*ILFORD AC PRESS REPORT. MAY DAY WEEKEND 2017*

*Serpentine 5k*

* Friday 28th April 2017 *John Batchelor completed the Serpentine 5K in
163rd place out of 275 runners of all ages and sexes, in a time of 22:15,
half a minute slower than his M75 course record.

*Hackney Half Marathon*
*Sunday 30th April 2017*
On a warm Sunday Morning 2 Ilford Athletes were among the 10,000 runners
that ran this popular Half Marathon.
The ‘Hackney Half’ takes place on the usually busy streets of Hackney,
takes in part of the Olympic Park and past the London Stadium.
Instead of cars though, the roads were busy with runners and enthusiastic
locals with motivating banners and jelly beans.
Club Captain Billy Green led the Ilford duo home in a seasons
best 1:53:13 followed very closely by Anthony Young in a time of 1:55:08,
his first ever ‘sub 2 hour’ Half Marathon.

*Grand East Anglia Run. Kings Lynn. 10k Sunday 30th April 2017 *Malcolm
Muir placed 3rd in the Grand East Anglian 10km Run in Kings Lynn in a great
time of 33m 34s.

*Witham Mayday 5 miles Monday May 1 2017*

There were 10 entries from Ilford AC in the annual Mayday 5 miles road race
at Witham, held on a fast rolling urban course.

Best on the day was Steve Philcox who finished in an impressive 8th place
and 2nd in the M50 category in 29 mins 21 secs. Neil Crisp came home 15th
in 30 mins 43 secs, while Satha Alaga used his fitness from last weeks
London Marathon to record a new personal best of 37mins 11 secs in 78th
spot. Close behind was club captain Billy Green, racing for the second time
in two days, in 86th and 37m 48s. Ernie Forsyth returned to action from a
broken arm to record 39mins 49secs in 122nd spot.

Best for the ladies was Dianne Crisp showing good form with 39 mins 05secs
in 105th overall. Julia Galea came home 221st in 44m 43s while Carol Muir
was another on good form with 47m 27s for 265th. Julie Gillender improved
by three minutes from her last 5 miler a month ago to 50m 11s in 290th. Pam
Jones rounded out the Ilford squad in 296th and 2nd in the F65 plus
category with 51m 21s.

*Stan Allen Memorial Miles” Herne Hill Harriers Open Meeting at Tooting 1
Mile **Monday 1st May 2017*

John Batchelor recorded a time of 6:19.37, which puts him at the head of
the UK M75 all-time list (of three) by eleven seconds for this now rarely
run distance, and fastest in the world since 2008..

*Pednor 5 Race/ Walk Monday 1st May 2017 *On an overcast May Day evening in
Pednor three Ilford ac club members took on the challenge of a five mile
road and race walking event through the scenic if a little undulating lanes
of the Chiltern countryside.

First up was the race walking event which incorporated the hotly contested
Enfield League. Sebastian Parris lead from the gun closely followed by a
Chiltern Harrier with Ilford’s Mark Culshaw and Stuart Bennett just tucked
in behind. The large hill at two miles strung them out with Parris
pulling away. This lead was not contested and he came home in a personal
best of 44.39. Bennett, who clocked 48.31, got the better of a close
tussle with Culshaw (48.41) in the final 2 miles pulling away only to be
pipped for third place by other competitor less than 200m to the line.
Continuing the club’s good recent run of form, the men took the team title
on the day and have moved up to 2nd place in the Enfield League.

After an hour in warm clothing and a cup of tea later the three men took on
the Pednor 5 mile road race amongst 250 other local athletes. The combined
times of both events earnt the prestigious ‘challenge’ medal of honour.
With only 37 seconds separating Parris and his 2nd placed walking rival
from the previous hours racing, there was a lot to play for. going into the
running race. Both men started off next to each other but again Parris
stretched his rival on the first hill and didn’t look back while clocking a
pb of 31.28 and winning the combined challenge by over 4 minutes.
Culshaw had a superb and surging run of 42.07 which took him above a
solid Bennett performance (44.37) into 4th position of the combined event.

*pednor 5 race walk incorporating the enfield league*

1st sebastian parris 44.39 (5 mile walking pb)

4th staurt bennett 48.31 (1st vet 55)

5th mark culshaw 48.41 (2nd vet 50)

36 finishers

*pednor 5 mile run*

28th sebastian parris 31.28 (5 mile running pb)

174th mark culshaw 42.07

204th stuart bennett 44.37

254 finishers

*PEDNOR 5 CHALLENGE The combined times for competitors in both the Pednor 5
Road Race and Road Walk *

1st sebastian parris 76.07

4th mark culshaw 90.48

6th stuart bennett 93.08

14 finishers

…………………………………………….

*Southern Athletics League*
*Saturday 15th April 2017*
*Lee Valley*

Lea Valley was the venue for the first Southern League fixture of the
season. It was a tough start with two of the teams who had finished in the
top four last season. Ilford’s team was mainly made up of promising
youngsters, competing in the league for the first time.

Star performer on the Woman’s side was Krystle Balogun who competed in five
events. First up was a controlled victory in the 800m. After sitting in for
the first lap, Krystle made her move along the back straight before kicking
to victory in a time of 2.23.14. Next up Krystle tackled the 400m, which
produced another first place in a time of 60.8. Her final individual event
was the 200m where she took 4th place in a time of 28.08.

Ellie Wright was making her debut in the League and had a great run in the
200m clocking a personal best of 28.4 for 3rd place in the B string 200m,
before taking a valuable 4th in the A string High Jump clearing a height of
1 metre 20. Isabella Hick was also making her League debut and she also did
the High Jump clearing 1m 15 for 4th place in the B string, before taking 5
th place in the Long Jump with 3metres 47.

Jordan Hinds has missed some training whilst studying for forthcoming exams
and so her performance of 65.43 for 2nd place in the 400m was excellent .
Zuzana Sinalova was also a debutant and had a great run in the 1500m for 3rd
place in a time of 5.39.47.

The women’s 4x 100 consisted of Ellie, Isabella, Jordan and Krystle and
despite never having run together as a team they produced a fine
performance for 5th place. The same quartet also competed in the 4x 400m
where they placed one place better in taking 4th.

On the Mens side Daniel Wheeler had a great first match running 11.87 for 3
rd in the B string 100m, 4th in the 200m in 23.99, 3rd in the High Jump
clearing 1metre 65, before finally running a leg of the 4x 100m relay which
came in 3rd. Temi Adeoshun ran the A string 100m and produced a personal
best of 11.74 in placing 5th, he also ran a cracking 2nd leg in the 4x 100m
relay. Uche Egborn ran the B string 200m and again produced a personal best
of 24.05 for 3rd place. He again was part of the relay team, running a
great opening leg. Anthony George was the final member of the 4x 100 squad
and earlier in the afternoon he had placed 3rd in the B string Long Jump
with a jump of 5.20 and third in the A string Triple Jump with 12metres
16. Simeon Stuart made a welcome return to Ilford colours and despite
carrying a knee injury managed 1metre 50 for 3rd in the B string high jump
and 5metres 54 for 5th in the A string Long jump.

Ahmed Abdulle came 3rd in a very physical 800m in 2.02.78, before
comfortably winning the 1500m in 4.25.0 Moaad Zaahri was making his debut
and had a very good run in the B string 800m placing 3rd in 2.08.51. and
then gaining more valuable points by taking 3rd in the B String 5000m in
17.49.6. Sam Rahman was the A string 5000m runner and he ran a well judged
race to finish in 4th in a time of 17.17.08.

Ilford struggled in the field events, but Tom King had a great throw of 30
metres 20, in taking 5th place in the Javelin , he also came 6th in the A
string Shot. The remaining field events were taken on by Wayne Hick and
Gary Floate.

Ilford ended the day 6th with 115 points, which is an encouraging start as
its 20 more points scored than in last season’s opening league fixture.

*Runthrough 10km*
*Olympic Park*
*Wednesday 12th April 2017*

Carlie Qirem, who this Sunday will be running in the London Marathon,
shaved a remarkable 12 seconds off of her PB to finish in 50:20 at the
Olympic Park on Wednesday night.

…………………………………………….

*PRESS REPORT. APRIL 3rd 2017*

*Victoria Park 5 Road race*

*Saturday 1st April*

This was the 50th anniversary of this popular race.
Ilford had one athlete 17 year old Ahmed Abdulle, who put in a excellent
performance in taking 3rd place overall and first in the M17-18 division in
a new Pb time of 25:36

*Woodford Green open track meeting Saturday 1st April *

Krystle Bologun opening her account for the season dropped down in distance
to run a 200m in 28:01.for 5th place

*Braintree 5 (incorporating the Essex 5 miles Championship)*

*Sunday 2 April*

Ilford AC dominated the Essex 5 mile Championship at Braintree on Sunday taking
1st and 2nd places as well as the team title.

On a bright spring like morning 440 runners lined up for the Braintree 5
miles, which was being run over a challenging rolling course from a new
venue, the City of Chelmsford Racecourse just outside the town.

Ilford’s Blair McWhirter was in dominate form going straight to the front
and leading all the way to win the Essex title in 25 mins 35 secs, a new
best time for the distance for him. Teammate Tom Gardner came home second
in 26mins 35 secs and Malcolm Muir showed good form to take 4th with 26
mins 50 sec, which won him the silver medal in the M40 age category.
These three combined to take the gold medals and the Essex team title.

Steve Philcox returned to racing from a recent virus to finish 27th in 29
mins 17 secs and claim the runners up spot in the M50 age group.
Neil Crisp was 4th in the same category with 30 mins 21 secs placing 41st
overall.
Also running in the category Terry Knightley put in a very creditable
performance to finish 7th and 52nd overall with 31 mins 45 secs.

Ilford fielded a strong M60 quad led by Steve Parker in 94th with 35 mins
08 secs for 4th in the category, while Declan Cullen was one place behind
in a new personal best time of 35 mins 13 secs. Andy Catton completed the
trio in the age group with 6th spot and 153th overall with 36 mins 25 secs.

Bree Nordin led the ladies team with 37 mins 01 secs, 132nd overall,
winning the F55 age category title in the Essex Championship.

Nicola Hopkinson placed 188th with 38 m 25s and Dianne Crisp was 188th and
4th F55 with 39 mins 55 secs. Together the team were the 5th club to
finish a ladies team.

Satha Alaganandasundaram placed 141st in a new best time for the distance
of 37 mins 35 secs and Alan Pearl (142nd 37.38) and Tony Young (201st
40.12) made their Ilford debuts.

Completing the ladies squad were Julia Galea 280th overall in 45m 28secs,
Pam Jones with 53m 16s in 385th and 1 place and 1 sec behind her was Julie
Gillender.

*RACE WALKING*

*Cecil Gittins Memorial walks, Gravesend Saturday 1st April. *

4 Ilford walkers took part in the 2nd running of the Cecil Gittins memorial
walks on Saturday 1st April.
4 distances to choose from 2.5km/5km/10km/15km over a very hilly 2.5km
looping Gravesend cyclopark track. 17 degrees partly sunny. ideal walking
conditions.

*in the 5km *

dave ainsworth placed 8th in 44.03

*in the 10km *

Seb Parris, Stuart Bennett and experienced race walker but a new ilford
team member Mark Culshaw took to the course. Results over 10km contributed
to the Enfield league where Ilford are currently in 3rd team place (before
this race)

Seb Parris 6th 58.52

Stuart Bennett 10th 60.42

Mark Culshaw 13th 62.23

All three athletes decided to continue walking on to compete *in the 15km* (a
further 2 laps of the track)

Seb Parris 2nd 89.11

Stuart Bennett 5th 94.03

Mark Culshaw 6th 95.39

…………………………………………….