Press Report. Monday May 7th 2018  

May 072018
 

Eastern Masters League
Lee Valley
Wednesday 2nd May

The 2018 Eastern masters League kicked off at Lee Valley where Ilford Ac’s Steve Philcox tested his early season form as a guest competitor in the 3000m.
Steve showed his training is on target as he ran a good even pace for the first 5 laps before pushing on in the last kilometre to come home 2nd in 10 mins 07.1 secs.

Assembly league –
Victoria park
Thur 3rd may 7.30pm

Seb Parris raced as a ‘guest’ in this super competitive inner London club league fixture.
Cool weather made the going good on a flat 3.5 mile figure of eight park course.
Seb clocked 20.23 coming home in 89th place. John Crawley also starred smashing an impressive 21.09 out for 126th spot.

5km Swimathon
Nuffield Health centre
Friday 4th may 11am

Seb Parris swam a ‘park run’ 5km in this years swimathon at Ilford Nuffield heath centre.
He touched in 1.28.33 and raised £170 for cancer research in the process.

New Zealand Marathon Championship
Rotorua
Saturday 5 May

Blair McWhirter, who ran for Ilford from 2013-2017 while based in England, was the overall winner at the Rotorua Marathon claiming the 2018 New Zealand marathon titles raced on Saturday around Lake Rotorua.

McWhirter from the Sumner Running Club in Christchurch went to the front of the race from the outset with young Lake City runner Michael Voss (21) and they were joined by Voss’ club mate Sjors Corporaal (40) by the 10km mark.
The three leaders ran together through the hills and past the half way mark, sharing turns at the front for another 17 km in perfect conditions.
At 27km McWhirter, a 35 year old teacher, applied the pressure coming off the last of the hills and the group split up with Corporaal not able to respond and Voss running into trouble.
McWhirter who has a personal best of 2:22.38 set 12 months earlier at the London Marathon, continued to stretch his lead over the final 10km and came home in winning time of 2:29:00, almost six minutes clear of Corporaal.

 

High Easter 10k Road Race
Chelmsford
Sunday 6th May

Ilford AC Stalwart, Terry Knightley, continued his comeback from a career threatening Calf Tear by coming home in a respectable 22nd place in a field of 255 athletes in a time of 41 Minutes and 19 seconds at the High Easter 10K Road Race in Chelmsford, Essex.
Battling the intense heat of the day and fast early pace, The Once Nine Times Essex County Road Running Champion came 2nd in the Over 55 Age category.

As a point of interest the lead car was none other than Chitty Chitty Bang Bang !

 

Crystal palace 10km
Sunday 6th may 10am

A hot day in south London saw Seb Parris tackle a 10km 2 lap hilly Crystal palace park course.
The club was invited to attend this race and Seb did us proud finishing in 39.15 for 7th spot.
The only saving grace of the course was he got to see the parks life size plastic dinosaurs twice on the jaunt! What a treat!?!

 

Witham May day 10
Monday 7th May

300 hundred runners lined up for the inaugural Witham Mayday 10 mile road race including 7 members of Ilford AC.
The race which was held on the hottest Mayday on record on a course that offered little shade and plenty of hills certainly proved a challenge, which was met by the Ilford team.
Coming in first for Ilford was Gary Coombes with a very impressive 6th place and 2nd M40 runner in a time of 1:01:43.
2nd home was Dennis Briggs in 38th place with a PB time of 1:13:27, closely followed by Stephen Parker in 64th place in a time of 1:18:31.
The Ilford mens team was completed by Anthony Young who recorded 1:24:27 for 95th place.
There then followed quite a gap before the final Ilford male came in with Billy Green recording a time of 1:34:58 for 165th place.

1st home for the female team was Frieda Keane who ran an impressive 1:41:28 for 203rd place.
No far behind was Launa Broadley who continued to improve with a time of 1:47:05 for 235th place in her debut run at the distance.
The Ilford ladies team were completed by Carol Muir who put in a gutsy performance to finish in a time of 2:08:40.
Also running was Alison Sale, who has been training with the club for the past couple of months and hopes to soon run for the team. Alison finished in a time of 1:46:13 for 233rd place.

The team was coached/encouraged on the day by club super vet, 82 year old Pam Jones.

 

Pednor run and race walk challenge
Monday 7th may 5pm & 7pm

Seb Parris made his second appearance at this event after winning the overall crown last year.
The Chilterns was officially the hottest area of the UK on the bank holiday and by the time Seb raced it was still hitting an impressive 26 degrees.
The walk followed by the run both take place 2 hours apart on the same 5 mile hilly one lap course. During the opening race walk Seb was never troubled, leading from the start and finishing comfortably 5 minutes ahead of the 2nd place local walker in a new pb of 39.46.
After a quick change Kylie Minogue would be proud of he took to the start line for the run at 7pm in similar hot conditions.
The walk hadn’t knocked the stuffing from his legs as in a field of 275 he finished in 35th spot clocking 31.34 and retaining the combined 10 mile challenge title by over 10 minutes.

  Press Report 30th April 2018  

Apr 302018
 

Mid Cheshire 5km
Kingsley, Cheshire
Friday April 27th

This popular 5km road race is based on the Cheshire village of Kingsley over a fast course. It incorporates the English 5km championship and therefore attracts a quality field. Recent Ilford AC signing Trevor Robinson travelled north to take part and was rewarded with a good time of 22 mins 19 secs finishing 373th in a field of 520 finishers.

 

 Rayleigh 10k Cross Country
Sunday April 29th

Gary Coombes was the sole Ilford entry at the Rayleigh 10k cross country race organised by the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mills.
The race starts and finishes at Belchamps Scout Activity Centre and follows a circular route through Hockley, Grove and Gusted Hall Woods.
The recent weather has been much talked about after last weekend’s veritable heatwave but for this event it reverted to type and made for rather typical cross country conditions. It was cold and breezy and the course through the various woods contained good quantities of mud. Race numbers were issued based on predicted finish times and Gary was rather surprised to be handed the 003 number before the start.

Gary made a conservative start and quickly settled into 4th place.
Whilst two Southend AC runners (which included last year’s winner) battled for top honours Gary consolidated his position and after just 1 mile had opened up a significant lead over the chasing field.
Gary kept sight of the 3rd place competitor but was unable to make any real inroads to cut the gap.
He eventually secured 4th place in an official time of 37:59.

 

RACE WALKING

Enfield League Combined 5k
Lee Valley
Saturday April 28th

GOOD SATURDAY MORNING TURNOUT

Ilford AC had a good turnout for Saturday morning’s Enfield League combined men’s/women’s 5,000 metres walk at a cold Lee Valley Stadium track.
Pride of place went to the Walking Section’s enthusiastic coach, former Scottish International Stuart Bennett, who showed he could do what he teaches others, when leading the Cricklefields-based contingent home in a time of 31 minutes and 16 seconds to fill 11th position in a high class field.
Next home was Mark Culshaw, 16th in 32.52 with stalwart Dave Kates just a position and 2 seconds in arrears.
Leading home Ilford’s ladies, all of whom made their first competitive track appearance after a number of road walks, was Janice Bentley-Pearson in a commendable 35.07 for 18th overall spot.
Among a 9-strong turnout special mentions were merited for Rachel Lawless 23rd in 35.04 and Anne Scurfield & Lesley Morris, who both clocked 36.23 when occupying 29th & 30th places respectively.

  Press Report 23rd April 2018  

Apr 232018
 

VAC FIVE MILE WALK
Battersea Park
Tuesday 17th April

There were eleven starters in the VAC five miles walk, which took place in good conditions at Battersea Park on Tuesday evening 17th April.
One Ilford AC walker made the trip south of the river.  Making his VAC debut, Sebastian Parris won the race comfortably in a time of 43.26 over 6 minutes ahead of 2nd place, he even had chance to ease off the pace in the final lap of three as the London marathon beckoned at the weekend.

LONDON MARATHON
Sunday 22nd April

Ilford had a team of 9 in action at last Sundays London Marathon. The bright sunshine and clear blue skies made in a hot day which acted against the runners after training through the cold winter.

Leading the way for Ilford AC was Amin Koikai . Amin passed through halfway in 1hr 13 mins and continued on at a good pace to finish in 2hr 36 mins 53 secs for 88th place  in a field of 40138 finishers and took 2nd place in the M45 age category.

Next home was Sebastian Parris who in his 50th Marathon, the first also being in London in 2005, recorded 3 hrs 37 mins 07 secs despite having his preparations hindered by injury.
Seb reached the halfway point in 1 hr 41 mins 07 secs and finished in 5373rd spot.
Not far behind was Dennis Briggs in 8924th pace with 3 hr 56 mins 42 secs and Rohan Alexander in 10895th with 4 hrs 08 mins 53 secs.

The clubs leading female entrant Carlie Qirem ran a well judged race, two weeks after running in the Paris marathon, in 4 hrs 11 mins 42 secs for 11129th and 3003rd female home.

Ilford had three runners making their marathon debuts; Tony Young in 4 hrs 34 mins 37 secs, Adnan Karim 5 hrs 15 mins 36 secs and Natasha Mansouri with 5 hrs 40 mins 04 secs

Racewalker, Stuart Bennett heel-toed his way around the course in 5 hrs 25 mins 59 secs.

Ilford AC were also very well represented with a large turnout at the Water Station we manage at Mile 19 at Canary Wharf.  Volunteers were kept busy on a scorching day keeping runners refreshed and offering vocal support, especially as our own runners came through.

 

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  Press Report 14th April 2018  

Apr 172018
 

Southern League Track and Field
Lee Valley
14th April 2018

Ilford made a great start to their 2018, southern league campaign with a very good 3rd place at Lee Valley on Saturday. There total points of 226, was only half a point short of last season bests point score.

Star performer on the womens side  was Esmeralda Mengeyele, who started the day with pb of 4.93 in coming second in the Long jump. This was followed soon afterwards with another pb of 13.36 in taking second place in the 100m. After a short rest, she was over to the High Jump where 1m 25 was good enough for 3rd place. Her final individual event was the Javelin where a great throw of 25.96 took another second place.

Another great performance came from Nicola Hopkinson who turned up to officiate, but then decided to run the 3000m for a point, not content with gaining a point, she took the lead and held off two fast finishing ladies to win the race, in a time of 13.30.58. This was her first ever track win. An hour later she also ran the B string 1500m and took a very good second place. Her partner in the 1500m was Zuzana Sinalova who took second place in the A string in a pb of 5.29.34. The distance events were completed by Jordan Hinds in the 800m who continues her return to form with 2nd place in a time of 2.30.14

Krystle Balogun made her usual valuable contribution, with 3rd place in the A string 200m in 27.10, followed by 2nd in the A strong 400m in 61.29, before gaining more valuable points by taking 4th place in the shot. Womens team captain Ellie Wright came 3rd in the B string 200m in a time of 27.47 before clearing a pb of 1.35 for 3rd in the High Jump. Gemina Eshimu Massamba looked very strong in winning the B string 400m in 61.05

Efe Adjarifo had a good run taking 4th in the A string 100m in a time of 13.54, before placing second in the B string Javelin. New member Yasmin Martins had a great afternoon producing pb’s, first in the long jump 4.16 for second in the B string, she followed that up with two non scoring races 14.00 in the 100m and 28.26 in the 200m. Sara Stena and Ayshah Lawrence also ran the non scoring 100m and 200m, both Sara and Ayshah set pbs in the 100m, and both narrowly missed out on 200 pbs. They then combined for the discus where Sara threw 14.03 for 6th in the A string and Ayshah threw 12.31 for 5th in the B string.

Unfortunately the womens 4x 100 relay team were disqualified, but the 4x 400 team of Gemina, Jordan, Ayshah and Krystle had a very good second place.

On the mens side Ilford were dominate in the middle distance events, winning both the A and B string in the 800, 1500 and 5000. The 800m was a great race between Alex Richards and Farris Patel, with Farris just pipping Alex on the line. Farris’s time was a pb of 1.58.6, with Alex clocking 1.59.1. An hour later Alex took second in the B string 400m in a time of 53.24. Bradley Deacon ran a non scoring 800m and set a new pb of 2.17.63

Aaron Samuel and Jak Wright did the 1500m, and his first 1500m of the year, Aaron set a pb of 4.10.41. Earlier in the day Aaron had come 2nd in the B string high jump with a height of 1m 40. Jak improves with every race and ran very well to win the B string in 4.30.62. Tom Gardner and Gary Coombes contested the 5000m. Tom went to the front from the start and was totally in control winning in a time of 16.15.52. Gary was making his Ilford debut and his first ever track race he performed really well to win the B string in 17.48.45

Mens track Captain Daniel Wheeler had a busy afternoon firstly coming 2nd in the High Jump with 1m 75. He followed this up with 4th in the 100m in a time of 11.87. 3rd in the 200m in a time of 23.6 which is just outside his best, and finally 5th in the B string Discus. Daniel Popoola also ran both sprints running 12.10 for 5th place in the 100m, before running a pb of 23.90 for second in the B string 200m. Jack Maher who is studying at Leeds university made the long trip down to compete in the 400m and had great run to finish second in 52.57

Ilford also scored well in the horizontal jumps with Anthony George winning the B string long jump in a pb of 5.82, before taking second in his preferred event the Triple jump, with a leap of 12.49. Anthony was joined in both jumps by Jordan Akinpelu who jumped a pb in the Long jump of 5.96 for 2nd place, before winning the B string triple in 11.58. Jack Halil did both jumps as non scorer setting pbs at both with 4.87 and 10.72. Whilst Sebastian Lureanu also jumped 5 19 in the non scoring Long jump.

Sam Malekout had his usual busy day, starting off in the shot Putt with 5th with 8m 90, followed by 4th in the pole vault with 2m, 5th in the discus with 25m 35 and finally a very good javelin of 44.32 for second place. At the end of March each year Peter Whiting is removed from his winter hibernation, ready for the first southern league. As always Pete picked up valuable points with 4th in the B string shot, 3rd in the B string Javelin and 5th in the hammer. Pete was joined in the hammer by Tony Nixon who took 4th place in the b string

The 4x 100 team of Daniel Popoola, Temi Adoshun, Jordan Akinpelu and Danny Wheeler came 2nd, likewise the 4x 400 team of Jack Maher, Alex Richards, Anthony George and Farris Patel also came 2nd.

 

Cecil Gittins Memorial Walks
Cyclopark, Gravesend
14th April 2018

Veterans AC hosted the third running of this event on a dedicated cycle circuit which in shape and gradients can only be described as a large Scalextric set!  The event was dedicated to the memory of Cecil Gittins, the football loving character who was almost never seen without his trademark QPR scarf, in honour of his lifetime in athletics and race walking and his many years of untiring service as an official.

In all there were 39 on the start line.  The weather was favourable, just the right combination of sun and wind.  For the 10k headline race which was to score in the Enfield League 2018 series Ilford had a large contingent of walkers.   7 from the club took to the course. Our talented new women’s walking team were also completing the distance for the first time. Sebastian Parris found himself able to pick off two inform walkers on the start of the last 2.5km lap to cross the line 30 seconds ahead in 56.57 for 3rd place.   Stuart Bennett’s London marathon training looks to be going well as he battled for a good 10th spot in 63.07. Janice Bentley Pearson headed the ladies team taking 6th female and 19th overall spot in 70.46. The performance of Rachel Lawless continues to go from strength to strength. The Enfield league is usually contested over a flat 5 miles but on a hilly 6 mile course she walked faster for longer in 73.56 earning 22nd place.  Mark Culshaw paced her all the way round for 73.57 and 23rd position. Anne Scurfield (77.36 and 27th) and Lesley Morris (77.37 and 28th) finished off a fine women’s team performance for Ilford in the league.

Ilford athletes Sebastian Parris and Mark Culshaw continued on to complete the 15k race.  The walk was won in 85.24 by Parris in his second attempt at this distance. His time was almost 4 minutes faster than last year’s performance.  Culshaw put in his fastest 5km of the day in the longer distance finishing in a very respectable 104.28 for 5th spot.

  Press Report. April 9th 2018  

Apr 092018
 

Bromley 10km (Incorporating the Essex Championship)
Little Bromley Essex
Sunday 8th April

This years Essex 10km Championship was staged along with the Bromley 10km on quiet country roads from the Little Bromley Parish Church. The fast flat course was made a little slippery in the light rain which fell throughout the event. There was a good turnout of 21 runners from Ilford AC in the field of just over 500. Amin Kolkai was in good form coming home in 4th spot in a rapid 33 minutes 01 seconds to take the Essex M40 age category championship. He was backed up by the reliable Malcolm Muir in 27th in 35 mins 22 secs and 6th in the M40 grouping and Gary Coombes who recorded a personal best time of 36 mins 10 secs, on his debut for the club having recently joined, for 32nd spot. These three combined for the team competition and placed 4th in the county.

Steve Philcox came in 35th with 36 mins 22 secs with Neil Crisp recording 38 mins 01 secs for 59th.Terry Knightley was 112th with 41 mins 45 secs and Andy Catton was the 6th finisher in the M60 category with 43 mins 48 secs in146th overall
There was also a personal best for Tony Young of 48 mins 09 secs.

Nicola Hopkinson was the leading lady for Ilford recording here best time for 4 years of 47 mins 21 secs to place 2nd in the F55 category and take the county silver medal as she placed 4th overall in the ladies championship. Gaye Young ran the distance for the first time recording a fine 49 mins 07 secs in 263rd overall while Anna Crawley was the clubs next lady home in 298th with 51 mins 05 secs.

Also ran for Ilford AC: Dennis Briggs (43.54 148th) Steve Parker (44.31 164th) Declan Cullen (45.28 178th) Satha Alaga (266th 49.20) Steve Cheal (267th 49.24) Julia Galea (409th 58.12) Carol Muir (442nd 61.37) Launa Broadley (464th 64.19) Julie Gillender (467th 64.49)

 

Paris Marathon
Sunday 8th April

 

Under clear blue skies, with temperatures reaching 20 degrees, some 43,000 athletes ran through the streets of Paris including 2 runners form Ilford AC.
The course is one of the most scenic marathons to run and starts at the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysees and ends at the Arc de Triomphe after winding along the banks of the Seine River and some of the city’s most beloved sites including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum while featuring two big forests – the Bois de Vincennes on the eastern side and the Bois de Boulogne to the west.

Carlie Qirem was the first of the 2 Ilford runners home recording a personal best of 3 hours 58 minutes 14 seconds finishing 13412nd out of the large field. After a long winters training Carlie found the warm conditions difficult on the day but was very proud to knock almost 15 minutes off of her PB and join the exclusive ‘sub 4 hour marathon’ club.
Second Ilford runner home was Marathon veteran ‘Peter Spelman’. Peter was pleased with his time of 4:28:29 which was a full 35 minutes quicker than his last French Marathon in 2017.

 

Manchester Marathon
Sunday 8th April

Sam Rahman ran nearer to home in Manchester in more typical April weather of cloud cover and light drizzle.
The race starts and finishes at Emirates Old Trafford ground, home of Lancashire Cricket club, and heads on out to Altrincham and back.
Despite his build up being hampered by injury he put in a solid run recording 3hrs 05 mins 07 secs for 603th out of the 20000 plus runners.

LBBD 10K
Dagenham
Saturday 7th April

On Saturday Ilford endurance coach Rob Sargeant laced up his trainers for the low key Barking and Dagenham Run4Life event of around 10k 
Run on a 2 lap course from the Civic Centre\Coventry University he recorded 58 mins 44 secs for a top 5 finish.