World Masters Championships
Torun, Poland
24th – 30th March 2019

A small squad of runners have travelled out to ‘The 8th World Indoor and road championships’ being held in Torun, Poland, and on the very first day of action Ilford AC picked up a bronze medal. Pam Jones who is representing Great Britain ran the F80 3000m and took the 15 laps at a consistent pace to finish third in 22 mins 13.57 secs

The second day featured the cross country races. The course was tough undulating 2km lap. the first race was for athletes over 75 and was over 3 laps. Pam Jones of Ilford AC was the only British team member in the F80 age category. Looking in better form than in the previous day’s 3000m Pam improved her position to second to take the silver medal in 50 mins 35 secs for the 6k race.Later in the day a second Ilford AC runner was in action. Julia Galea ran the F60 4lap 8km race as the ambient temperature of the day began to fall. Julia came home 21st and fourth Briton in 48 mins 43 secs.

 

Lee Valley Run Fest
24th March

Sunday saw the third running of the ‘Lee Valley Run festival’ consisting of a number of races over different distances.
Ilford AC athlete Alan Pearl opted for the Half Marathon distance, a 2 lap traffic free course along the scenic toe paths and canals that surround the Lee Valley White water centre.
Despite a virus that almost caused Alan to pull out of the race, he ran a very respectable 1 hr 43 mins 14 secs to finish 10th V50 male on the day.

 

Fairlop Waters Charity 5k
24th March

4 Ilford runners were in attendance at the Annual Fairlop Waters Charity 5k race in aid of St. Francis Hospice. The club also volunteered 7 members to assist with the marshalling and timekeeping on the day.

Over 200 runners took part, on what turned out to be a warm spring morning, with many families in attendance and running together for charity

On a scenic 2 lap course around Fairlop Waters, husband and wife team Roger and Sharon Honey led the Ilford contingent home, finishing in 15th and 16th places respectively in times of 26:49 and 27:03.

Third home was Mandeep Bassi in 19th place for a time of 27:56.

Completing the quartet of Ilford runners was Catherine Green who in her first race for a few years finished a respectable 67th place in 41:37.

 

 

British Masters Cross Country Championships
Belfast
March 9th 2019

The British masters cross country championships returned to Northern Ireland for the first time in 9 years.

The race was held on a 2km grass loop on the rolling grounds of the storming estate.
Julia Galea of Ilford AC took part in the 3lap 6km ladies race which also featured the men over 65. Galea had an inspiring run to finish 42nd overall in a time of 37.13 to place 2nd in the F60 age category and take the Silver British medal

 

Hillingdon 20
March 10th 2019

The Hillingdon 20 is a new race to the racing Calendar and is ideal preparation for those runners preparing for a Spring Marathon.

What wasn’t ideal though was the blustery winds which seemed to be blowing into the runners faces for most of the 4 lap 20 mile course.
Ilford AC had one runner in attendance, Danny Holeyman, who is running his first London Marathon in Ilford colours in April.
Danny has enjoyed a very successful preparation for his marathon, achieving PB’s at 6 different distances over the last 6 months
Danny overcome the conditions on the day to run a remarkable 2 hours 20 mins and 07 seconds for 38th place in his debut at the distance, a performance he was very pleased with and one that holds him in good stead for next months London Marathon.

 

Surrey Half Marathon
Woking
March 10th 2019

The Surrey Half Marathon boasts a scenic single lap course and follows a fully road closed route out from Woking town into the rural delights of the nearby quaint villages.
Aditya Patil was the only Ilford runner in attendance and was very pleased with his time of 1 hour 47 mins and 55 seconds in what was his debut run over the distance.

 

The Vitality Big Half
Central London
March 10th 2019

 

The Vitality ‘Big Half’ is a well organised Half Marathon taking runners on a fully closed route through Central London.

The run starts at Tower Bridge, making its way through Canary Wharf before heading back with a finish by The Cutty Sark.

This years winner was Sir Mo Farah and whilst none of the 5 Ilford runners in attendance were able to beat Mo, all put in very good performances that they can be proud of.

First Ilford runner home was Amin Koikai who finished in a remarkable 1 hour 14 mins and 57 seconds to place him 158th, and 6th in his age category, in a field of over 12,000.

Next home was a new member to the club Steve Chissell who also impressed with a time of 1 hour 32 mins 8 seconds.

First Ilford female home was Zuzana Sinalova who was pleased with her time of 1 hour 33 mins 44 seconds for her debut at the distance.

Next home was Peter Spelman who continues to do numerous Half and full marathons every year with a time of 2 hours 3 minutes and 54 seconds.

Completing the Ilford contingent was Karen Kufuor who had put a lot of training into her first half marathon, and was delighted with her time of 2 hours 29 mins 10 secs

 

Finally a very big well done to 2 Ilford Runners who completed parkrun milestones at the weekend.
Carol Muir completed her 400th parkrun, whilst Sheila Sinclair completed her 250th on the same day. Both milestones were completed at Valentines Park with a large crowd of teammates in attendance to cheer them on.

 

Midweek Indoor Middle Distance Meeting
Lee Valley
Wednesday 20 February

Four athletes from Ilford AC entered the middle distance meet on the indoor 200m track at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre.
In heat 1 of the 800m there was a good race from Alex Richards to take second in 1 min 58.98 secs, while Farris Patel impressed on his first indoor race finishing 6th in 2 mins 01.92 secs.  Tom Gardner placed 6th in heat 3 in 2 mins 10.65 secs.
In the 1500m Sam Rahman was involved in bunched race and coped well to come through in 5th in 4 mins 38.74 secs,

 

National Cross Country Champs
Leeds
23^rd February 2019

The National cross country championships, held by the English Cross Country Association was held at Harewood House, Leeds, on Saturday.
Pitting himself against the finest athletes in the country was Ilford’s sole entrant Trevor Robinson.
Over a demanding and hilly 12.k course Trevor gave a very good account of himself, finishing in a time of 1:10 which placed him in 1,963^rd place.

 

Brighton Half Marathon
24^th February 2019

Over 7,000 runners ran the Brighton Half Marathon this year in unseasonably warm weather.

Ilford’s sole representative Carlie Qirem made the trip down south for what she describes as one of her favourite races, as part of her London Marathon preparations, which continue to go well.

The race is run almost entirely along the seafront, on an out and back course which takes in local landmarks such as Brighton Pier, Brighton Marina and the Royal Pavilion.

Carlie showed that her hard work this season is paying dividends by smashing her PB by over 3 mins to record a time of 1:41:42 which placed her 1001^st on the day in the large field.

 

Southern Counties Veterans Athletics Club (SCVAC)
English Masters
Lee Valley
24^th February 2019

 

Although Ilford AC Super-vet John Batchelor continues to struggle with Injury he still put in a couple of fine performances at the English Masters this weekend.
In the M70 800m race John finished 3^rd with a seasons best time of 3:10:34, before moving on to the 1500m. This race was always going to be a tougher one for John as he had to step down an age category to compete in the M60 class, but once again John recorded a seasons best to finish in a time of 6:41 for 10^th place

 

Hillingdon 10k
24^th February 2019

Doris Gaga, fresh from her Half Marathon in Ethiopia two weeks ago stepped down a distance to race in the Hillingdon 10k at the weekend with her sister.
The race is a popular one in the running calendar and starts and finishes in the modern surroundings of Brunel University in Uxbridge.
Doris’ recent hard work in training showed as she ran an excellent race to place 3^rd V50 on the day with a PB time over the distance of 50:56.
The result also placed her 62^nd on the day in a field of almost 300.

ENGLISH MASTERS INTER AREA INDOOR CHALLENGE

LEE VALLEY ATHLETICS CENTRE, ENFIELD

24/02/2019

Two Ilford club members were selected to represent their masters area club(VAC) at this year’s Indoor Inter Area Challenge at Lee Valley. The annual event, organised by the English Athletics Masters Association (EAMA), is open to all Masters area teams in the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  The competition is organised for men and women in four age groups, 35-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+. Sunday‘s event featured the Welsh Masters team plus 6 other area teams covering the English counties.

Stuart Bennett and Seb Parris both towed the line for the Veterans Athletic club in the 2000 m men’s race walk.  10 laps of the banked indoor 200m track.  Both had a solid race recording seasons bests.  Seb came 5th in 10.57 (1st v35-49) and Stuart came 7th in 11.30 (4th v60-69) out of a field of 14.

VAC ended the championships in 5th place for both the men’s and women’s teams.