Press Report 30th January 2024  

Jan 302024
 

SOUTH OF ENGLAND CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Beckenham Place Park
Saturday 28 January

Ilford AC sent a small team to this yearly championship again held at Beckenham Place Park  in South London over a course which featured grassland, trail, mud and hills.

 

The under 15 boys were represented by Sam Horsley and Ryder Islam. This was Sam’s first area championship.
He started strongly in the front pack and held his position well finishing in a fantastic 7th place. He now looks forward to upcoming competitions where he will compete for the county.
Ryder had a strong race taking 5 positions in the last 100m to finish in 95th place, his first top 100 placing in area champs.

The club had one competitor in the U17 men’s 6k. Samuel Crane started strongly but struggled in the last 2 kilometres to finish in 114th place.

Jordan Hinds was next up in her first Southern Championships as a senior woman. She went off hard and kept going well to finish in a respectable 121st place in 32 mins 56 secs over the 8k course.

Finally we had 5 stalwarts in the 15 kilometre men’s race.
The course was changed this year for the men’s race and included a long hill towards the back of the park which the men had to negotiate twice.
Malcolm Muir led home the Ilford squad with his usual gritty performance in 289th spot in a large field in 55 mins 18 secs for the race. Next over the line was Seb Parris in 420th in 59 mins 41 secs and following on was Danny Holeyman with 63 mins 12 secs for 507th.

Steve Chissel unfortunately missed the start but finished the course strongly in just under 70 minutes in 580th place. Jim Tilbrook had a really strong run on the longest cross country championship in the calendar placing 717th in just over 85 minutes. 


ESSEX SCHOOLS CHAMPS
Benfleet

In the Essex schools champs held at Benfleet last weekend Ilford AC had 7 runners , representing their respective Borough

In the Intermediate race Ilford had 6 athletes across 4 separate boroughs

Best performance of the day was Sam Horsley. Sam still has a year left in the age group but still took the lead from the very start of the race. He continued to push on for the duration of the race and came a brilliant 7th

Essex schools picked the first 6 positions to represent Essex in the prestigious English schools. However Sam has another opportunity to win a spot in the team as a further 2 spots are given in a subsequent race in the next week or so.

Good performances also from Aaron Hick in 25th ,Samuel crane in 33rd and Ryder Islam in 38th

Aron Berhe and James Thake both finished strong to be in the top 45 athletes

In the senior boys race Ronan Edwards ran very well to come a very creditable 11th position


INDOOR 

Earlier in the week Alex Richards ran a  terrific indoor 800m last week at Lee Valley
His time of 1:56.84 was a PB beating his outdoor time.

  Press Report 23rd January 2024  

Jan 232024
 

CHINGFORD LEAGUE
Epping Forest
Saturday 20th January

The latest match in the Chingford League took place in Epping Forest on Saturday. 

First race of the day was the U13 race, and our boys continue to impress in the series.

Barney Perkins continued his excellent form of late with a first place in a time of 07 mins 45 secs over the 2km course.
Barney was closely followed and supported by Khalif Ali in 6th place in a time of 8.10.

Elias Furreedan continued his improvement this season with another great performance in 43rd position in a time of 9.54.

Both Barney and Khalif have great opportunities to finish in the top 3 of this Season’s competition at the final race on February 3rd.

Luke Thake had a really impressive race in the U15 competition, and produced a season best performance over a very tough and testing 5km course, finishing in 10th position, in his category  in an impressive time of 24.08

The course for the senior race was a 2 lap 8km event with 2 hills to climb on each lap over ground still frozen and rutted which made the going tough for the runners. Ilford AC turned out full teams in both the mens and ladies division 2 league match.

The ladies team were led home by Alison Sale in 9th spot and 1st in F50 category in 41 mins 48  mins, with Carlie Qirem 1 place and 1 second behind.
Pauline Tester was next home in 23rd spot with 51 mins 23 secs, and Mandy Reid recorded 53 mins 38 secs for 29th.
Julia Galea placed 29th in 59:43, Frieda Keane 39th in 1:00:44 and Launa Broadley completed the squad in 42nd in 1:06:59. In the division two match the Ilford ladies claimed 2nd place and are 3rd overall for the season and with 2 more fixtures to come are in the mix for promotion to the top league.

The men’s event had a number of teams with strong turn outs in action. The Ilford challenge was led by the inform Steve Chissel placing 22nd and 2nd in the M50 age category in 40 mins 18 secs. Joel Denning battled through the field to come home 26th in 41 mins 14 secs while Bradley Brown was 37th with 43 mins 51 secs. Ray Dzikowski was 36th in 44 mins 15 secs and Tarik Qirem 46th with 45 mins 49 secs. 
Andy Catton finished in 49th and 1st in the M70 age category in a time of 46 mins 14 secs. 

The team was completed by Jim Tilbrook in 74th with 1:11:02, compounded by the fact he started 10 minutes late due to getting lost on his way to the start line. 

In the match the Ilford men finished 6th but remain in 3rd place in division 2.


Benfleet 15
Sunday 21st Jan

Ilford AC fielded 3 runners in the Benfleet 15 held at Hadleigh Downs on Sunday.

The course is a very challenging multi terrain course comprising hard sections of the Canvey Island sea wall contrasting with marshland and the undulating Hadleigh downs.

Starting downhill and finishing on a mile long big climb, the race is not for the faint hearted.
This year nearly 800 participants took on the challenge

Leading the way for the club was Danny Holeyman, finishing in 52nd place, which also earned him a 2nd place in the M50 Category, in a time of  1 hr 53 mins 05 specs.
Just 10 places behind, in a time of 1 hr 54 mins 58 secs was Seb Parris.
Completing the trio was Diarmuid Mac Donnell in 2 hrs 16 mins 14 secs for 249th place

The overall race record is still held by Ilford’s Amin KoiKai who clocked 1.22.17 in the 6th running of the race back in 1996, a time that no runner has recently been able to even approach.

  Press Report 16th January 2024  

Jan 152024
 

Mercury 10
Epping Forest
Saturday 13th January

Saturday morning saw the 101st running of the Mercury 10 in Epping Forest.
Incorporating tough muddy hills the race, whilst picturesque in places, is a real challenge for runners and one really only for the brave.
This year saw a large field of 176 runners ready to take on the challenge, including 4 from Ilford AC.

Leading the team home in 29th place was Seb Parris in 29th place in a time of 77 minutes 09 seconds.
Seb was followed just 5 places later in 34th by Danny Holeyman in a time of 77 mins 49 seconds which was good enough to earn him 2nd place in the M50 category.

There were 2 very impressive performances also by our two female runners on the day.

Alison Sale came home in 124th Place in 99 minutes 11 seconds, a time that earned her the 3rd W50 placing on the day.
Alison was followed home by Mandy Reid, a regular at this event, in 144th place in a time of 112 minutes and 37 seconds.

  Press Report 9th January 2024  

Jan 092024
 

ESSEX CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
Gloucester Park
Saturday 6 January

The 2024 Essex Cross Country Championship was held in Gloucester Park Basildon over a wet muddy hilly course comprising several laps.

First race of the morning was the U13 girls and boys who ran over an approx. 3.1k course.
For the boys, both Khalif Ali and Elias Furreedan ran strongly for 40th place in 14 mins.34 secs and 58th place in 17 mins.51 secs respectively.


For the girls Hawaaa Patel, on very limited training, ran well for 17 mins. 21 secs earning her 39th place.

All 3 of our U13’s were making their Championship debuts for the club and have a promising future ahead of them.

Next up was the U15 boys running over a slightly longer 4.3k course and the club were pleased to have 5 boys representing the club.

Sam Horsley led the team home for a fantastic 3rd place and a Bronze medal in a time of 15 mins .20 secs.

Sam was well supported by Aaron Berhe in 18th place in 18 mins exactly.
Next up was Ryder Islam who ran well for 22nd place in 18 mins.19 secs. Jayden McDermott was next home finishing 44th in 23 mins.17 secs, with the team being completed by Luke Thake in 45th place with a time of 25 mins.08 secs.

The boys team finished 5th on the day

Ilford AC fielded 9 runners in the Senior Men’s event for a 3 lap 12km race.
Jack Nixon led the way for the club finishing 12th in 43 mins 53 secs. One place and one second behind was Alex Richards with Malcolm Muir coming home 63rd  in 49 mins 48 secs. Tom Gardner finished 67th with 50 mins 37 secs and Josh Adler was 84th  with 52 mins 58 secs. Berekhet Berakhy closed the scoring team in 55 mins 08 secs for 103th.

In the team event Ilford were the 8th club to finish.

Also in action were Seb Parris (109th  55 mins 30 secs)  Steve Chissell (140th 59 mins 11 secs) and Steve Crane (200th  68 mins 55 secs)

The senior ladies raced over 2 laps in their 8km event.
Jordan Hinds was the first Ilford runner home in 22nd spot with 38 mins 25 secs while Alison Sale finished 46th in 45 mins 05 secs and Dianne Crisp finished in 70th in 50 mins 40 secs.
Frieda Keane was 79th with 57 mins 41 secs and Julia Galea completed the squad in 81st  with 58 mins 40 secs

The Ilford ladies finished 10th in the county team competition.

 

 

  Press Report 1st January 2024  

Jan 012024
 

2023 saw Ilford AC celebrate their 100 year anniversary, a year that saw club members old and new, close to home and those now living far away, come together for many events throughout the year, whether it be participating in events, or just as importantly helping with the organization and marshalling of races.

The centenary year concluded with 2 of the clubs longest running(excuse the pun) events, the Boxing day handicap which is 14 years old, and the 10m Cross Country Championships which has been part of the clubs running calendar since the early 1950’s

Ilford AC Boxing Day Handicap
Hainault Forest
26th December 2023

A field of 28 runners brushed off the Turkey and Christmas hangover to toe the line for the 13th annual Ilford AC Boxing day handicap.

The route is 3.3 miles through the hills and mud of Hainault Forest and forms one lap of the clubs own 10 mile championships which traditionally takes place a few days later

Each runner is given a handicap based on their previous form over the year.

This years winner was Jim Tilbrook who ran the course in 32:57 off of a 1 minute handicap giving him a Nett time of 33.57, just 4 seconds ahead of Di Crisp who’s nett time was 34.01 running from scratch

The actual fastest times on the day, handicap excluded, were Josh Adler 20.29, Samuel Crane 20.59 and Stephen Philcox 22.06.

Remaining finishers in time order, excluding handicaps were Tomas Krukauskas 22 22, Aaron Hick 23 02, Akwasi Nkrumah 23 03, Barney Perkins 23 19, Steve Chissall 24 30, Jordan Hinds 24 50, Danny Holeyman 24 52, Paul Allen 25 15, Wayne Hick 26 05, Anna Crawley 26 28, Mike Perkins 27 05, George Hick 27 48, Pauline Tester 31 42, Jim Tilbrook 33 57, Di Crisp 34 1, Zavinta Krukauskiene 34 17, Billy Green 34 48, Rachel Halpin 35 06, Shahnaj Begum 35 15, Steve Crane 35 19 and Julia Galea 36 57

ILFORD CLEAN UP IN THE MUD

Ilford AC 10 Mile Cross Country Championship
Hainault Forest
December 30th 2023

On Saturday Ilford AC hosted their winter showcase 10-mile cross country event on a pleasantly mild December morning.
Runners were treated to the thick mud and hills that characterizes most of the 3.3-mile course which is negotiated 3 times.

Ilford’s men totally dominated the race, providing 5 of the first 6 finishers.

Coming home in first place was Malcolm Muir in 65.17 followed by Josh Adler in 2nd place in 66.36 and Stephen Philcox in 3rd in 70.42, a time that also earned him V50 Gold.

In 5th was Danny Holeyman in 71.55, earning himself an overall and club V5O Gold and in 6th place was Seb Parris in 72.04 giving him an overall and club V40 Gold.

Next male home for the club was Steve Chissell in 80.36 for 18th place and a Club V60 Gold

First lady home was Anna Crawley in 29th place in 85.18, earning herself a club Senior Female Gold medal, followed by Alison Sale who earned both a club and overall FV50 Gold medal with a time of 94.16 in 50th place. Just one place behind, earning a Silver medal in the same category was Pauline Tester in 94.56.

Final medal winner of the day was a well deserved club Gold medal for Frieda Keane who got a V60 Gold after an injury hit year with a time of 117.26 for 75th place

Also finishing the tough course for the club were:-
Stephen Crane 21st 81.49, Steven Horsley 25th 83.53, Bradley Brown 31st 86.16, Stephen Lacey 33rd 87.47, Nick West 58th 98.14 and Jim Tilbrook 73rd 116.45

 

Of course this event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all the marshals, organisers and scorers, all of whom were club members, many traveling many miles to offer their support and help to the club.
Our 2 Centenary Presidents, John Batchelor and Pam Jones also travelled a good distance to be in attendance for the medal ceremonies after the race for which the club are very grateful.

Buntingford 10 (incorporating the British Masters Championship)
Saturday 30 December 2023

The Buntingford 10 took place on a mild drizzly Saturday morning on a moderately hilly course around the outskirts of the Hertfordshire town.
Ilford AC had four runners in the field and first home for the club was Joel Denning in 118th place with a time of 71 mins 29 mins to finish 7th in the British Masters M45 group.
Joanne Reeves recorded 75 mins 18 secs for 152nd , and was also 7th F45 in the British Masters.
Further down the large field was Rob Sargent who claimed 4th in The British Masters M65 age category in 1 hr 41mins 28 secs for 407th overall.
Completing the Ilford squad was Julia Galea in 417th in a time of 1hr 44mins 06 secs for 8th in her F65 group in the Championship