The Vitality Big Half Marathon
Central London
Sunday 4^th 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 4^th 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 2^nd 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.

 

 

Chase the Moon 5k & 10k
Olympic Park, Stratford
Wednesday 14^th 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 207^th 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.

 

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

SENIORS – ROAD RUNNING

Great Bentley Half Marathon
Sunday 4^th February

The Great Bentley Half Marathon is a flat scenic run along country lanes. It is however very exposed and tends to be pretty windy – and this Sunday’s race was no exception.
Ilford athlete John Crawley had been targeting this race for a while, and was therefore pleased with his time of 1:27:30 – a PB by just over 4 minutes for the distance.

Cancer research London Winter run (10k)
Trafalgar Square
Sunday 4^th February

On a bitterly cold Sunday morning, Ilford athletes Carlie Qirem and Billy Green lined up alongside 20,000 other runners for the ‘10k London Winter run’ which raises money for cancer research.

The 10k route which starts on Trafalgar Square and passes such iconic London Landmarks as St Pauls Cathedral and St. Mary-le-bow church (home of the famous Bow Bells) before finishing on Whitehall alongside The Cenotaph,  was lined with Polar bears, penguins and yetis – or at least people dressed up as such!
First home for Ilford was Carlie Qirem, who showed how well her London Marathon schedule was going, by knocking 33 seconds off of her previous PB to finish in a time of 48:01.
Carlie was closely followed by club captain Billy Green who was pleased with his time of 48:50

 

SENIORS – INDOOR TRACK RUNNING

Essex and Eastern Counties Indoor champs
Lee Valley Leisure centre
Sunday 4^th February

Two senior Ilford athletes had a very successful day at the indoor championships.
Krystle Balogun amassed 4 medals. The first 2 were silver medals, in this combined champs, for the 200m in a time of 27:15 seconds which was an indoor PB for Krystle.
Krystle then changed the colour of her medals for Gold in the 400m in a time of 61:60 seconds.

After negotiating the heats Alex Richards had a tough task in the final. Although not taking the overall title, Alex still took the Essex title and Gold in the 800m with a time of 2:002 minutes.

JUNIORS – CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING

South East Schools Championships – Cross Country
Newbury Showground
Saturday 3^rd February

After a great run at the recent Essex Schools, Jordan Hinds was rewarded with a run for Essex in the Southern Inter Counties match which was held at Newbury on Saturday.
The match is made up of several southern area counties, and Jordan was part of a strong Essex team.
Conditions underfoot were very slippy following the heavy recent rain and Jordan found it difficult to begin with. However by the half way stage Jordan was in full flow and was moving steadily through the field to eventually finish a very impressive 49^th place in a very large field.

SENIORS – INDOOR RACE WALKING.

Essex and Eastern Counties Senior Mens Indoor 1 mile Champs
Lee Valley Arena
Saturday 3^rd February

DOUBLE GOLD FOR BENNETT

Ilford’s former Scottish International race walker Stuart Bennett won both the Eastern Counties and the Essex County Senior Men’s Indoor 1 Mile Championship (held in conjunction) which were held at Lee Valley Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Awards were presented by Essex County Athletics Association President Diane Wooller.
The overall race was won by talented Under 17 prospect George Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey AC) in an untroubled 8 minutes and 24 seconds.  However a race for 2nd overall and therefore first Senior Man was white hot.
Bennett tucked himself just off the pace and after 4 of 8 track circuits completed, began to close the gap on last year’s winner, Adam Hills (Bedford Harriers).   By the bell Bennett was ahead, and from bell-to-tape a large crowd were well entertained by ever-changing fortunes for both athletes.  Hills got the better on the back straight before Bennett took control around the bends managing to hold his rival off.   Into the home straight Hills edged ahead until 10 metres from the line when Bennett’s final surge saw him successful by a fraction of a second.   As well as winning the Eastern Counties Senior men’s title, he was also victorious in the Essex Championship, which was held in conjunction.
To add to this serious competition, Essex County’s leading lady walker Melanie Peddle (Loughton AC) was breathing down both their necks.    Bennett’s time was 9.04.05, Hills 9.04.09 & Peddle 9.05.54.   Phew!