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.

 

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).