 525th in 63 mins 25 secs. The 2 remaining Ilford men, both putting in solid performances followed shortly after. John Crawley was 588th in 64 mins 50 secs and Diarmuid McDonnell was 676th in 66 mins 42 secs.

Farnborough Half Marathon
25th January 2020

Elsewhere Ilford AC had 3 members competing in the Farnborough Half Marathon.
Paul Holloway finished in a very impressive 37th place in a field of almost 2,000 runners and also claimed 2nd place in his age category in a time of 78 mins 24 seconds.
Brennie Gabbidon was absolutely thrilled with her time of 2 hours 31 mins 36 secs which was an improvement of 38 minutes for the same race last year. Brennie is training for this years London Marathon and her hard work and dedication is paying dividends.  Brennie was accompanied on the run by her husband Rhoan who finished 1 second and one place behind her

ESSEX CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE
​Hilly Fields, Colchester
Saturday 11th January

The latest round of this winter’s Essex Cross-Country League took place over a firm,course on Hilly Fields just outside Colchester with a testing hill on each lap.

The ladies raced over a two lap course of 6km with Anna Crawley showing her current fine form in leading home the Ilford AC ladies team in 26th place in 25 minutes 16 seconds.
Next over the line was Carlie Qirem who returning from an injury was pleased to place 44th with 27 minutes 21 secs, while Bree Nordin was once again the first  to finish in the F60 category in 28 mins 50 secs for 52nd overall.
Nicola Hopkinson was as consistent as ever closing the scorers with 30 mins 02 secs in 65th. The team was placed 8th on the day and will need a good result in the final match at Braintree next month to avoid slipping into division 2. 

Doris Gaga is currently showing improved form placing 92nd in 34 mins 14 secs, with Frieda Keane close behind in 35 mins 33 secs. Lovedip Dhaliwal placed 10st with 36mins 37 secs and Launa Broadley completed the Ilford squad in 104th with 37 mins 35 secs.

 

The senior men also raced over 2 laps but theirs was a little longer coming in a little short of 8km. Tom Gardner produced his best league result of the season in 8th place with 25  mins 50secs, while Paul Grange was second in the M40 age group with 26 mins 05 secs for 10th overall. Paul Holloway came home 60th and 3rd in the M50 category in 28 mins 46 secs and Sam Rahman had his best race of the winter on the cross country in 78th with 29 mins 28 secs. Seb Parris was close behind  in 80th in 29 mins 32 secs. Haydn Newland completed the scorers with 31 mins 13 secs in 110th. The Ilford team placed 5th in this match and remain in 3rd place in the league table.

Terry Knightley ran well for 117th and 32 mins 14 secs and Alan Pearl finished 122nd and 2nd in the M60 group with 32 mins 38 secs. Dennis Briggs came in on 33:48 for 138th, Tony Young 177th in 37:39, Jim Tilbrook 180th in 39:14 and Trevor Robinson 192nd in 40:35.
Completing the squad and scoring well in their age categories were club endurance coach Rob Sargent in 210th and 3rd M65 in 43:34 and Jim Huddart in 219th for 3rd M70 in 55mins 28 secs

Several club members are currently in good positions to win an individual league trophy at the end of the season. Paul Grange leads the M40 group and Gary coombes is placed 3rd in the M45s.Paul Holloway is 3rd in the 50 category and Jim Huddart is in the same position in the M70s. Alan Pearl is 2nd in the M60 group. 

On the ladies side Bree Nordin leads the F70 group and Nicola Hopkinson is placed 3rd in the F55 category.

ILFORD CLEAN UP IN THE MUD

Ilford AC 10 Mile Cross Country Championship
Hainault Forest
December 28th 2019

On Saturday Ilford AC hosted their winter showcase 10 mile cross country event on a cold December morning.
Over 110 runners were treated to the thick mud and hills that characterises most of the 3.3 mile course which is negotiated 3 times. Due to recent rain the mud was thicker this year than in many of the previous years.

Ilfords men totally dominated the race providing the first 7 finishers.
Aaron Samuel continued his great 2009 form with first place for 1:01:52 which also made him the youngest winner in the events 40 year history.
Close behind was Tom Gardner recording 1:02:17 for 2nd, Mungo Prior 1:02:36 for Bronze with Jak Wright closing the team in 4th place in 1:03:26.
The men’s team, of course, won 1st place in the team competition.

Ilfords other men, all ran well and included Bradley Deacon 5th 1:03:40, Gary Coombes 6th and 1st V40 in 1:03:46, Malcolm Muir 7th in 1:05:21 and John Crawley 9th in 1:08:48.
Just a few minutes back a father and son battle was taking place with son Ryan Holeyman in 13th place for 1:13:18 just edging in front of Dad Danny Holeyman in 14th place in 1:13:53.
Danny was followed in 15th place by Hayden Newland in 1:14:12 with Bradley Brown completing the men’s squad in 61st place for 1:34:29 

Anna Crawley was the first Ilford female home, and 3rd female on the day in 32nd place for 1:22:27. Following closely was Bree Nordin in 37th place and first FV60 for 1:24:27, Alison Sale in 67th place for 1:42:24 and Julia Galea completing the Ilford ladies team which finished second on the day in 73rd place for 1:47:52.
Also running well on the day was Frieda Keane in 75th place for 1:49:10

With the race also doubling as the clubs own 10 mile championships Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded to Aaron Samuel, Tom Gardner and Mungo Prior for the men, and Anna Crawley, Bree Nordin and Alison Sale for the ladies.

This year, for the second time, the club also opened the race up to relay teams with 3 different runners each running a lap of the tough course.
The Relays were again won by Ilford AC with a team consisting of Farris Patel 20:24, Jordan Hinds 24:50 and Joseph Grange 21:23. The combined time of 1:06:36 gave them the title by nearly a 5 minute margin.

Also competing in the relays for Ilford or mixed clubs and doing one 3.3m lap were :- Sam Rahman 22:07, Matthew Hick 23:44, Aaron Hick 24:06, Wayne Hick 26:15, Ernie Forsyth 28:57, Jim Tilbrook 30:10 and Sharon Honey 30:55

The race, although over 40 years old, is now held annually to commemorate Ilford AC stalwart Kevin Newell who unfortunately suffered a serious brain injury five years ago and now requires full-time care . A donation will be made from the race proceeds to a suitable charity. It is not only supported and promoted by his comrades at Ilford Athletic Club but many of his friends that he has made from the local running community and throughout the county also turn up to either run, volunteer, or just cheer on the runners in tribute to Kevin.

 

Wicklow 5k
26th December 2019

Diarmuid Mac Donnell travelled back to his native Ireland to run in the Wicklow 5k St. Stephens day race.
Diarmuid was pleased with his 42nd place, which also gave him 3rd V45 place and a prize of a set of resistance bands. His time was 18:48

 

Witham 5m
26th December 2019

Brother and sister team Malcolm and Carol Muir took on the Witham 5m Road race on Boxing day.
Malcolm continues his impressive form with 19th place for 28:50 whilst Carol recorded a seasons best of 46:37 for 276th place

 

Serpentine 5k
Hyde Park
27th December 2019

Serpentine running club held its monthly end of the month 5k in Hyde Park on a cold but dry morning.
In a field of over 200 runners Gary Coombes ran an impressive 16:23 for 12th place.
This time was a 5k PB by over 30 seconds, which caps off a great year for Gary.

 

lford AC Boxing Day Handicap
Hainault Forest
December 26th 2019

A field of 18 runners brushed off the Turkey and Christmas hangover to toe the line for the 11th annual Ilford AC Boxing day handicap.

The route is 3.3 miles through the hills and mud of Hainault Forest and forms one lap of the clubs own 10 mile championships
This year, for the second time, the course was marked out due to people getting lost and running their own route in previous years.

As in previous years a member of the Hick family ran out as winners with Wayne Hick recording 48:08 for first place, just beating Steve Philcox who came in just 9 seconds later. Steve was closely followed by Denis Brigs 48:27, Danny Holeyman 49:04 and George and Matthew Hick who had their own little battle finishing 5th and 6th in times of 49:09 and 49:16.

Special mention to the youngest member out there in the mud Noah Crawley who placed 7th place in 49:21 to win some sweets.

First lady home was a lady who has worked really hard this year to come back from a little time away from competing Sharon Honey who finished in 49:23, just over a minute from the leaders.

Next lady home was Launa Broadley who’s screams as she encountered the mud brought attention from miles around.

Finishing in last place, obviously too full of the Christmas Spirit(s) was Billy Green in 52:23 – a full 4 minutes from threatening the leader board! 

 

	FINISHING POSITIONS										TIME WITHOUT HANDICAP
	NAME	Mins	Secs		HANDICAP		NETT	TIME				NAME	Mins	Secs
1	Wayne Hick	48	08		24		24	08			1	Steve Philcox	21	17
2	Steve Philcox	48	17		27		21	17			2	Sam Rahman	22	30
3	Denis Briggs	48	27		24		24	27			3	Ryan Holeyman	22	55
4	Danny Holeyman	49	04		26		23	04			4	Danny Holeyman	23	04
5	George Hick	49	09		22		27	09			5	Hayden Newland	23	15
6	Matthew Hick	49	16		26		23	16			6	Matthew Hick	23	16
7	Noah Crawley	49	21		0		49	21			7	Wayne Hick	24	08
8	Sharon Honey	49	23		18		31	23			8	Denis Briggs	24	27
9	Aaron Hick	49	31		25		24	31			9	Aaron Hick	24	31
10	Ernie Forsyth	49	46		20		29	46			10	Karl Hick	25	04
11	Ryan Holeyman	49	55		27		22	55			11	George Hick	27	09
12	Alfie Hick	49	58		22		27	58			12	Alfie Hick	27	58
13	Karl Hick	50	04		25		25	04			13	Charlie Hick	29	32
14	Hayden Newland	50	15		27		23	15			14	Ernie Forsyth	29	46
15	Sam Rahman	50	30		28		22	30			15	Billy Green	31	23
16	Charlie Hick	51	32		22		29	32			16	Sharon Honey	49	21
17	Launa Broadley	51	53		13		38	53			17	Launa Broadley	38	53
18	Billy Green	52	23		21		31	23			18	Noah Crawley	49	21

Havering 5m Handicap
26th December 2019

6 Ilford runners turned up on Boxing day morning to compete in the Havering 5m Handicap.

Unfortunately Paul Grange, Joseph Grange and Jak Wright arrived too late to get numbers and times, but were allowed to compete and ran well.

Of the 3 that did have numbers Trevor Robinson was the first of the trio home for Ilford in 11th place with a Handicap time of 56:28 and a running time of 39:58. Trevor was followed by Gary Coombes in 25th place with a handicap time of 58:04 and a running time of 26:14.
The trio was completed by Bree Nordin in 49th place with a handicap time of 59:37 and a running time of 34:52