Press Report 20th September 2016  

Sep 202016
 

Ingatestone 5

Sunday 18th September 2016
5 Ilford athletes lined up for the 32nd running of the Ingatestone 5 mile road race which took place last Sunday morning in dry almost ideal conditions, cool and with little wind.

On a challenging course starting from the Anglo-European School at Willow Green, the runners took the road up to Fryerning and on to Beggar Hill, before heading back via Blackmore Road to the finish. First home for Ilford was Steve Philcox in 5th place overall clocking an excellent 29.18 which won him the trophy for the fastest MV50 run of the morning. Ernie Forsyth was next in for the club recording 38.08 in 51st with Satha Alaga chasing him hard in 55th and a time of 38.54. Suki jandu placed 99th with 46.44 and Julie Gillender was the club’s only lady runner finishing in 50.13 for 107th. The race was won by Billericay’s Crispian Bloomfield in a time of 26.42 with Liz Davies of Springfield Striders the top woman posting a very fast 29.29.

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 is no longer well enough to attend but nevertheless every year a willing team of Club volunteers keep Howard’s legacy by providing a team to administer the on the day entries and results service. Special mention therefore goes to the team of John Mackenzie, Andy Catton, Billy Green, Neil and Dianne Crisp, Mr and Mrs Declan Cullen, Martin Clarke and also Ernie Forsyth who helped present the prizes.

British Masters Track And Field Championship
Alexander Stadium Birmingham
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September

Two endurance athletes from Ilford AC travelled up to Birmingham at the weekend to contest the British Masters Track and Field Championship, both bringing home medals.
Pam Jones ran in her first major championship in the F80 category winning gold, silver and setting a British age group record. In her first race she raced a close contest with fellow octogenarian Anne Martin of Wymondham AC in the 1500m finishing second in 8 mins 43.48 secs. The next day Pam ran a well judged race in the 5000m to win the gold medal in 30 mins 23.17 secs, a British record for the F80 age group.
Also in action was John Batchelor who won gold medals in both his races in the M75 age category. In the 800m his winning time was 2mins 56.08secs and in the 5000m 21mins 37.78 secs.

Great North Run
Sunday 11th September 2016
Last Sunday on a very hot morning Ilford’s Rohan Alexander completed the iconic Great North Run in 1.41.20 in what he described as a great experience.

  Press Report 6th September 2016  

Sep 062016
 

The Essex Way – 10 Stage Relay Event
Epping Station to Harwich Lighthouse
Sunday 4th September

Ilford AC had 7 hardy runners, “the magnificent 7” flying the flag for the Club in the iconic 28th running of The Essex Way. This is one of the County’s truly inspirational and premier events with 58 teams from clubs from all over the county and beyond racing on the ancient trails and footpaths which make up the 82 miles of the historic Essex Way that runs from Epping Station to Harwich Old Lighthouse. Rachel Halpin and Nichola Fairbairn duly set off from Epping Station at 8am on Sunday morning to represent Ilford on Leg 1 finishing 7.5 miles later at Chipping Ongar finishing in joint 50th place. The first leg is also jointly organised by Ilford with East London Runners.
Despite still finding his full fitness Malcolm Muir provided Ilford’s highlight of the day by winning his favoured leg 7, covering the 11.2 miles from West Bergholt to Dedham. This followed a solid run by Steve Cheal on leg 6, Great Tey to West Bergholt who finished 42nd over the 5.7 miles. Muir then went on to accompany Billy Green on leg 8, the 8 miles from Dedham to Bradfield with the latter finishing 36th. Nicola Hopkinson chipped in with her usual reliable performance placing 31st on the shoreline leg of the River Stour which runs the 5.7 miles from Bradfield to Ramsey Village. Fittingly it was left to Ilford’s senior stateswoman Pam Jones to complete a truly enjoyable day by running the 10th and final leg from Ramsey and along the Dovercourt seafront to Harwich coming home in 57th place.

It was a shame that Ilford could not field runners on legs 2,3,4 especially when 30 runners had turned out only the week before at Barking which meant that the Club incurred heavy penalties on these legs and was therefore always playing catch up only managing 43rd place in the team competition. No doubt the Harlow 10 being held on the same day provided an unwelcome split of resources.

Therefore once again the dominant Essex club Springfield Striders took the spoils in all 3 of the mens womens and veteran sections. Ilford however maintained an excellent presence at the prizegiving held in Harwich’s Hanover Arms after the race which was also attended by Club President Robin Davis who had assisted and supported throughout the event. At the presentation both the presence and performance of a team from the Netherlands was recognised, the first time the competition has had an overseas team, but pride of place went to the 2 man team from East London Runners consisting of Ciaran Canavan and Aaron Williams who remarkably completed the whole 82 miles between them running alternate legs.

Harlow 10 miles
Sunday 4 September

Blair McWhirter returned to competitive action for the first time since April’s London Marathon and led Ilford Ac to success at the Harlow 10 mile road race on an overcast breezing Sunday morning. Blair took control of the race from the gun and came home for a convincing victory by over 3 1/2 minutes in 53 minutes 53 seconds. He was supported by Sam Rahman and Paul Holloway who ran close together with Sam crossing the line 8th in 61m 16s and Paul 9th with 61m 32s. The trio combined together to win the team prize for Ilford.

Bree Nordin continues to show good form winning the F55 category trophy and taking sixth position in 74mins exactly while Declan Cullen recorded a new personal best of 75m 13s.

Other Ilford athletes in action were Rohan Alexander (54th 71.06) Satha Alaga (83.21) Dennis Briggs (86.49) Pathrose Louis (92.10)

VAC Championship
Kingston
Sunday 28 August

It was a good day for the masters athletes of Ilford AC at the Veterans AC Championships at Kingston who returned with their customary clutch of medals.

Pam Jones continues to excel in competition and won the 800m and 1500m in the F80 category and set new Championship Best Performances in both events. Her times were 4m 23.37s for 800 and 8.59.52 for 1500m.

John Batchelor ran in the M75 group and also won double gold in the 800m in 2 mins 56.45 secs and the 1500m with 6 mins 07.03 secs.

Julia Galea ran in the F60 and ran a well judged race in the 1500m to finish 2nd in 6m 50.77s and also took silver in the 500m with 26mins 05.99 secs.

Rob Sargent ran in the M60 5000m finishing third with 25mins 12.27secs.

  Press Report 30th August 2016  

Aug 302016
 

Barking Park 5k
Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 2016

Ilford AC fielded a large squad of 30 runners when successfully contesting the 6th race of this summers’ 7 race Elvis series held traditionally at Barking Park on Bank holiday Monday. After two previous years of torrential rain this year’s event was blessed with some fine sunny weather as the Club’s under 20 star Ahmed Abdulle capped a successful weekend as he sped round the flat 2 lap 5k course to take the victor’s spoils in a new personal best of 15.49. He was well supported by training partner Tom Gardner back in 3rd with 16.15 and with Malcolm Muir, back in action yet still not fully fit taking 11th place in 17.08, the men’s squad also took the Race Team prize defeating the usual strong East London Runners outfit.

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Muir’s was also the top MV40 run of the day and with Sam Rahman, 14th in 17.18, Stephen Philcox,18th in 17.28 and Paul Holloway 24th in 17.56, combining with Abdulle and Gardner to make up the 6 man series scorers Ilford also managed to win the elvis fixture by 71 points to east London’s 108 thus setting up a grand finale and showdown between the 2 clubs at the Valentines Park 10k on September 25th where the winner of the match will also take the series. The Club also had further success with Andy Catton taking the MV60 prize recording 20.59 for 74th spot. There were also notable performances by Satha Alaga and Pathrose Louis who both ran personal bests for the distance of 23.25 and 24.06 respectively.

In the women’s race East London Runners were already in an unassailable position in the series and their strong squad duly took bot the race and series honours. However the Illford ladies battled bravely to put up a good performance led by Breege Nordin who produced the best FV55 run of the day recording 21.00 as 7th woman. Supported well by Zuzana Sinalova 10th in 21.48, Nicola Hopkinson 25th 23.58,and Dianne Crisp 36th 24.59, the Ilford ladies placed 3rd in both the race and series team competitions.

A record 257 runners finished the race as the Elvis series grows in popularity.
Other Ilford performances with overall positions and times were as follows :-
Neil Crisp 35th 18.51, Rohan Alexander 74th 20.16,
Bradley Brown 88th 21.39, Abdi Berleen 93rd 21.43, Billy Green 119th 22.44, Ernie Forsyth 130th 23.22, Stephen Cheal 168th 25.17, Peter Ryan 173rd 25.33, Julia Galea 186th 26.25, 193rd Suki Jandu 26.56, 199th Nichola Fairbairn 27.22, 203rd Rachel Halpin 27.38, 206th Sharon Honey 27.46, 214th Julie Gillender 29.04, 223rd Doris Gaga 29.41, 228th Pam Jones 30.51, 239th Yvonne Forsyth 33.42.

  Press Report 23rd August 2016  

Aug 232016
 

Woodford Green Open Graded Meeting
Tuesday 16th August

The 4th open graded meeting this season was held at Woodford Green’s Ashton playing fields last Tuesday evening and involved 6 Ilford athletes in the middle distance events. The youngsters contested the 800 metre races with Jordan Hinds in the U17F category posting the fastest time for the Club coming home 8th in her race in 2.26.40. In the same race Bradley Deacon clocked 2.37.40 in the U15M category finishing 11th. Keshan Beckett-Edwards finished 6th in his race recording a time of 2.44.30 in the U13M category.

In the 3000m Ilford had 3 athletes packing together finishing in 4th, 5th and 6th places. Leading them home was senior male Sam Rahman who just missed out on cracking 10 minutes being given a time of 10.00.02 with V50M Steve Philcox just behind in 10.02.70. Just another couple of seconds behind him young Mungo Prior had a superb run clocking 10.04.90 in the U15M category.

Isle Of Wight Half Marathon
Sunday 21st August

Ilford AC’s Malcolm Muir was back in action following injury when running on a tough course in the Isle of Wight half marathon at Ryde last Sunday. The Ilford man finished 8th in a time of 80.23 and was happy with his run considering that he is not yet fully fit.

  Press Report 16th August 2016  

Aug 172016
 

Pride 10k
Saturday 13th August

Ilford AC had 2 runners taking part in the Pride 10km held on a fast course in Victoria Park this weekend. Robin McNelis clocked 39.07 for 51st spot whilst Doris Gaga showed improving form recording 63mins 12 secs for 848th place in a field of over 1000 runners. Times given are gun times.