Press Report 3rd June 2019  

Jun 032019
 

Dagenham 88 5m – Elvis Series Race 1
Eastbrook End Country Park
Wednesday 29th May

The 2019 Elvis series (East London fiVes Interclub series) got off to a good start at Eastbrook End Country Park on an unseasonably chilly Wednesday Evening when Dagenham 88 hosted the first of this years 8 summer races on a 2 lap multi-terrain course of 5 miles.

Ilford AC entered a large squad of 28 runners in the event with Gary Coombes leading the team home in 12th place in 30:39 which also placed him 2nd in the VM40 category. In an epic battle between team-mates Gary was followed very closely by Stephen Philcox in 13th place in 30:55 for 1st VM50 and Seb Parris in 16th place in a time of 31:17 for a course pb.

Not far behind, and 4th scorer for the the club was John Crawley for 26th place in 32:23 followed in 5th place by Terry Knightly for 43rd place and 4th place in the VM50 category.
Completing the scoring for the men’s squad was new member Adam Coals who ran an impressive 35:57 for 49th place.
Just outside the scorers, but finishing 3rd in the VM60 category was Alan Pearl, finishing in a time of 36:03 for 62nd place.

The female squad was lead home by Carlie Qirem, who ran a course pb to finish in 36:54 for 75th place. Just 3 places back in 78th was Jenni Sheehan in 37:04 followed by Anna Crawley who ran an impressive 38:58 for 104th place and a pb at the distance.
Nicola Hopkinson ran well for 110th place in 39:30 which placed her 3rd in the VF50 category.
Natalie Crisp was the next Ilford runner home in 131st place for a time of 40:50 although with 3 vets needed to make the scoring team of 6, Natalie did not feature in the scoring squad.
Next scorer home was Gaye Young who was 137th in a time of 41:25.
Completing the scoring for the ladies squad was Alison Sale who ran a fantastic pb for the distance in a time of 43:07 for 149th place

Finishing outside the scoring squad but securing an impressive VF60 4th place was Sharon Honey who finished in 181st place with a time of 45:57.

All squad members put in a fantastic effort on the night and the scoring teams were complemented by Dennis Briggs (37:15 81st), Andy Catton (37:26 84th), Eain Begg (38:06 111th), Rhoan Gabbidon (39:57 116th) Bradley Brown (40:02 118th), Tony Young (43:02 147th), Frieda Keane (50:31 223rd) Launa Broadley (53:02 237th), Carol Muir (53:47 240th) Kim Baxter (54:09 243rd), Sheila Sinclair (55:20 249th), Julie Gillender (55:47 253rd) and Brennie Gabbidon who was another with a course pb in a time of 57:25 for 258th place

 

DORKING 10 MILES
Sunday 2nd June

The 34th Dorking 10 was run over an undulating route loops through scenic countryside with one challenging hill. Five runners from the Ilford endurance squad travelled down to Surrey to compete in the event.
The race also incorporated the VAC 10 mile championship in which Ilford AC won the Gold medal by ‘down ageing’  in the V35 category with the 3 scorers being Malcolm Muir in 59:16 (also claiming Silver V40), Paul Holloway 1:00:24 (Also claiming Bronze V50) and Sam Rahman in 1:02:07 (also claiming Bronze V35 and 1st in the V35 Vets AC category).
Also putting in fine performances on the day were Seb Parris finishing in a time of 1:05:30 and Tony Young, who finished in 1:30:07.

  Press Report 28th May 2019  

May 282019
 

Vitality Westminster Mile
Sunday 26th May

The Vitality Westminster Mile is the world’s biggest timed mile event, with over 9,100 runners setting over in 30 waves over many separate categories.
The men’s race was won by Chris O’Hare in exactly 4 minutes, the fastest in the events 7 year history, whilst the women’s was won by Melissa Courtney in 4:31.

Amongst the runners were 6 juniors and 11 seniors from Ilford AC, with virtually all claiming a PB for the distance.

Fastest Junior on the day was Mungo Prior with 4:38, closely followed by Jak Wright 4:45 and Bradley Deacon 4:56 in the U17 category.

Matthew Hick finished in 5:15 in the U15 category, with brother Aaron Hick finishing in 6:08 in the U11’s.
Only female junior on the day was Jordan Hinds who ran 6:36 in the U20 category.

The Ilford AC Seniors were competing in a variety of waves and categories but in order of time finishes they were led home by Amin Koikai who finished in 18th place of over 9,000 runners in a time of 4:45.
Amin was followed by Sam Rahman 4:55, Steve Philcox 5:20, Krystal Balogun 5:43, Dennis Briggs 6:07, Alan Pearl 6:17, Tony Young 6:50, Julie Gillender 8:47, Carol Muir 9:05, James Hubbart 9:18 and Gaye Young, who ran with her young son Warren finishing jointly on 9:36.

 

Vitality London 10k
Monday 27th May

On Bank holiday Monday over 15,000 runners lined up for the iconic Vitality London 10k, including 24 runners from Ilford AC.

The race starts on the Mall, takes in such landmarks as Trafalgar Square, St Pauls, Horse Guards parade and Parliament Square before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

This years race was won by Sir Mo Farah for a 6th successive year in a time of 28 mins 14 seconds, with the ladies race won by Steph Twell in 31:55.

The 9 men and 15 ladies of Ilford AC all put in great performances on a warm day and all did the club proud.
First finisher was Seb Parris in 557th place for a time of 37:!9 and a new PB. Second home for the club was Diarmuid MacDonnell who also claimed a PB for 1015th place in 39:45, followed by Gary Coombes in 40:35 for 1,201st place.

Ilfords males were completed by Philip Davies 42:02, Dennis Briggs 44:29, Rhoan Gabbidon 46:23 PB, Billy Green 50:26, Satha Alaga 53:01 and Peter Spelman 1:03:15.

The ladies were led home by Zuzana Sinalova in 1,564th place for 41:59. Second home for the club was Carlie Qirem in 49:00 closely followed by Gaye Young in 49:23.

Ilfords long list of female runners were completed by Nadia Crellin 53:48 PB, Pauline Tester 54:36, Alison Sale 56:05, Sharon Honey 56:22, Mandy Reid 58:12 PB, Mandeep Bassi 58:35, Frieda Keane 59:53, Launa Broadley 1:03:30, Sheila Sinclair 1:06:57 PB, Karen Kufuor 1:07:36 PB, Verna Grant 1:08:25 and Brennie Gabbidon 1:13:25

 

Hatfield Broad Oak 10km
Monday 27th May

Now in its 34th year, the Hatfield Broad Oak 10K has grown to be one of the largest and most popular road races in the South East, attracting 1500 runners nationwide.

Held in the medieval village of Hatfield Broad Oak near Bishop’s Stortford and organised by the local school PTA the race is held on country roads which are fully closed to traffic which gives the race a very special atmosphere as residents and spectators gather to cheer you on as you loop through the village in a figure of eight eventually finishing on the beautiful village green in the heart of the village.

Three Ilford AC runners were in attendance this year and were led home by Sam Rahman who finished 16th place overall in a time of 36:40.
Sam was followed home by Tony Young in 50:59 and Julia Galea in 56:27 for 6th V60 female on the day.

 

  Press Report 21st May 2019  

May 212019
 

Southern Counties Vets Athletics Club (SCVAC)
Lee Valley Sports Centre
Monday 13th May

The first match of the Vets season saw the Men’s team finish the evening in an excellent first place and the Ladies team achieving a creditable fifth.

The match held on Monday 13th May at Lee Valley Sports Centre started with the 2000m walk. Seb Parris achieved a PB finishing first M35 in 9.29.7. He later followed this up with another PB in the 1500m with 4.58.4 for fourth place M35. Steve Uttley won the M50 walk in 11.14.0. In the Ladies walk Emma Dyos came home first W35 in 10.54.5. Rachel Lawless completed the clean sweep of first places with a time of 12.22.3 in the W50 age group.

In the 100m Sam Malekout (M35) was second in 12.3. Due to his versatility he also finished second in 54.9 for the 400m, first in the Pole Vault with 2m 20 and third in the Long Jump with 4m 97. His Shot of 7m 08 secured fifth.

Henry Ricketts came down an age group to finish fourth M40 in 13.4 following this up with fifth in the 400m in 66.9. In the M50 Long Jump the leap of 4m 38 placed him third. A PB in the M50 Shot of 8m 55 secured fourth.

Tony Nixon filled a gap to run the M50 100m easing to fourth place in 23.5. In his more favoured event of 1500m he competed as M60 finishing third in 5.23.3.

Gerald Daniel ran the M60 short sprint finishing third in a split race in a time of 15.4.

David Butler came an age group to run the M50 1500m in 5.23.6 for fourth. Andy Catton ran as a M60 guest coming home sixth in 5.51.9.

In the field events Roger Honey vaulted 2m 00 for third in the M60 category. His M60 throw of 24m 02 in the Hammer placed him second.

Pete Whiting came down a couple of age groups achieving 15m 36 in the M35 Hammer.

In the Ladies 100m Michaela Davis finished fourth W35 in 16.9. Fifth place was secured in the W35 Discus with a distance of 14m 30.

Alison Sale ran the W40 sprints finishing sixth and fourth respectively in 19.1 and 91.9 for the 100m and 400m. She also ran the W40 1500m coming home fourth in 6.56.0.

Nicola Hopkinson ran all the track events in the W50 category. In the 100m, 400m and 1500m her times of 21.5, 90.4 and 6.40.7 placed her sixth, fifth and fourth respectively.

Barbara Higgins as the W60 athlete gained first place in the 100m in 18.9. This was mirrored in the Discus with the distance of 14m 92 also securing first. Barbara then came down an age group to finish fifth W50 in the Shot.

The Mens 4 x 100m of Henry, Gerald, Andy and Sam brought the baton home in 59.6 for 7th and ultimately vital points.

The Ladies 4 x 100m of Alison, Nicola, Barbara and Michaela came home fifth in 79.2.

 

London 5km Festival
Lee Valley Sports Centre
Wednesday 15th May

Sam Rahman followed up his gold medal in the Essex Track and Field Championship with a run at the London 5km Fest at Lee Valley last Wednesday. He ran his usual controlled race but tired a little in the last 2 laps to finish 8th in heat 2 in 17 mins 22.66 secs, his best for a couple of years.

 

Southern League
Sandy
Saturday 18th May

Ilford ACs Track Team Maintain their good start to the season

Ilford AC travelled to Sandy on Saturday for the second Southern league race of the season.Due to exam season Ilford were missing a number of its youngsters but the team still maintained some great performances.Special mention must go to the 4 ladies in the team, who covered a lot of different events during the day, acted as officials  and amassed a large amount of points, to enable Ilford to come a great third position. These ladies were Krystle Balogun,Gemima Massamba,Nicola Hopkinson and Launa Broadley

Krystle and Gemima both won their 200 and 400m events in great times , came 4th and 3rd in the 100m respectively and both ran a leg of the Mixed 4 x 400m . This is the first time the league had held a mixed 4 x 400m and it was good to see Ilford win this first ever relay by a very long way

Launa and Nicola, Officiated the Discus and Shot put,as well as competing in those events. They both ran the 1500 and both came 3rd and Nicola even found some effort to also come third in the womens 300m

In the Mens events , Ilford started well with a second in the 400M hurdles for Sam Malekout , with 62 seconds and a second for Dan Wheeler in 70 seconds. Dan won the High Jump in 1.85, a PB and also came third in the Shot, as well as running a superb 100m  in 11.70, which meant he finished 2nd. As for Sam, he came 4th in the pole vault with over 2 metres ,3rd in the Shot Putt and also 3rd in the javelin and 6th in the Discus

In the mens 200 Marion Dobrescu won the A string  in 22.50 and Wayna Williams ran a great race to win the B string in 24.Wayna also came third in the 100m B string. Mario also won the Long jump in 6.26 and was part of both winning relay teams. The winning 4 x 100m relay team was Dan, Wanya, Daniel and Mario in 45.1

Jordan Akinpelu was drafted into the 400m and ran a stunning race to win in 53.50, Jordan also won the Javelin and Long Jump B string , so had a great day of performances.

One of the busiest athletes of the day was Alex Richards, who amassed a large  amount of wins and points for the club. He started with winning the 800m in 1.59, won the B string 400 , beat a very classy 1500m field in 4.07 and ran a great leg in the mixed 4x 400. Philip Ellul, in his first ever scoring race for Ilford did well for 2nd in the 1500m in a  time of 4.30

In the mens 3000m both Ilford athletes Mungo Prior and Tom Gardner took the lead from the start and went away from the field. Mungos aim was to break 9 mins for the first time but just fell short at 9.05. Tom , as usual ran well to win the B string. Other athletes to mention was Seb Parris , who ran a PB in B string 800 in 2.30 and Fidunu Abideku, who won B string High Jump and 3rd in the Triple jump. Finally Roger Honey came 5th in the Hammer and 3rd in the Pole Vault and Pete whiting did well in the Discus, Hammer and Triple jump.

 

Hackney Half Marathon
Sunday 20th May

The Hackney Half Marathon is one of London’s newest, and largest halves with over 13,000 athletes congregating on Hackney marshes for the early start.

The route skirts parks and the major roads through Hackney, which are all closed to traffic, before winding its way through the Olympic park and finishing back on Hackney Marshes.

Amongst the large group of runners was Rhoan Gabbidon from Ilford AC competing in his first ever Half Marathon and finishing in a very creditable time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 52 seconds.

Also running was Verna Grant who trains with Ilfords Wednesday night Harriers group in Valentines Park on Wednesday nights. Verna finished in a time of 2 hours 35 minutes and 51 seconds, an improvement of 20 minutes on her last Half Marathon.

 

Colchester Stampede 10k
Colchester Zoo
Sunday 20th May

An Emusing review

Sunday saw the second running of the Colchester 10k stampede which starts and finishes within the grounds of Colchester Zoo.

After a mass warm up where Ilford AC captain Billy Green proved he still has ‘the moves like Jaguar’ the runners were led into the Zoo grounds for the start. With so many runners in a congested space the first half a mile or so was Pandamonium but after Bearing with it the runners headed out into the Colchester countryside and hills.
Billy started off at a steady pace as the race description promised some steep hills, and they weren’t Lion.
As the race progressed Billy picked up the pace and finished in a time of 49 minutes 40 seconds, which he was pleased with, as he had set out to Seal a sub 50 minute run after a long layoff from racing

 

  Press Report 14th May 2019  

May 142019
 

Lee valley aquathlon
Lee valley white water centre
7th may

Seb parris ventured out to the London Olympics kayak venue on Tuesday evening.  A 500m 2 lap swim of the course in 13 degree calm waters followed by a 2 lap 5.5 km run around royal gunpowder mills park run course.

Seb finished in 31.04 for 2nd v30-39 and  4th place overall. He was only 4 seconds behind 3rd place after running down over a minute deceit that his competitor had on him after exiting the swim leg! Pure racing at its best.

 

Essex County Track and Field Championships
Chelmsford
11th and 12th May

Ilford had a successful two days at the Essex championships at Chelmsford Last weekend.

Day 1, bought 4 gold medals, 2 silver and 4 Bronze medals.  Aaron Samuel retained his U17 1500m title with an excellent tactical race, hitting the front with 2 laps to go he controlled the rest of the race to win by 2 seconds.  His training partner Jak Wright also ran a very clever race to gain a well deserved bronze in a time marginally outside his pb. Bradley Deacon was also in the race and ran very well to take 8th place.  Alex Richards  opened his 800/1500 double attempt  in a very competitive 800 attacking on the home straight bend taking 1st place in1:57:48 from Grange of Havering and Strange of Basildon.

Probably the most unexpected medal for the club came in the masters 3000m for Sam Rahman. In this event for athletes over 35 Sam ran a controlled race  and started towards the back of the field and moved up as other runners tired. By the bell in the 7 1/2 lap race he was with the leaders and with 200m to go he kicked away to take the gold medal and his first county title in 10 mins 00.42 secs
The U20’s were run at the same time as the vets and Mungo Prior set his third pb of the season in taking the bronze medal.

Mario Dobrescu looked very impressive in winning the U17 400m in a time below 50 seconds. Also in the 400m Krystle Balogun took silver in the senior women’s and Gemima Eshimu Massamba took bronze in the U20 women.

In the field events, new member Denise Evi Parker took a very good second in the U20 ladies, Triple jump and her training partner  Esmeralda Mengeyele took the bronze in the U20 ladies long jump.

Outside the medals, producing a pb in the U15 1500m was Ryan Holeyman

Day 2
The weather was much more settled on day 2 and first up in the U17 3000m, was Jak Wright, who was full of confidence after his medal yesterday.  Jak was always well positioned and made a decisive move with 2 laps to go. His victory was not only a Pb, but his first ever individual Essex title.  

Ilford have always been a strong race walking club, and this borne out on Sunday with a clean sweep of the ladies medals,  First home was Emma Dyos in a time of 17.01.3, followed by Rachel Lawless in 18.56 and Lesley Morris in 20.11, both of which were pbs.  Stuart Bennett completed a successful day for the walking section by taking Bronze in the men’s 3000m.

Nat senior who coaches most of Ilford’s younger sprinter and jumpers, dusted off his spikes to great effect to win the senior men’s long jump, it was his first county medal in 10 years.  Jordan Akinpelu, one of athletes that Nat coaches gained a bronze medal in the U20 men’s long jump.

Back on the track Mario Dobrescu returned to action to take silver in the U17 200m, and bronze medals were gained by Farris Patel U17 800, Krystle Balogun senior ladies 200 and Alex Richards senior men 1500m, both Krystle and Alex ran pbs.

Efe Austinz competed in her first County championships, doubling up in the U20W 100m and 200m, setting a PB in the former event.

 

Ipswich Twilight 5km
11th May

The Ipswich Twilight 5km is held on a very fast course around the Ipswich docks, and form part of the England Athletics road 5k championship.
Malcolm Muir of Ilford AC ran a very fast 16 mins 33 secs to place 5th V45 on the day.
The race was won by Nick Goolab of Belgrave Harriers in an incredible time of 13 mins 34 seconds

 

Halstead Marathon
12th May

Steve Parker the sole Ilford A.C. runner competed in the Halstead & Essex Marathon on Sunday. The race was celebrating its twenty-fifth year with 400 runners competing in the warm sunshine.
The undulating course runs through some picturesque Essex villages, along small country roads & even through some fields.

The race is very well organised with no shortage of encouraging marshals & spectators. Steve found the going a bit tough after running the Virgin London Marathon two weeks before & getting over some recent injuries, however he thoroughly enjoyed the race finishing in 4hrs 20mins

 

Rochford Multi-Terrain 10k
12th May

Terry Knightley of Ilford AC Continued his long slow comeback from a serious career threatening Prolapsed disc in his spine as the sole club representative in the Rochford Multi-Terrain 10K Race on Sunday. Running on a tough mixed terrain course of country roads, farm tracks, grassy footpaths and a riverside embankment bedside the River Crouch, Terry finished in 24th Position from a field of 320.

 

Clocking 44 Minutes exactly he was 6th Male Veteran in the M50-59 age category and also earned a Gold finishers medal for finishing in the top fifty. The next 50 finishers got a Silver finishers medal and the remainder of the field received Bronze Medals.

  Press Report. 7th May 2019  

May 072019
 

ITU world multisport championship
Pontevedra. Spain
2nd May

After a previous run of good aquathlon (swim/run) results last year, Seb Parris was picked by British triathlon to represent the age group team in the recent international triathlon union’s world multisport championship taking place in northern Spain.
Pontevedra played host due to being a training home of current triathlon legend Javier Gomez.
The aquathlon was a mandatory wetsuit swim of 1000m due to the cold atlantic waters reaching just 14 degrees. Seb was out the water lying in 22nd place.
The 5km run was at the other end of the weather scale being 23 degrees with no shade!
After his legs thawed out Seb ran very well on the 2 lap course and moved up 5 places to finish in 40.47 for 17th place in his age group race.

 

AIMSE 5km
Hyde park
Thursday 2 May

Dan Holeyman  of Ilford Ac took part in the AIMSE 5km in Hyde Park on Thursday evening. Still feeling tired from the previous weekend’s London Marathon he posted a good time of 19 mins 22 secs to win the first master V40 trophy

 

Bristol 10k
5th May

The Bristol 10k is a part of the ‘Simplyhealth’ Great run series.
The run starts near Bristol Cathedral and runs parallel to the historic Bristol Harbour before continuing along Avon Gorge and taking in the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Ilfords Malcolm Muir, showing his normal gutsy style, ran the race in a great time of 34:49 for 38th place overall and second in the V45 category.
The race was won by Chris Thompson of Aldershot AC in a time of 29:35

 

WITHAM 10 mile road race
Monday 6 May

The were 13 Ilford AC endurance runners in the May Day 10 mile road race over an undulating but fast course on country roads. It was a successful day out for the club with the runners claiming 5 personal best times, 3 debuts over the distance and 1 top 10 finishers.

First man home from the club was Paul Holloway in 7th spot in a good time of 60 mins 06 secs claiming 2nd place in the M50 age category.
One place and 28 seconds behind was Sam Rahman, with Dan Holeyman coming in with 67 mins 20 secs for 29th overall.  Dennis Briggs was the first to claim a new best time for the distance of 73 mins 13 secs in 57th.

Gaye Young led the Ilford ladies challenge in her first race over the distance recording a creditable 79 mins 30 secs for 93th placed. Another running a 10 miles race for the first time was Rhoan Gabbidon recording 81 mins 01 secs for 100th, while Julia Galea had a good run just 8 days after the London marathon just missing her personal best as she finished 159th in 91 mins 30 secs.
There were  new best times for both Alison Sale in 92 min 29 secs in 164th and Ray ‘Sparra’ Everingham’ in 92 mins 55 secs for 166th.
Also setting a new personal best was Frieda Keane in 96 mins 05 secs finishing 194th, just 8 days after running a great time in the London Marathon.
Mandeep Bassi was another distance debutant in 207th with 100 mins 10 secs.
The fifth personal best of the morning was set by Launa Broadley with 1 hr 41 mins 35 secs for 215th and Brennie Gabbidon completed the Ilford squad with 2 hrs 2 mins 16 secs as she raced 10 miles for the first time.