Ilford AC Press Report. September 25th 2017  

Sep 252017
 

Pleshey Half Marathon
Sunday 24 September

 

The Essex Half Marathon was once again held over a challenging one lap course on the country roads around the picturesque village of Pleshey, near Chelmsford, on a warm sunny morning.

Ilford AC had a squad of 7 in action with Sam Rahman, who is looking in good shape for the Chester Marathon in 2 weeks time, leading the way in 22nd spot with 1hr 20min 34 secs. Next over the line was Neil Crisp in 1h 26m 32s in 48th, which placed him 5th in the M50 age grouping. Steve Philcox came home 60th with 1h 29m 07s and Steve Parker completed the mens team as 7th in the M60 category , 207 overall with 1h 49m 25s.

There was double success for the Ilford Ladies as they took the Essex gold and silver medals in the F55 age group with Bree Nordin, 125th overall in 1h 38m 42s and Nicola Hopkinson 200th in 1h 48m 46s. Julia Galea made up the squad and found the going hard as she completed her run in 2h 07m 39s in 340th nad 10th in the category F55.

There were 434 finishers

 

Elvis Race 7. Valentines Park 5k
Sunday 24 September

Despite the days fixture clash with the Essex Championships in Pleshey, Ilford AC still managed to field a strong squad of 21 athletes in the final race of the ‘ELVIS’  season held at Valentines Park in Ilford.

The race was hosted by East London runners, who always put on a great fixture with plenty of marshals, music and refreshments, on a warm and dry morning ideal for running.

249 runners took part in the 2 lap course which is run on gravel paths.
Although only taking home the one medal on the day, the evergreen Pam Jones who was first in the FV65 category, Ilford still gave a very good account of themselves on the day with one debutant running for the club and an astonishing 5 of the 21 runners achieving a pb on the day

Leading the club home, in 8th position was Sebastian Parris with a PB of 18:04.
Next home was Terry Knightly in 25th place, also taking 3rd MV50 with a time of 19:30 followed by Rohan Alexander in 43rd in 20:31with the ever improving Dennis Briggs completing the mens team scoring with a new PB of 20:53 for 49th place.

Leading the women home was Carlie Qirem in 82nd place with a chip time of 22:55 which was a PB and completes a very good first season for the club for her.
In 2nd and third for the ladies with a joint time of 24:10 for 108th and 109th place was Dianne Crisp and Gaye Van Der Vyver who ran her very first race for the club after only joining the previous week.

Other Ilford runners with positions and chip times were:-
Gary Floate 65th 21:47, Anthony Young 76th 22:42, Satha Alaga 83th 23:05, Rhoan Gabbidon 84th 23:07, Adnan Karim 87th 23:14, Billy Green 91st 23:22, Steven Cheal 100th 23:46, Frieda Keane 183rd 28:01, Carol Muir  189th 28:32, Natasha Mansouri 200th 29:11, Launa Broadley 203rd 29:20 PB, Pam Jones 1st FV65 213th 31:21, James Hubbart, 3rd MV70 229th 33:22 and Kim Baxter 239th 36:48.

Nottingham Marathon
Sunday 24 September

 John Crawley travelled up to Nottingham for the ‘Robin Hood Nottingham Marathon’ on Sunday.
The race starts and finishes at Victoria Park with its many mature trees lining the banks of the River Trent which cups the park.
The course, although beautiful, is one of the hillier marathons in the country and the day was hot throughout the event which wasn’t ideal for running. The day before or day after would have been far better.
The Marathon runners are further impeded in their efforts at a good time at the half way stage when the larger ‘Half Marathon event’, which is run concurrently, finishes and the crowds disperse and the number of runners thins out as they are left to complete the final 13.1 miles.
John Crawley, although a little disappointed with his time still finished in a very credible 3:39:11 on the day.
The picture shows John with his sister, who also ran, and 2 boys at the end of the event.

 

Ealing Half Marathon
Sunday 24 September

In one of the larger Half Marathon events of the year, over 4,100 runners took part in the Ealing Half Marathon including Ilford runner Josnara Uddin who was running her first race for the club after joining in the last two weeks.

All 13.1 miles are run on closed roads and the local community come out to support this race, which is one of the most popular on the Half Marathon circuit.
Jos was very pleased with her run and put in a very good effort of 2:11:39 to finish in 2,974th place

 

 

 

  Ilford AC Press Report. Monday 18th September 2018  

Sep 182017
 

Chase the Sun 5k
Londons Olympic Park
Wednesday 13th September

The chase the sun series came to its conclusion for the Summer at Londons Olympic Park on Wednesday evening. The event so called because of its late start and challenge to finish before the sun goes down has proved to be a popular series and 250 runners lined up for the 5k race.
Ilfords Carlie Qirem came in at a time of 25:17 for 77th place.

Descente London Duathlon
Richmond Park
Sunday 17th September

The Descente London Duathlon is a bike-run-bike event offering athletes the chance to race around the beautiful surroundings of Richmond Park on completely closed roads.
Once again Ilfords Carlie Qirem was in action for the challenging event. Carlie run the first leg, a 10k run in 50:54, then on to a challenging bike ride with 1450m of elevation gain in 1hr 31 mins for 44km then a 5k run in 25:07.
Carlies overall time, including transitions was 2:52:07 which completed a good week for her.

Ingatestone 5
Sunday 17 September

There a small squad of runners from Ilford AC in the field of over 150 for the 33rd staging of the race which was run on rolling countryside just outside Ingatestone.
Conditions were ideal, dry and cool with little wind.

First home for the club was Dennis Briggs, who continues to improve his form with a personal best of 34 minutes 31 seconds in.36th place. He was followed home by another of the team’s improvers, Tony Young, in 71st in 38 mins 26 secs, a new best time for the distance.
A third Ilford runner with a personal best was Natasha Mansouri in 137th with 48 mins 11 secs.

Adnan Karim recorded 40 mins 54 secs in 92nd despite feeling under the weather, and the squad was completed by the evergreen Pam Jones with 51 mins 47 secs

This charity race has strong links with Ilford AC, being founded by Ilford Legend Howard Williams to raise money for Ingatestone Boys Club.
Sadly Howard died earlier this year, and a 30 second applause was held in his honour before the race started.
Ilford honour Howards legacy each year, by providing a team to administer the ‘on the day entries’ and results service.
Special mention therefore for their help to Steven Gilson, Declan Cullen, Gary Floate, Sally Gillam, Martin Clarke and Billy Green

 

 

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  Ilford AC Press Report. Tuesday 12th September 2017  

Sep 122017
 

Ilford AC Press Report, Tuesday 12th September 2017

Woodford Open Meeting
Tuesday 5th September

The last track fixture of the summer was held at Ashton Playing Fields and there were 2 runners and three race walkers from Ilford AC in action.

Sam Rahman was in the faster of the two heats of the mile and ran his usual controlled race reaching half way in 2mins 33 secs. He moved up the field in the second half to record a personal best time of 4 mins 59.56 seconds for 8th place

Seb Parris took part in his first track race and put in an impressive performance to finish 8th in the 3000m in 10 mins 17.45 secs.
With just 5 minutes break between races Seb Parris quickly changed numbers to compete in the 3k race walk. Mark Culshaw of Ilford set the pace leading at the first km before Seb took control to finish with a massive 40 sec pb of 15:24 to take first place. Mark Culshaw came in 3rd place with a time of 16:39, closely followed by Stuart Bennett in 17:50 for 5th place

Great North Run
Sunday 10th September

The Great North run is the worlds largest Half marathon with over 55,000 runners taking to the streets from Newcastle to South Shields.

Anthony Young from Ilford AC returned to his native North East to run in club colours and ran a pb to finish in 1 hr 48 and finished in 5,765th place

  Press Report 5th September 2017  

Sep 042017
 

The Essex Way

Sunday 3rd September

Sunday saw the staging of the Essex Way Relay which covers the 82 miles of the Essex Way, a historical pathway through Essex, starting from Epping Station to Harwich Old Lighthouse in 10 stages. Ilford AC have been involved in the organisation and time keeping for a good few years now.

The route is mainly cross country without marshals with each runner expected to have done a recce of his route from printed instructions.
The route takes runners across ploughed fields, through large crops, across many a stile and kissing gate and can be a logistical nightmare for those involved making sure that all runners are ferried to their start lines in time as most start and end points are in small villages with limited parking.
There are also the logistics of getting runners back from their finish point to their cars where they started.
This year there were 69 teams competing, and for the first time in 3 years Ilford AC were able to put out a full team, and almost managed a full B team as well.

Ilford finished a very credible 25th and 66th, and would have finished far higher if the B team had managed to put out a full team.

Highlights of the day were Steve Philcox who was roped in with just 3 days’ notice and finished 3rd, and Malcolm Muir who hasn’t ran for a while, because of injury, finishing 7th.

A few runners made it to the end after finishing their own run to cheer home Pam Jones who closed the team, accompanied by Nicola Hopkinson running her second leg of the day.
This was followed by the traditional Fish and Chip supper where runners swapped tales of getting lost, nettle stings, boggy fields, bloodied limbs and weary legs. All runners agreed though that they couldn’t wait for next years race!

Ilford Runners Stage positions were as follows:-

Stage 1. A – Peter Spelman 52nd B – N/A

Stage 2. A – Steve Philcox 3rd B – N/A

Stage 3. A – Satha Alaga 53rd. B – Pathrose Louise 58th.

Stage 4. A – Dennis Briggs 19th B – Tony Hyde 20th

Stage 5. A – Nicola Hopkinson 26th B – N/A

Stage 6. A – Anthony Young 32nd. B – Stephen Cheal 39th

Stage 7. A – Malcom Muir 7th. B – N/A

Stage 8. A – Billy Green 57th B – Frieda Keane 56th

Stage 9 A – Nichola Fairbairn 60th

Stage 10 A – Pam Jones 61st. Nicola Hopkinson 60th

Harlow 10

Sunday 3 September

The 2017 Harlow 10 was held on the usual fast, gently undulating 10 mile course over quiet country lanes and traffic free cycle tracks. from the Mark Hall Sports Centre in Harlow . There were 4 entrants from Ilford AC in the field of 254.
First home for the club was Bree Nordin in 48th place and 8th female in 73 mins 30secs,. This performance won her the trophy for the first in the F55 grouping
Next home was Declan Cullen in a new personal best time of 73 mins 47 secs in 50th and 2nd in the M60 age category, while Steve Parker was 5th in this group and 56th overall with 74 mins 51 secs.
Julia Galea completed the squad in 175th with 93 mins 59 secs

Canterbury Road Championships

Saturday 19 August

Ilford Ac’s Kiwi Standout, Blair McWhirter has returned to his home town of Christchurch, New Zealand but is still showing good form. Recently he finished 2nd in the Canterbury 10km Road Championships in a new personal best time of 32 mins 32 secs.

Takely 10k

Sunday 3 September

Super-Veteran Terry Knightley was the sole Ilford AC representative on Sunday at the 6th Annual Takeley 10K Off Road Race near Bishops Stortford.

Running almost entirely on the tracks and muddy trails around Takeley and Hatfield Forest with 400 other runners, Knightley finished in 9th Position overall and won the trophy for First Male Veteran Over 50 in a time of 40 Minutes and 20 seconds.

All finishers received a Souvenir Race T-Shirt and a Banana !

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  Ilford AC Press Report 29th August 2017  

Aug 292017
 

Watford Open Graded Meeting – 1500m
Wednesday 23rd August

In a very close contested 1500m, where half a second split the first three, Ahmed Adbulle set a new Pb of 3:59:71 for 3rd place

Barking Park 5km
Monday 28th ​August​

The annual Barking park 5km, which included the 6th round of this summers ELvIS competition, was held on a sunny Bank Holiday morning on the flat fast paths of the park.

Ilford ACs Ahmed Adbulle won the race after taking the lead after a kilometre , his second win in the series this summer and powering to a personal best time of 15 minutes 37 seconds. He was backed up by Sam Rahman in 11th with 17m 38s and Steve Philcox in 13th in 17 mins 49 secs who once again won the M50 age group trophy.
Aaron Samuel, in his first race at the distance, came 14th in a time of 17m 55s.
There was a big personal best for Seb Parris who recorded 18m 19s for 22nd spot. Next home were Neil Crisp in 28th with 18m 46s and Terry Knightley with 19m 22s for 37th They finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the M50 age category to make it a​n Ilford​ 1,2,3 in the age group honours.​

The Ilford Men’s team finished second in this match to the strong East London club.

Two runners who returned to the squad for the first time in a while were Abdi Berleen in 61st with 20m 10s and Frank McGowan with 20m 38s for 71st.

There were also new best times at the distance for Dennis Briggs (20m 53s 78th) Declan Cullen, who was 2nd in the M60 grouping, (21m 20s 86th) and Tony Young (22m 39s 110th).
Finishing 3rd and 4thein the M60 age category were Andy Catton (21m 36s 91st ) and Steve Parker (101st 22m 12s)

First home for the Ilford Ladies was Bree Nordin placing 88th overall in 21m 30s winning the F55 group category, Nicola Hopkinson gave good support with a seasons best of 22m 56s for 124th in the race. The team was completed by Carlie Qirem in a personal best time of 23m 15s for 130th and Dianne Crisp with 24m 19s for place 153th and 3rd in the F55 category.

Also ran: Satha Alaganandasundaram (127th 23.02) Billy Green (141st 23.43)
Steve Cheal (151st 24.13) Pathrose Louis (165th 24.53)
Rachel Halpin (213th 27.46) Carol Muir (244th 29.35) Sharon Honey (255 31.20)
Pam Jones (257th 31.28) Julie Gillender (266th 32.51)
James Huddart (285th 36.28) Kim Baxter (286th 36.39)