Press Report. 20th March 2018  

Mar 202018
 

HAMPTON COURT PALACE HALF MARATHON
18th March 2018

Last weekends weather caused the cancellations of most races around the country including the Brentwood Half Marathon, The Colchester 15, Fulham 10k and Reading Half Marathons, all of which had Ilford AC entrants.
One race that did go ahead however, by Royal decree of King Henry VIII no less, was the Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon which is the only race in the country to start and finish in the grounds of a Royal Palace.

Over 3,500 hardy runners lined up on a bitterly cold morning including Ilford AC members Dennis Briggs, club captain Billy Green and Pramila Monroe.
The 3 Ilford members were joined by Josnara Uddin who also trains with the club.
The course itself is popular in that it is one of the flattest Half Marathons in the country and takes runners along the gravel paths of the River Thames, out into the town of East Molesey for 2 laps before the final two miles which are run in the gardens of the Historic Palace, finishing behind the main Palace building.
Despite the recent weather, the course itself contained no hazards and provided beautiful snow covered scenic views for the runners along the river banks.
It was a race that suited the runners far more than the stewards and spectators who watched on in sub-zero temperatures.

Dennis Briggs was the first Ilford runner home in an impressive time of 1:40:38 and 254th place, which stands him in good stead for this years London Marathon
Second Home for Ilford was club captain Billy Green in a time of 1:52:14 for 584th place.
Next home was Pramila Monroe who was very pleased with her time of 2:11:06 for 1800th place.
Also pleased with her run was Josnara Uddin who came in at 2:19:39 for 2,220th place.

  Press Report. 12th March 2018  

Mar 122018
 

British Masters Indoor Championships
Lee Valley
10th-11th March

Ilford Super-vet John Batchelor managed to take four M75 golds this weekend in the British Masters Indoor Championships to match last year’s performance.

On Saturday John took the 400m in a time very close to last year’s performance with a start to finish blast in 74.61 seconds, and followed that with the 1500m in 5:54.87.
On Sunday John came close to beating the top M70, Rod Scholes, in an exciting 800m in which he moved from 5th to 2nd in the final 250m, taking the M75 title in 2:50.30.
By the 3000m race, one hour later, competing with very much younger and faster athletes, John was content to run towards the back of the field and clock close to a season’s best with 12:56.50.

In two weeks John starts a three-race campaign in the European Masters Championships in Madrid.

 

Milton Keynes 20
11th March

With last weeks ‘Essex 20’ race cancelled due to the snow, Ilford AC runner Carlie Qirem travelled up to Milton Keynes to race over the 20 mile distance this weekend.

Carlie, in training for both the Paris and London Marathons in April, put on her ‘lucky socks’ and ran a steady race on her 20 mile debut.
The race starts in the City centre and travels down the dual carriageways out to a beautiful scenic countryside and back, and is always well supported with locals cheering on the runners and handing out jelly babies with plenty of music played on route.
For the most part the race is fairly flat except for a really cruel hill at mile 19 that takes you to the finish.

Carlie ran a consistent pace throughout the event, finishing in 2hrs 50mins 24 secs for 333rd overall in a field of 939 and was 65th female home of 365 female entrants.

  Press Report. 5th March 2018  

Mar 052018
 

The Vitality Big Half Marathon
Central London
Sunday 4th March 2018

The Vitality Big Half Marathon is a new event that starts outside the Tower of London, following much of the first half of the London Marathon route, but in reverse, passing through the Boroughs of Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Lewisham before finishing up in Greenwich.
It was the only big outdoors running event last weekend that survived last weeks ‘Beast from the East’ and six Ilford athletes pitted themselves against Mo Farah and 2017 London Marathon winner Daniel Wanjiru.
In what other sport do you get to compete with and against the worlds best?
Unfortunately none of the Ilford runners managed to beat Mo, but all gave a good account of themselves and recorded times they were happy with.
First home for Ilford was Amin Koikai with his best run for 13 years at the distance in 1:13:21 followed by Tony Hyde, who despite having some health issues recently ran a steady and decent time of 1:29:50. Tony started in pen ‘A’ and despite a very congested start soon got in to his stride and enjoyed the route.
Tony was followed by Rohan Alexander, who despite running his first race since last September, put in a good solid performance to finish in 1:37:33

First female home was Breege Nordin who ran a steady race to finish in 1:44:01.
Breege was very closely followed by Carlie Qirem. Carlie who is in training for both the Paris and London full Marathons this Spring had decided to use this run as a training run rather than ‘race’ it, but her race instinct soon took over and she finished in a time of 1:44:59, just 10 seconds outside her personal best.
Completing the Ilford six, and ensuring that all finished under the magic 2 hour mark for the Half Marathon was Anna Crawley, who continues to impress in her first season with Ilford AC.
A little inexperience at the distance led to Anna starting the race running at a pace that was more like she would have run in a 10k race. At the halfway point she was beginning to struggle but dug in, and although slowing over the next 5 miles she rallied for the final couple of miles to finish in a very good time of 1:55:51 which was a 3 minute PB for the distance

 

EAMA (England Athletics Masters Association) Indoor Challenge
Lee Valley
Sunday 4th March 2018

With athletes travelling from all over the country for this national event there was speculation that the event might not take place following the big freeze, but fortunately a lot milder Saturday ensured a good turnout for the challenge
Ilfords Super Vet John Batchelor once again impressed despite having to compete as a M70 rather than his usual M75 and therefore giving away a few more years to some of the competition on Sunday.
In his first race, the 1500m, John placed 2nd to former rock musician and Vets AC runner Peter Giles (King Crimson, 21st Century Schizoid Band – if you look up their Japan concert on You Tube he’s the tall bass guitarist) in a seasons best time of 5:55:59.
Nearly 3 hours later the roles were reversed in the 800m. John, leading from the start, gained his revenge over Peter Giles to win the race in 2:56:68.

 

 

  Ilford AC Press Report – February 26th 2018  

Feb 262018
 

Saucony English National XC Championships
Parliament hills Fields
Saturday 24th February

A small contingent of Ilford Athletes made their way to the “Home” of Cross Country last Saturday. The course was a little drier than in previous years and the sun was out but the hills remained the same!!

In the Ladies race Launa Broadley & Sheila Sinclair, in their first National, started steady and completed the 8km course in 57:50 and 61:06 respectively. There were 1113 finishers.
This was a huge achievement for both Ladies and is the culmination of an excellent Winters Training. They now look forward to a great Spring now!!

In the Men’s race held over 12.5km, and after a very congested start, Malcolm Muir running strongly was first man home in 734rd [51:22]. He was backed up by Neil Crisp 1189th [55:50] and Bradley Brown 2175th [72:02]. There were 2328 finishers.

Many thanks to Robin, Pam and Dianne for their support and pictures.

 

Roding Valley Half Marathon
Sunday 25 February

On a bitterly cold Sunday morning over 400 lined up for the 35th Roding Valley Half Marathon on the usual challenging course around Woodford. The field included 4 entrants from Ilford AC, three of whom were running the distance for the first time.

One of the distance debutants was the first home for the club in 177th slot. Adnan Karim clocked a creditable 1hr 49 mins 16 secs for the 13.1 miles.
Two female Ilford runners were also first timers for the half with Frieda Keane finishing 327th, and 6th F50 category female, in 2h 09m 20s and Natasha Mansouri recorded 2h 17m 32s for 369th spot.
The Ilford quartet was completed by the experienced Peter Spelman with 2h 13m 24s in 2h 13m 24s, 11th in the M60 age group.

Brighton Half Marathon
Sunday 25th February

 Over 13,000 runners braved the cold sea air for the Brighton Half Marathon this year.

Ilfords sole representative Carlie Qirem made the trip down south for the race 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.
A bracing wind, hilly course and large field means the race isn’t suited for PB’s, but even so Carlie was delighted with her time of 1:48:30 which placed her 2,047th in the large field.

South of England and Vets AC Indoor Championships
Lee Valley
Sunday 25th February

Ilfords super-vet John Batchelor won the M75 golds in both concurrent championships in all the three events I competed in last weekend.

John improved by 1 second over last week’s 800m time, placing fifth in an M60+ race in 2:55.33.
An hour later he took third place in an M70+ field in the 400m behind two younger specialists at the distance, improving by two seconds over last week with a time of 76.17 seconds. (Managing your age in seconds in this age sector is regarded as something of a landmark, so at 77 a reasonable achievement).

The 3000m, another hour later, at the end of the meeting, found John struggling with fatigue behind a field of rather younger runners, and he settled for a final time of 13:41 to take the M75 title.


Great Cornard parkrun
Saturday 24th February

Another of Ilfords ‘super-vets’ Anthony Nixon did the Great Cornard Parkrun on Saturday.
Anthony finished 6th in 19.57 which takes him to the top of the UK over 70’s Parkrun rankings by 36 seconds

Anthony joins John Batchelor and Pam Jones to make it 3 Ilford vets who top the UK rankings for their age group events

  Press Report 19th February 2108  

Feb 182018
 

Chase the Moon 5k & 10k
Olympic Park, Stratford
Wednesday 14th February

It was a cold and wet night last Wednesday as 600 athletes gathered at the Olympic Park for their one true love on Valentines night – running.
Ilfords Carol Muir was the sole Ilford runner on the night.
Carol chose to race the 5k course and battled well against the elements to finish 207th in a time of 33:56.

CHINGFORD LEAGUE
Victoria Park
Saturday 17 February

The last individual event of the winter’s Chingford League was held over a flat fast road course on a still sunny afternoon, perfect racing conditions. This year the race was a measured 5 miles instead of the usual 2 laps.
Four runners from Ilford AC took part as guests as the club does not enter the Chingford League

First home in 109th position was Dennis Briggs with 35 minutes 29 seconds, while the in form Carlie Qirem took 3 minutes off her personal best with 36 minutes 32 seconds in 126th overall and 25th in the ladies rankings. Doris Gaga ran with club endurance coach Rob Sargent and they both recorded 46 mins 29 secs for 205th and 206th respectively. It was Doris’s best time for 3 years.

 

   .

 

 

St Luke’s Hospice Test Track 10
Dunton
Sunday 18th February

On a bright but cold Sunday morning Steve Parker, the sole runner from Ilford A.C. ran the St Luke’s Hospice Test Track 10.
It is run on the challenging banked Ford test track at Dunton Essex, so offers runners the opportunity to see areas normally prohibited to the general public
Steve was happy with his first road race of the season finishing in 1hr 15.18

 

SCVAC Indoor Championships
Lee Valley
Sunday 18th February

Ilfords ‘Super-Vet’ John Batchelor ran four races in Sundays Southern Counties Vets AC Indoor Championships, and won the M75 gold in all four.
John started the day with 800m in 2:56.40, and a close up fourth in a race of younger men and women.
An hour and a bit later he moved from fifth to third in the last 200m of the 3000m, again against younger athletes, finishing in 12:52.86, and another hour and a half later, while fourth behind three 400m specialists, set an M75 Championship Best of 78.16.
Within 15 minutes of finishing that he was called upon to compete in a 1500m championship comprising men and women of all masters ages so that the organisers could wrap up the meeting, and finished in 6:35.09.