DAGENHAM 5mish ELVIS
Wednesday 30 May

 

The 2018 Elvis series (East London fiVes Interclub series) got off to a good start at Eastbrook End Country Park on Wednesday Evening when Dagenham 88 hosted the first of this years 8 summer races on a 2 lap multi-terrain course of 5 miles.

 Ilford AC entered a large squad in the event with Steve Philcox leading the team home in 6th place, which won him the 1st M50 trophy, in 30 mins 42 secs. He was supported by fine runs from John Crawley in 13th in 32 mins 12 secs and Seb Parris with 32 mins 20 secs for 15th. The ever-reliable Neil Crisp came in 20th in 32 mins 41 secs and second in the M50 category.
Two newcomers to the team completed the men’s scoring six with Dan Holeyman in 21st with 32 mins 45 secs and Julian Fabian recording 33 mins 23 secs for 23^rd place. They also finished 4th and 5th in the M40 age group respectively.
Rohan Alexander came home 3rd in the M50 age group in 33rd place with 34mins 25 secs.

The slightly understrength Ilford men’s team finished 2nd in the match behind the powerful East London Runners squad.

 

Bree Nordin led home the Ilford ladies in 81st and 7th female in 38 mins 06 secs and won the F55 category. Support came from Carlie Qirem in 87th and 10th lady with 38 mins 43 secs and Nicola Hopkinson with 39 mins 34 secs for 99th and 12th female finisher. The team was completed by Gaye Young in 110th and 14th lady with 40 mins 27 secs

In the ELVIS match Ilford ladies came 3rd behind East London Runners and Eton Manor.

Also in action :- Dennis Briggs (46th  35.30) Andy Catton (55th  36.08) Alan Pearl (88th 38.58) Rhoan Gabbidon (97th  39.33)Tony Young (103rd  40.00)Adnan Karim (113th  40.40)  Satha Alaga (115th  40.44)  Eain Begg (131st  41.56)  Anna Crawley (159th  44.16)  Jenni Sheehan (162nd  44.34)Peter Spelman (169th  45.14)  Sharon Honey (174th  45.20) Natalie Crisp (175th  45.28)  Julia Galea (199th  48.08)  Natasha Mansouri (213th  49.09)  Frieda Keane (214th  49.09)  Launa Broadley (227th  50.51)  Julie Gillender  (250th  56.40)  Pam Jones (251st  57.02)  Brennie Gabbidon (257th  61.43)

DORKING 10
Sunday 3 June

The 33rd Dorking 10 was run over an undulating route loops through scenic countryside with one challenging hill. A quartet from the Ilford endurance squad travelled down to Surrey to compete in the event which also incorporated the VAC 10 mile championship. Best for the team was Alan pearl with 80 mins 56secs for 257th place , with Tony Young in 308th with 85 mins 16 secs. Next home was squad coach Rob Sargent in 395th with 90 mins 32 secs, taking the silver in the M60 age group in the VAC Championship.  Julia Galea was competing in her 3rd race in 7 days found the going tough recording 1hr 43 mins 56 secs in 488th but the performance did win her the gold medal in the VAC event in the GF60 age group.

 

 

Moulton Open Race-walk
5 miles
Saturday 2^nd June

CAPTAIN’S ROLE

Ilford’s Walking Captain Steve Uttley was the star of the Club’s turnout on a hot Saturday afternoon, for the annual 5 miles Moulton Open race.

Held on a testing out-and-back rural course in the Suffolk countryside near Newmarket, it regularly attracts big names as was the case on this occasion, as the first 3 home were recent participants in the Olympic or Commonwealth Games!   For Uttley to be 6th man home in such company was a feather in his cap.  In only his 3rd race after a long injury lay-off, he was always moving well on route to securing 6th spot in 48 minutes and 52 seconds.

8th man home was Mark Culshaw with 50.35 on the stopwatch, followed by stalwart Dave Kates 12th in 53.50.    Veteran Bob Dobson was 19th in 58.51.    There wasn’t a team race, instead each finisher received a prize – traditionally handed out at random.

 

Southern Counties Veterans’ League Herts & North Middx Division
Lee Valley
Monday 14^th May

The opening match of the Vets season started at Lee Valley on a warm and sunny evening.

First event on the track was the 2000m walk where Seb Parris debuting as a veteran comfortably won the V35 category in 10.12.9. Mark Culshaw matched the win in the V50 category in 11.24.2. Rachel Lawless also race walked as a guest finishing in 13.37.9 for 3rd place.

The sprinters came out for the 100m with Jim Harrison (Ilford debut) and Henry Ricketts coming down age groups to cover V35 and V40. Taking account of non-scorers Jim placed 6th in 14.2 and Henry 5th in 13.6. Cliff Warren’s 13.7 placed him 5th in V50. Gerald Daniel’s time of 15.1 secured 6th in V60. Ted Skinner ran as a non-scorer finishing in 16.0 for 5th place.

The 400m was covered by Seb, Henry and Cliff in the V35, V40 and V50 age groups. Seb’s 69.2 secured 5th, Henry’s 68.4 secured 6th and Cliff’s 64.2 secured 3rd.

The 1500m saw another Vets debut with Sam Rahman (V35) grabbing 2nd in 4.51.2. Steve Philcox came down an age group to also finish 2nd in the V40 category in 4.49.1. Dave Butler made a welcome return to Ilford after injury and also came down an age group to cover the V50 category finishing in 5.23.3 for 8th. Tony Dixon covered the V60 category and his time of 5.18.5 won the event and also ranks him 1st nationally as V70. Andy Catton running as a guest finished in 5.49.4 and Ted completed the distance in 6.14.0.

The field events were hammer, pole vault, shot and long jump.

In the hammer Pete Whiting’s 16m 66 placed him 7th in V35. Gerald’s distance of 16m 59 secured 4th in V60.
Pete also covered the pole vault clearing 1m 60 for 5th in V35. Jim clearance of 2m 50 secured 2nd in V50.
Henry’s shot of 8m 06 in V35 placed 5th and Gerald came down an age group to finish 7th with 7m 39.
In between his pole vaulting Jim managed to leap 3m 76 for 8th in V35. Cliff’s 4m 52 secured 2nd place.

The relay team of Cliff, Henry, Jim and Gerald brought the baton home in 56.9 for 6th.

Covering all the events meant that Ilford finished an excellent 2nd on the evening.

 

Crystal Palace 5k/10k
Wednesday 16^th May

The Crystal Palace run-through event takes place monthly at Crystal Palace Park located in the South-East London suburb of Crystal Palace The park is situated on the Norwood Ridge, offering views of Central London, Greenwich and the North Downs. This undulating route in the beautiful park is the perfect opportunity for a fun evening out, even passing a few dinosaurs along the course!
Competitors can decide on the day whether to complete 5k or do two laps for 10k.
Gary Floate opted for the 5k and finished in a time of 23:00.
Peter Spelman opted for the 10k, however an administrative error meant that only his 5k time of 28:56 was recorded.

 

Hyde Park 10k
Saturday 19^th May

Carlie Qirem was the sole Ilford runner in the Hyde Park 10k on a very warm Saturday morning.
Carlie, who wanted to rush home for the Royal Wedding, wasted no time by finishing 56^th and 12^th female on the day in a time of 46:55. This time was a PB for Carlie, a time that smashed her previous best by almost 2 minutes.

European Masters Road Running Championships
Alicante
Friday 18- Sunday 20

The 16th European Masters Road Running Championships were held in Alicante Spain.
A group of 4 athletes from Ilford AC travelled to the Mediterranean resort to compete. The first event was the 10km road race held in the San Juan district over a flat fast course on Friday evening It was a typical sunny Spanish day which made the going tough for the race at 5.30pm. The star for the club was Pam Jones who cruised to victory and the European title in the F80 category in 69 mins 10 secs. Faster of the Ilford contingent was Steve parker who came home in 48 mins 10 secs for 31st in the M60, with Rob Sargent 34th in 56mins 15 secs in the same age group. Completing the squad for the club was Julia Galea in the F60 grouping in 14th spot with 59 mins 22 secs.

Two days later the half marathon was held on a two lap city centre course which featured all the historical sights of the town and also the seafront and the harbour. The race started on a cloudy morning so conditions were cool for the first part of the race until the sun came through. Only Steve Parker and Julia Galea from the Ilford club ran with Parker coming home 34 th in the M60 age group in 1hr 49 mins 46 secs with Galea placing 7th in the F60 category in 2hrs 09mins 59secs.

 

Braintree 5
Sunday 20^th May

Ilford AC sent a team of eight runners to Braintree for the annual running of the 5 mile race that takes runners on an all road, undulating course, through the town.
First home for the team was Alan Pearl, returning after a long injury, to finish in a time of 37:05 for 51^st place in his debut at the distance.
Rhoan Gabbidon followed closely in a time of 37:59 for 61^st place and a new PB.
Just 2 places and 9 seconds behind Rhoan was Anthony Young in 63^rd place and a time of 38:08 and the second PB of the morning. Completing the mens team on the day was Satha Alaga coming in at 39:37 for 80^th place.

Frieda Keane, who continues to improve in her second season with the club was the first lady home in 135^th place in a time of 46.01 and another PB for the team. Carol Muir was 2^nd lady home for Ilford on the day in 153^rd place for a time of 48:50 followed closely by Launa Broadley in 49:27 for 159^th place and a new PB.. Completing the ladies team was Brennie Gabbidon who finished in a time of 55:21 for 181^st place. This was also a PB which meant a remarkable 5 PB’s for the team on the day.

 

Hackney Half Marathon
Sunday 20^th May

The Hackney Half Marathon is one of Londons newest, and largest halves with over 13,000 athletes congregating on Hackney marshes for the early start.
Amongst the large crowd were 4 runners from Ilford AC. The route skirts parks and the major roads through Hackney, which are all closed to traffic, before winding its way through the Olympic park and finishing back on Hackney Marshes.
First home for Ilford in an incredible 92^nd place on the day in a time of 1:21:56 was Gary Coombes. Gary was followed home by Dennis Briggs who knocked a mighty 6 minutes off of his PB at the distance to finish in a time of 1:34:14 for 1,130^th place.
Ilfords only female on the day, Gaye Young, also set a new PB to finish in a great time of 1:44:01 for 3,524^th place.
Completing the team on the day was Declan Cullen, who although struggling with injury over the last few months, still managed to complete the course on a hot day in a time of 1:57:59 for 5,154^th place.