ROAD AND CROSS COUNTRY REPORT

Last Friday of the Month 5km
Hyde Park
Friday 30 August

Three runners from Ilford AC were among the entrants for this popular lunch time run in London’s Hyde park. This a new two lap course was used in the Park which was busy with tourists enjoying the warm sunshine, First home from Ilford was Adam Coals in 92nd place with 20 mins 37 secs, while Club endurance coach Rob Sargent recorded his fastest time this year of 26 mins 36 secs for 219th. For the Ilford ladies Julia Galea was placed 2nd in the F60 category and 236th overall with 28 mins 56 secs.

In today’s day and age where races can be entered on-line months in advance, it is not uncommon for a runner to find he has booked 2 races in a week. 2 races on the same weekend a little less common but not unheard of.
Club Captain Billy Green however surpassed this when he realised that he had booked THREE races this weekend, Saturday morning and afternoon followed by one on Sunday.

The weekend kicked off at 10am with…

Spitfire 10k
RAF Museum Hendon
Saturday 31st August

The Spitfire 10K is held to commemorate the Battle of Britain and all the men and women who defended Britain’s skies during the summer of 1940, with all the runners wearing the name of a Battle of Britain pilot with their race number.
The race takes runners around the historic London aerodrome in Colindale, out onto local streets before finishing through the museum past the Spitfire, through Hangar 1 and under the beautiful Short Sunderland Flying boat, before crossing the finish line.
Billy recorded a time of 50:35 for 114th place in a field of over 700 runners.

 

After a quick trip home to change, Billy made the journey up to Bedford for the 5:30pm race….

Bedford Twilight 10k
Priory Country Park Bedford
Saturday 31st August

The Bedford Twilight 10k is part of the yearly Bedford running festival which takes place over 3 days, incorporating the 5k, 10k and Half Marathon distances.

Billy’s aim was to beat his time earlier in the day, which he not only did but he also recorded a PB time of 46:53, beating his previous PB by 67 seconds over the 10k distance.

 

On to Sunday…..

 

The Essex Way – 10 Stage Relay Event
Epping Station to Harwich Lighthouse
Sunday 1st September 

Ilford AC had 10 hardy runners flying the flag for the Club in the iconic 31st running of The Essex Way. 

This is one of the County’s truly inspirational and premier events, with 81 teams from clubs from all over the county and beyond racing on the ancient trails and footpaths which make up the 82 miles of the historic Essex Way that runs from Epping Station to Harwich Old Lighthouse.

Gary Coombes and Mandeep Bassi, making her Essex Way debut, duly set off from Epping Station at 8am on Sunday morning to represent Ilford on Leg 1 finishing 7.5 miles later at Chipping Ongar finishing 3rd and 72nd.

Leg 2 saw Stevie Philcox run the 9.5 miles to Good Easter finishing 3rd

Leg 3 had Alison Sale and Freida Keane  running another 9.5 miles to Little Leighs finishing 60th and 75th.

Leg 4 was Dennis Briggs running the 10.1 miles to Cressing Church finishing 25th.

Unfortunately, despite getting 38 runners out at Barking last week Ilford were unable to field any runners in legs 5-7, although a few of our usual candidates made the trip to Ashford to compete on the track for the club.

Leg 8 saw Billy Green and Sharon Honey run the 8 miles to Bradfield in 50th and 53rd place.

Leg 9 saw Mandy Reid, appearing for the first time in Ilford AC colours, take on the 6 miles to Ramsey in leg 9 finishing in 48th place.

Fittingly it was left to the clubs President Nicola Hopkinson to take on the 5.5 miles to Harwich lighthouse, finishing in 38th place to culminate an enjoyable days running.

The final results saw Ilfords ‘A’ squad finishing a very credible 36th out of 81 teams on the day with the B squad finishing in 52nd place 

The day finished with a few of the runners who did the later legs, along with Robin Davies, Gaye Young, Tony Nixon and Catherine Green  who assisted and supported throughout the day, have a traditional fish and chip supper near the seafront.

 

Maidenhead Half Marathon
Sunday 1st September

Another Ilford runner to be selected to run for England at the weekend was Ilford Vet Paul Holloway, who was invited to run as part of the England Masters team at the Maidenhead Half Marathon.
Having qualified by right through one of three qualifying races earlier in the year competition to make the team was tough, however Paul was one of just 150 England Masters selected from the entire country for the event.
Despite the warm and humid conditions Paul did Ilford AC Proud in his England vest, finishing in a time of 1:21:17 placing him 122nd in a field of almost 1500 runners.

 

Bedford Half Marathon.
Sunday 1st September

Sunday was day 3 of the Bedford Running festival, and after Billy’s 10k on Saturday it was the turn of Julia Galea to represent Ilford AC in the Half Marathon distance.
Starting and finishing in the beautiful location of Priory Park Julia was pleased with her time of 2:09:29 to complete her 4th Half Marathon of the year.

 

OTHER

In parkrun news Launa Broadley ran her 190th parkrun this weekend, which was her 190th at Velentines Park in Ilford and she finished…..190th!

 

RACE WALKING REPORT

 

LAST – BUT STILL WITH A TROPHY

 

Guernsey Church to Church Walk
Sunday 1st September

 

Only a small field contested Sunday’s annual traditional Guernsey Church-to-Church walk over a testing distance of 19.4 miles on a hot morning with a welcome breeze. 
Starting and finishing at St.Peter Port harbour, competitors toured the island. The precise distance is as the course passes every Parish Church on this holiday island.
Ilford’s sole entrant was the man to finish, 80 year old Ed Shillabeer. 
Afterwards, organiser Rob Elliott said, “There’s no stopping this man. Ed has won this event 4 times with a best of 2.40.58 but continues to return to walk on one of his favourite course.  His time this year was over 2 hours slower and was a struggle and comes only weeks after walking 68 miles in 20 hours in the Isle Of Man. Then he was straight to the airport to return home to be at work tomorrow morning.  A race walking legend”.
Although last in 4 hours 45 minutes and 42 seconds, Shillabeer won a trophy – awarded to the 1st veteran aged over 70.   Ironically this trophy was donated by Ilford AC, so it’s back in a Club member’s hands for the next 12 months!

 

APPEARING AT A RUGBY VENUE

 

Saturday afternoon saw Ilford AC members contest a London Inter-Club Challenge 5,000 metres walk on a track encircling the Saracens Rugby Union pitch at their Allianz Park home in Hendon. 
Despite being uncomfortably warm and humid there was nevertheless a breeze to provide some comfort for the field.  Steve Uttley felt tiredness in his legs as the race progressed, which he attributed to over-training during the week.  This cost him a couple of positions as he strode into a commendable 7th position, clocking 29 minutes and 8 seconds, just a few strides agead of Loughton’s in-form Melanie Peddle.  Ilford members enjoyed a good tussle for 12th &d 13th spots as Simon Morgan and Stuart Bennett were timed at 31.13 and 31.22 respectively. Morgan was highly delighted as he’d recorded a personal best (pb).

Barking Park 5km
Monday 26 August

The annual Barking Park 5km took place on a flat, fast course on a hot sunny Bank Holiday morning and it was a good day for the 38 entrants from Ilford AC.
The race was the 7th match in the ELvIS series and left the positions tight at the top.

There was a fine run from Paul Grange to lead the club home in the runners up spot in a new personal best time of  16 mins 08 secs. Supporting him were Tom Gardner in 5th in 16 mins 34 secs and Gary Coombes with 9th in a new best time of 17 mins 02 secs. Close behind in 11th was Sam Rahman with 17 mins 22 secs, his best time for 3 years. Paul Holloway came home 16th with 17 mins 34 secs, to win the M50 age grouping,  and Malcolm Muir closed the team with 17 mins 45 secs for 18th spot.
Ilford won the ELvIS match from Orion Harriers in 2nd and East London in third.
This result puts the club top of the men’s table for the summer with one match remaining.

Also in the top 20 were James Rigby with a personal best of 17 mins 43 secs and under 20 category runner Phil Ellul  with 17 mins 51 secs.
Seb Parris recorded 18 mins 13 secs in 28th, with Steve Philcox 31st in 18mins 33 secs and Diarmuid Mac Donnell recording 18 mins 40 secs in 34th.

Leading The Ilford ladies was Neringa Masiolionene who is the clubs 5th Olympian and only double Olympian representing Lithuania in the 2012 London & 2106 Rio Games, in the Women’s 20 Kilometres’ Walk. Neringa was making her running debut for the club, finishing a fine 4th in 19 mins 23 secs.
Next home was Anna Crawley with 21 mins 16secs in 11th and one place behind Carlie Qirem in 21 mins 31 secs who scored a personal best..
Bree Nordin once again took the F60 category trophy placing 17th with 22mins 19 secs.
Completing the scoring team was Nicola Hopkinson in 33rd recording 24 mins 35secs and Alison Sale in 210th place for 26 mins 13 seconds.
The team placed fourth in the match behind Eton Manor, Orion Harriers and East London runners. With one round of the competition left the Ilford team are in third place in the league. 

Also running well was another of the clubs under 20 prospects Jordan Hinds in 13th with 21 mins 36 secs,  Jenni Sheehan with 22 mins 19 secs and there was a personal best for Kim Baxter of 29 mins 35 secs, her first run under 30 minutes.

Also ran:  Terry Knightley (69  20.14) Rohan Alexander (89 20.41)  Alan Pearl (96 21.00) Dennis Briggs (110 21.49) Tony Young (140  22.59)Andy catton (158 23.35) Adnan Karim (165 24.00) Bradley Brown (177 24.39)  Ernie Forsyth (188 25.22) Alison Sale (210 26.13) Ray Everingham (229 27.15) Mandeep Bassi (247  27.46) Julia Galea ( 249 27.45) Sharon Honey (282 29.25) Carol Muir (292 30.31) Launa Broadley (294  30.42) Sheila Sinclair (301 32.58) Jim Huddart (303 33.04) Julie Gillender (311 33.52)

 

 

 

 

Forest Five
Epping Forest
Saturday 3 August

The sixth round of the ELvIS series for 2019 was held over a 5 mile off road course in Epping Forest at Chingford.  Ilford AC fielded a team of 19 for this fixture and in form Gary Coombes headed the squad with a fine 6th place finish in 29 mins 13 secs and took home the 1st M40 trophy. He was supported by Sam Rahman in 17th with 30mins 34 secs and Steve Philcox in 30 mins 58 secs for 19th, a position which won the M50 age category. Seb Parris placed 20th with 31mins 13 secs, while Dan Holeyman came home 25th in 32mins 09 secs and Diarmuid Mac Donnell was one place back with 32 mins 15 secs. John Crawley was a further 15 secs behind in 29th and Adam Coals recorded 34 mins 46 secs in 58th.

In the team competition Ilford placed second to the home Orion Harriers squad and are joint top of the league with East London Runners.

The Ilford Ladies team was weakened by the non-availability of several of the usual scorers. Bree Nordin led the side home in 14th spot with 38 mins 09 secs and was the winner of the F60 grouping. One place behind was the improving Anna Crawley with 38 mins 09secs. Alison Sale placed 79th in the ladies race with 47mins 03 secs and Doris Gaga came home in 90th spot in 48mins 20 secs,. the team was completed by Mandeep Bassi in 106th with 50 mins 02secs and Launa Broadley with 55 mins 38 secs for 137th place. the depleted squad still managed to place 5th in the match and the club remain in second spot in the league.

Other Runners:  Dennis Briggs (87  36.45) Tony Young (115  38.59) Ray Everingham (251  48.02) Sheila Sinclair (321 56.22) Jim Huddart (339  63.48)

 

Ride 100
London
Sunday 4th August

4 Ilford athletes took part in the Prudential ride 100 event at the weekend, an unforgettable traffic free ride through London and Surrey. The event is also part of the 3 part ‘London Classics series’ with the other two being the London Marathon and swim Serpentine.

Nicola Hopkinson, Alan Pearl and Steve Parker were riding as a team of 3 raising money for their local charity ‘MIND’ in Stratford. In completing the event Nicola Hopkinson earned the ‘London Classics’ medal for completing all 3 events whilst Steve Parker having previously done the London Marathon in April claimed his second of the 3 events. Riding as a team rather than looking at times, all 3 were pleased with their efforts.

Carlie Qirem, along with her husband Tarik, both had a day to remember. Back in 2017 both had recorded times of over 8 hours, and this year after a lot of training they had set themselves a target of under 7. Expectations were smashed though, when both came home together in a time of 5:47:27, knocking almost 3 hours off of their previous time. Carlie had already earned the ‘London Classics medal’ after completing all 3 disciplines.

 

The Miles of Miles Festival 2019
Chelmsford
11th August 2019

The mile is the classic race.

Since 1976, the mile has been the only non-metric distance recognised by the IAAF for record purposes. The current male record is 3:43.13, while the female record is 4:12.56.

On Sunday Chelmsford athletic club hosted its annual ‘miles of miles’ event inviting athletes to race the mile distance on the stadium track in a series of seeded races. Three Ilford athletes took on the challenge, John Crawley and father and son pairing Danny and Ryan Holeyman.

John Crawley had never ran a mile race before so was unsure how to pace himself. Although very pleased with his 5:11 time which placed him second in his heat, John felt he could have pushed a little harder in the earlier stages of the race so looks forward to having another crack at a possible sub 5m mile in the future.

Father and Son team Danny and Ryan Holeyman always carry a little friendly rivalry in to their races, although Danny concedes that his son has the edge on him now, and so it proved on the night with Ryan winning his heat in a time of 5:24 with Danny coming in at 5:34.

 

Burnham Beeches Half Marathon and 10K
11 August 2019

The Burnham Beeches Half Marathon and 10k offers a choice of two distances, both on a mix of closed roads and hard surfaced woodland paths through the cool shade of the Burnham Beeches ancient woodland in South Bucks. It’s the perfect setting for a summer half marathon or 10k.
Two Ilford AC athletes attended the event. Julia Galea took on the Half Marathon and was pleased with her time of 2:06:41.

Meanwhile in the 10k Ray ‘Sparra’ Everingham was also pleased with his time, recording 56:59 for his second fastest ever 10k race.
In the same race Sparra’s wife Wendy, who trains with the club, also recorded her second best 10k time coming in at 1:15:33