Parkruns
After 37 unsuccessful attempts to secure victory in a parkrun Ilford stalwart Terry Knightley finally came up trumps in Beckton’s parkrun last Saturday morning. Knightley braved the high winds of the morning to record a modest yet victorious 20 minutes 18 seconds over a multi terrain two lap course around Beckton Park to take the spoils with his Ilford partner Kim Baxter occupying 27th position in 37 minutes and 31 seconds. 28 runners graced the race.
Elsewhere Carol Muir continued her “parkrun tourist” traditions hitting the Northampton event with a time of 31.25 placing her 161 in a field of 208. Nearer to home 144 runners took part in the Valentines Park event which included Ilford representatives Pathrose Louis (40th in 26.11) and Suki Jandu (69th in 28.55).

Bradley Brown was 3rd out of 56 in the Barking event clocking 20.53 and Robert Spelman was 44th out of 106 art Riddlesdown, Surrey in 26.12. Lastly Martin Clarke found the going not to his liking on the tough exposed Harwich Penninsula Promenade course running into the teeth of a coastal hurricane and improving his personal worst to 26.21 for 19th place in a field of 48.

Steve Philcox was the sole Ilford athlete at the Chelmsford 10k held at the traditional venue from the Melbourne track on Sunday afternoon. In a field of over 500 athletes packed with quality at the top end, Philcox ran an excellent time of 36 minutes dead for 19th position overall which was good enough to scoop the top male 50 prize of the day. The race was won by Billericay’s Crispian Bloomfied in 32.09.

Earlier in the day over 750 Runners lined up on the chilly, freezing and windy Suffolk Seafront to run the 7th Annual Adnams Southwold 10K Road Race.

Held over a two and half lap hilly Multi-Terrain course around the town, Ilford AC’s Terry Knightley found the going hard and yet still finished in 42nd place overall for 3rd place in the Veteran Over 50 Category for 41 Minutes and 10 Seconds.

Following him home in 728th position and 49th in her age category was Kim Baxter in 76 minutes and 19 Seconds.

All finishers received a bottle of Adnams Beer and medal as a memento of their efforts.

On Sunday 15th November at a very windy Epsom and hilly 10 mile course, superveteran and Ilford stalwart Graham Williams ran one of his better races in a time of 99 minutes and 48seconds.

Ilford AC divided their attention between 2 cross country competitions over the weekend. Whilst most of the seniors concentrated on the 3rd round of the Essex League at Horseheath hosted by Cambridge and Coleridge AC, the majority of the youngsters made their way over to Parliament Hill to represent their Borough in the London Youth Games.In very testing wet and windy conditions the Ilford Athletes came away with very credible performances.
In the Male U11s Matthew Hick came through the field to end up 13th.In the U13s Farris Patel ,who gets stronger with every race , came 13th.Arun Manget came 40th and Bradley Deacon came 76th. Mehdi Hurun came 134th.

In the U15 Girls Jordan Hinds battled her way through to 72nd and Isabella Hick came 87th.

Two of Ilford’s leading juniors Ahmed Abdulle& Usamah Patel took part in a very competitive u/17 race where only 9 seconds spiltthe first 3 with the eventual winner Groom of Shaftebury Harriersedging out Ahmed by 8 seconds for 2nd & Fawden of Highgate Harriers3rd 1 second behind.Usamah now back in training had a more cautious startputting in a creditable performance in 16th place.

In the Senior races Tom Gardner & Krystle Bologun where the onlyentrants from the club. Tom still recovering from turning his ankle at the lastleague race, stayed in the leading group of 20 for most of the race coming homewith a excellent 15th place.Krystle got off to a good start but unfortunately twisted her knee on this slippery course which hindered her performance.

Meanwhile In the Essex League X Country on a new course at Horseheath near Cambridge, Euan Johnstone ran his best race to date to come a superb 6th in the Male U11s race.

Mel Jones led the way for Ilford’s senior women with a fine run in 36th place overall clocking 29.47 just getting the better of teammate Bree Nordin one place behind in 30.03. Nicola Hopkison ,44th in 23.15. was hot on their heels and Rachel Halpin also had a good run to close the scoring in 53rd place with 33.46. Doris Gaga 76th in 38.20 and Nicola Chester 78th in 38.47 completed the Ilford squad who placed 7th in the overall team competion and 4th in the lady veteran compeition.

In a men’s race packed with quality Steve Philcox continues to impress leading the Ilford men home in 51st recording a time of 32.13. Paul Holloway was next home in 68th and 33.30 followed in by Kevin Wotton 76th in 34.04 and Neil Crisp 79th in 34..09. The 6 man team were closed by 2 outsatnding runs from Ilford’s 60 year olds, Tony Nixon and Andy Catton who finished in 35.54 and 36.49 for 96th and 109th places respectively and by far the best 2 V60 runs of the day. Ted Skinner completed the Ilford contingent recording 42.10 and being 150th man home out of the 174 strong field. Ilford placed 10th in the overall team standings and like the women placed 4th in the veteran team competition.