Press Report 8th October 2019  

Oct 082019
 

Chingford League 5km
Redbridge Cycle Circuit
Tuesday 1st October 2019

The winter Chingford League opened its season on a rainy night at the Redbridge Cycle Circuit at Hog Hill. Ilford are not currently members of this league so their members ran as guests or for their second claim clubs. Gary Coombes, who is in fine form at present, recorded a good time for this hilly race recording 18 mins 06 secs in 13th, while Seb Parris finished 30th with 19 mins 12 secs. Dan Holeyman placed 43rd with 20 mins 05 secs and Trevor Robinson came home 132nd with 27 mins 17 secs. Three paces back Rob Sargent recorded 27 mins 47 secs and Jim Huddart completed the Ilford squad in 150th with 34 mins 31 secs.

Southend 10km
Sunday 6 October 2019

Sundays  35th edition of the Southend 10km incorporated this years Essex Championship.
The course for the race ran from  Southchurch Park in the east of the town to Shoeburyness and back. The overnight rain ceased but the brisk wind hampered  the runners on the way back to the finish line.
Ilford Ac had 22 entrants in the event and were led home by Gary Coombes who had a magnificent run  to finish 11th in 34 mins 31 secs, a new personal best by over 90 seconds. His great run earned him the silver medal in the M40 age category in the Essex Championship. Next home was Sam Rahman, who is in heavy training for next months New York City Marathon in 40th position with 36 mins 49 secs, while Dan Holeyman also improved his best time for the distance to 38 mins 58 secs for 83rd place. Terry Knightley came in 142nd with 40 mins 56 secs.   Alan Pearl was another setting a new personal best of 43 mins 46 secs in 210th, as did Ray Sparra Everingham in 774th with 55 mins 55 secs.
The leading lady from Ilford was Carlie Qirem in 230th with 44 mins 13 secs, a new best time for 10km by  2 minutes. Dianne Crisp returned from injury to record 54 mins 23 secs in 637th and Julia Galea crossed the line 840th with 57 mins 12 secs.

 

Also ran: Dennis Briggs (44.14  231st) Rohan Alexander (44.34 246th)Andy Catton (46.57  321st) Steve Parker (48.06 361st) Rhoan Gabbidon (48.33 376th) Tony Young (48.43 382nd)  Rob Sargent (53.54 624th) Frieda Keane (61.01 1016th) Carol Muir (61.20 1022nd ) Launa Broadley (63.04  1090th ) Kim Baxter (66.23 1177th ) Sheila Sinclair (67:46 1227th) Brennie Gabbidon (76.00 1386th)

 

Junior 3km

In the accompanying junior 3km for runners under 15 Ilford Ac’s Rayan Holeyman put in a good performance to finish 4th in 10mins 45 secs, while Vitor Martins came home in 14mins 06secs for 35th.

 

Havering Half Marathon
Sunday 6th October 2019

The Havering Half marathon took place on Sunday, the first Half marathon to take place in Havering in nearly 25 years.The race was organized by the local mental health charity Havering Mind, with all monies raised through entries going to help them to support local people in the community.

Three Ilford AC runners were amongst the field of over 1,000 with John Crawley leading the way in an impressive 33rd place in a time of 1 hour 28 mins 18 secs.

Second home for Ilford was John’s sister Anna Crawley in 92nd place in a time of 1 hour 38 mins 21 secs. Anna continues to show great improvement this season, taking a full 16 minutes off of her previous personal best time over the distance.

Anna was closely followed by Bree Nordin who also continues her fine form this season to finish in 107th place for 1 hour 40 mins 44 secs, a time which secured her first place in the female V60 category.

 

Loch Ness Marathon
Sunday 6th October 2019

When planning an Autumn race, the Loch Ness Marathon isn’t one that NESSIEcerally features in people’s plans due to its MONSTER hills but Ilford AC runner Diarmuid MacDonnell took on the challenge last Sunday.
The point to point marathon does however offer beautiful scenery and if you have a fondNESS for rain, then this race offered plenty of that too.

Diarmuid was very pleased with his time of 3 hours 12 minutes, which took 2 minutes off of his previous personal best over the distance

The loch on Diarmuids face shows how much he enjoyed the race.
There was an unconfirmed report that Diarmuid had spotted the ‘monster’ on Sunday, but this was dismissed after confirmation that Rob was actually racing in Southend that same day.

 

  Press Report 1st October 2019  

Oct 012019
 

Essex Cross Country Champs
Writtle College
September 28, 2019

Ilford U17 boys went in to Saturday’s match with a title to defend, and defend it they did with a brilliant run from all 3 boys to bring back the Essex U17 trophy and Gold medals for the 3 boys.

First off in the 3k Cross country boys race was Bradley Deacon who led by example with a fantastic 11m 07 seconds. Jak Wright put in a very solid middle leg in a time of 10m 55 secs before Aaron Samuels went off on a blistering 10m 02 secs lap to seal the honours for Ilford AC with a lead of 18 seconds over second placed Woodford Green

 

Ilford entered 2 Senior men’s teams in these 5k Cross Country champs with excellent results
The A team had to settle for 2nd place just 10 seconds behind the winners Havering.
On lap one Paul Grange got the team off to a solid start in 6th place in 16:19.
Tom Gardner just flown in from Malta that morning took us into the lead in 16:16 on lap two. Mungo Prior on lap three, although dropping one place, still matching the other team members time in 16 :16
This left Ahmed Abdulle to chase the leader on lap four with a blistering fastest lap of the day for 14:45 to place the team second for a deserved Silver medal

There was another excellent performance from Ilfords B team who came 10th overall and 3rd B team on the day.
Solid consistent laps from all the team with Lapone Oscar Peris in 16:54, Lap two Phil Ellu in 17:25, Lap three Gary Coombes in 16:55 and Lap four Malcolm Muir in 17:03

 

BMAF Inter Area Cross-Country Match
Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds
September 28, 2019

The annual match between the masters organisations around the country took place at Nowton park, Bury St Edmunds for the second consecutive year on Saturday. 

There were two races; a 6km event for the ladies and men over 65 and 8km for men aged 35 to 64. The result was determined by teams scoring on an age based percentage of their performance. Three athletes from Ilford AC were on the team representing the London based Veterans AC. Rob Sargent ran in the 6km event finishing 38th in 33 mins 21 secs and 6th in the M65 age category. In the 8km race there was good runs from Seb Parris and Sam Rahman. Seb is in fine form at the moment and finished in 31 mins 03 secs and 3rd in the M35 grouping. Sam, who is in heavy training for the New York City Marathon next month, came home 25th in 31 mins 19 secs and was 4th in the M35 category. 

Vets AC finished 3rd in the match

 

Valentines Park 5km
September 29, 2019

The final match of this year’s ELvIS competition was held in Valentine’s park over a new course as building works had blocked the traditional route.

Going into the match the men’s teams from Ilford AC and East London Runners were joint top of the league table. Ilford AC were led home on the day by Ahmed Abdulle who put in an incredible performance to win in 15mins 31 secs, a new personal best, by a margin of 50 seconds.The ever reliable Malcolm Muir placed 8th in 17 mins 17 secs and Paul Holloway won the M50 age category in 9th with 17 mins 39 secs. Steve Philcox was next across the line in 13th with 18 mins 05 secs followed by Aaron Browne  in 18 mins 30 secs for 19th spot. Seb Parris completed the scoring team with 18 mins 38 secs in 23rd. 

This gave Ilford a team score on the day of 73 pts against Est London’s 76 and won them the match and the league. 

Only just outside the scoring team by 5 seconds, but with a great run was Ilfords youngest member 14 year old Ryan Holeyman, who came in on 18 mins 44 secs for 25th place.

Diarmuid Mac Donnell placed 27th with 18 mins 46 secs and Dan Holeyman recorded 19 mins 11 secs for 31st.

Leading the Ilford ladies challenge was Carle Qirem in 5th place with a new personal best of 21 mins 06 secs, with Jordan Hinds one place back in 21mins 12 secs. Bree Nordin won the F60 category in 22 mins 55 secs for 12th and Nicola Hopkinson recorded 24 mins 06 secs for 29th. Sharon Honey finished 39th with 25mins 05 secs and the club’s last scorer was Alison Sale in 48th recording 25mins 51 secs. The team finished third on the day and runners up in the league for the season.

Ray Everingham improved his best time for the distance to 26 mins 29 secs, while further down the field  his wife Wendy made her first appearance in Ilford colours finishing 276th.

Also ran: Hayden Newland ( 50 20:02)  Adam Coals (54 20.25) Terry Knightley (60  20.49) Alan Pearl (71 21.15) Dennis Briggs (80 21:54)  Tony Young (107 23.06) Pathrose Louis (164 25.12) Ernie Forsyth (166  25.22) Adnan Karim (188 26.47) Amanda Reid (194 26.55) Mandeep Bassi 220  28.20) Carol Muir (229 28.46) Jim Huddart (248 31.10) Rohan Alexander (274 35:12)

After the main race a junior 2km event was held and new Ilford member 13 year old Vitor Dureas placed third on his first run for the club.

 

  Press Report 24th September 2019  

Sep 242019
 

South of England 6 stage road relay champs
Crystal Palace
Sunday 22nd September

 

Ilford AC put out a team in these prestigious championships on Sunday for the first time since 2011 

With a mix of youth and experience, and an age spread of 30 years, Ilford gave an excellent account of themselves

Paul Grange led the team out on a very competitive opening leg in 18:36 for 52nd Place

On leg 2 Oscar Peris on his debut at this event slipped to 56th place in 19:24

On leg 3 Ahmed Abdulle move us up 21 places with an excellent 17:03 to place the team in 35th Place

Leg 4 the youngest member of the team Mungo Prior held on to 35th Place in 19:11.

Leg 5 Alex Richards moved up 4 places with the team’s second fastest time in 18:20 for 31st place

On leg 6 anchor leg man Malcolm Muir although dropping one place put in his normal solid run in 19:31, with the team finishing in 32nd place from a field of 86 teams

Overall a very good performance by the men’s team, and it was agreed that we would be back next year with more teams.

 

Ingatestone 5​
​Sunday 22 September

There were 9 Ilford Ac runners in this long established race. 

The race takes place on a challenging course starting from the Anglos-European school in Willow Green, taking in Fryerning and a challenging Beggar Hill before heading back to the finish at the back of the school.

Best for the team was Steve Philcox in 6th spot with 30 mins 40 secs which won him the M50 category title. Next home was Terry Knightley in 20th with 33 mins 19 secs, while Alan Pearl came home in 37 mins 05 secs for 51st. Club stalwart Andy Catton recorded 37 mins 50 secs in 66th followed closely by Tony Young, who put in a good performance for 66th place in a time of 38:46. 

Julia Galea was best for the ladies in 103rd overall with 46 mins 22 secs and 1st place in the F55 grouping. Frieda Keane found the hill at 4 miles tough finishing 146th with 48 mins 20 secs and Carol Muir placed 161st in 50 mins 23 secs. Completing the squad was Julie Gillender in 181st and a time of 55 mins 49 secs.

 

Run a mile in my shoes
Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
Thursday 19th September

Although club Captain Billy Green was away for a week, he still found an opportunity to race.

Billy attended the ‘Elvis Festival’ in Yarmouth, and one of the many activities on offer was the ‘Run a mile in my shoes’ race around the holiday park (a play on words on the Elvis song ‘Walk a mile in my shoes’)

Billy had a strong start and soon found himself out on his own, eventually winning his first ever race in a time of 7 mins 40 seconds – over 3 minutes in front of his closest rival!

 

  Press Report 17th September 2019  

Sep 172019
 

PLESHEY HALF MARATHON (incorporating the Essex Championship)
Pleshey, Essex
Sunday 15th September

The Essex Championship were once again staged in conjunction with the Pleshey Half Marathon.
The race from the picturesque village is over a rolling hilly course and conditions were made more difficult on the day due to unseasonable hot weather
It was though a successful day for Ilford AC with the club winning 4 county medals and runners setting three new personal bests for the distance.

Gary Coombes led the way for the Ilford team with an excellent 15th place in 1hr 16 mins 21 secs, the performance winning him Essex Bronze in the M40 age group and a new personal best at the distance.  The ever reliable Sam Rahman put in a great run for 31st in 1 hr 19 mins 56 secs, very closely followed by Malcolm Muir in 32nd just 5 seconds later. 

Coming home next for ilford was Paul Holloway with a fantastic time of 1 hr 21 mins 43 secs for 39th place,which saw him win an Essex Gold medal in the V50 age group

Danny Holeyman came in 59th in 1hr 26 mins 13secs, followed by Steve Philcox in 82nd place in 1 hr 29 mins 55 secs

Next home, with the 3rd Essex medal of the day and the second PB, was Alan Pearl in 120th place in 1 hr 38 mins 41 secs which gave him a thoroughly deserved Essex Bronze in the M60 category. 

First female home in 128th place and recording the 3rd PB for Ilford on the day was Carlie Qirem who continues her excellent form with a time of 1 hr 40 mins 0 secs, closely followed by Dennis Briggs in 135th in a time of 1 hr 40 mins 51 secs. Next for Ilford and just a place behind was Breege Nordin who gained herself an Essex Gold medal in the F55 category in a time of 1 hr 41 mins 2 secs.

144th in 1 hr 42 mins 46 secs was Terry Knightly, 182nd in 1 hr 46 mins 49 secs was Stephen Parker, 222nd in 1 hr 53 mins 46 secs was Tony Young.
Completing the Ilford Squad were the ever reliable and efficient Frieda Keane in 2 hrs 18 mins 19 secs for 326th place and Mandeep Bassi who came in on 2 hrs 24 mins and 36 secs for 350th place.

At the conclusion of the race the medals were handed out by the current Essex President and Ilford AC legend Andy Catton, which made Ilfords 4 Essex medals all the more special to the recipients. 

 


European Masters athletics champs
Venice
5th – 15th September 2019

The 21st European masters athletics championships are being held in Lido near Jesolo, next to Venice on the Adriatic coast. 

As the championships enters their second week the clouds cleared and bright blue skies were the order of the day. It was a sizzling afternoon for the 5000m races which were held in an open stadium. Ilford ac’s Rob Sargent was one of the four British entrants in the m65 age category. He set out to run a steady race but tired a little in the closing laps to finish 15th in 27 mins 00.21 secs.

The last day of the European masters championships dawned bright and sunny.
The half marathon was held on a flat rural course two lap course around the farmland just outside lido Di Jesolo. The 9.30am start led to the temperature rising to the high 20s Celsius as the race progressed and many starters dropped out.
 Ilford AC had three entrants in the British squad. Club endurance club Rob Sargent was first back with 2hrs 3mins 33 secs for 20th in the M65 age group, the 5th British runner in this category. and 374th overall.
Julia Galea came home 13th in the W60 grouping with 2hrs 15 mins 45secs for 404th overall. The third ilford runner Doris gaga found the going tough completing the course two in 2 hrs 25 mins 29 secs for 14th in the W55 category and 411th overall. She was the 3rd British finisher in the age category and they combined for second team place and the silver European championship medal.

 

  Press Report 10th September 2019  

Sep 102019
 

Woodford graded open meeting
Ashford playing fields
3rd September 2019

Ideal conditions greeted the team at the final graded track meet in Woodford. 
A large number of athletes took to the track over the course of the evening with Ilford AC being well represented, especially in the 3000m where they took 7,8,9 and 14th place.
Sam Rahman was happy to run the mile race in 4.57 (3rd place) doubling up and running 10.04 in the 3,000 metres for 7th place.
Seb Parris also doubled up race walking 3000m in 16 minutes flat for 4th place and then gaining a new pb of 10.11 in the 3000m for 9th.  Seb chased Steve Philcox most of the way pushing him to a seasons best of 10.08 (8th place) getting in front of him with 2 laps to go and forcing Steve to sprint the last 600 metres to just pip him to 8th! 
Diarmuid Mac Donnell also ran in the 3,000 metres finishing strong in 10.43 for 14th place.  Stuart Bennett also competed on the night in the 3000m race walk finishing in a very good 18.39.  He also received the Woodford walking series team winners trophy for Ilford on a very successful athletic evening.

Victoria Park 10k
7th September 2019

Anna Crawley continued her magnificent form this season, continuing going from strength to strength,  with a stunning PB at Victoria Park last Saturday.
Going in to the race Anna’s previous 10k PB of 51:02 was always going to be under threat, judging on recent performances.

Not only did Anna beat this, she took over 8 minutes off of it to finish in a time of 42:50, which placed her second female on the day.

Great north run
Newcastle
8th Sept 2019

43,000 runners attempted the 13.1 mile event, which stretches from Newcastle to South Shields.  Among the celebrities taking part were footballer Michael Carrick, and eventual winner Mo Farah.
Ilford AC put forward its own celebrity, Great north run regular Anthony Young, racing in his native Newcastle

On an unusually warm day (for the north!) Anthony recorded a time of 1 hr 48 mins 37 secs which he was very pleased with.

 

European Masters athletics champs
Venice
5th – 15th September 2019

The 21st European masters athletics championships are being held in lido near Jesolo, next to Venice on the Adriatic coast.
Rob Sargent of ilford AC took part in his first event on Sunday 8th September at Fisherman’s park in Caorle further along the coast. The 4km cross-country race was over 2 lap twisty grassland course and Rob was pleased to finish in 19 mins 58 secs for 29th in the M65 category, the 4th British runner home.