Press Report 8th September 2015  

Sep 082015
 

Wissey Half Marathon
Oxborough, Norfolk
Sunday 6 September

A small squad fro Ilford Ac’s endurance squad travelled to the village of Oxborough in Norfolk for the Wissey Half Marathon which incorporated the British Masters Championship. The race was held on quiet rural roads on an ideal morning for running. Terry Knightley was the first home for the club in 98th spot with Ihr 35mins 35s which placed him 8th in the M55 group in the British M<asters (BMAF). Next home was Steve Parker with 1h 40m 00s for 124th and 11th in the same age group. while group coach Rob Sargent finished in 1h 49m 45s for 153rd and 7th in the M60 BMAF category and won him the bronze medal in the Eastern Veterans Ac Championship, which was also held in this event.

Leading lady was Julia Galea who broke 2 hours for the first time with 1h 58m exactly in 194th overall and placed second in the F60 grouping. There was also a British Masters silver medal for Kim Baxter in her first race at the distance for 25 years. Kim finished in 2h 46m 03s.

The Ilford team also finished second in the BMAF team championship in the M55-64 category through the combined efforts of Knightley Parker and Sargent.

Woodford Green Open Meeting
Tuesday 1st September

Some of the  Ilford younger members took part in the final Woodford Open Meeting last Tuesday. On an almost perfect night,  personal bests were set by many of the athletes.

First up was Robert Grech in the 100 metres who stormed to a time of 15.39, in taking 4th place.

Next up in  the 400metres was Isabella Hick, who  ran a great race for 2nd place in a time of 67.8 which was a personal best.In the same race Keshan Beckett Edwards   also set a personal best in coming 4th in a time of 74.8.

The final event was the 1500m which turned into an Ilford procession, with Ilford athletes taking the first four places. First home was Farris Patel in a personal best of 5.23.0. Jordan Hinds and Matthew Hick were battling with Farris  throughout the race with Jordan finishing second in a great time of 5.24.0, with Matthew just a stride behind in 5.24.2. Both athletes were rewarded with personal bests. Matthew is aged under 11 and his time makes him the  8th fastest in the country for his age group over 1500m. Bradley Deacon came in 4th in a time of 5.32.1, which is just outside his best.

Harlow 10
Sunday 6th September

Sundays warm and pleasant sunshine provided ideal racing conditions for 2 Ilford runners as they contested the Harlow 10 mile race, moved from its old date in August this year.

Peter Spelman made the best of the windless course clocking 1hr 27. 51 followed in by Pathrose Louis in 1.32.56.

The Essex Way Relay Race
Sunday 6th September

Unable to field a team in this the County’s premier off road relay race this year holders Ilford AC regretably had to relinquish their title to a very strong Springfield Striders squad who for the first time in the history of the race performed a clean sweep in all of  the Open, Ladies and veteran categories. Nevertheless the Club still maintained its strong presence by organising the first leg  between Epping and Ongar in conjunction with East London Runners. They also provided the official scorer Martin Clarke who diligently performed his duties following each of the 10 legs from Epping Station at 8am in the morning and finishing at Harwich Lighthouse at 6pm in the evening. An excellent day was capped by the traditional  fish n chip supper followed by the presentation of prizes in Harwich’s Hanover Arms where the Ilford man was able to introduce the audience  to 2 of the original  Thurrock Nomads known as Fergus and Derek who not only founded and ran in the race back in 1989 but organised  for nearly 20 years funtil both technology and numbers got too much for them. Although obviously no match for the Ilford Scorer they still hadn’t forgotten how to sink a pint.

57 teams involving nigh on 600 runners plus support crew contested the spoils this year.

Other News:  Sam Rahman finished second in 36m 31s in the Barking and Dagenham 10km held on Sunday over a multi-terrain course in Central park

 

 

 

  Press Report 1st September 2015  

Sep 012015
 

Barking Park 5k
Monday 31 st August

The torrential rain of a very unseasonal Bank Holiday Monday morning did little to dampen the spirits of runners from Ilford AC as an excellent turnout of 35 athletes braved the inclement conditions of the Barking Park 5k, the penultimate race of the ever popular Elvis 7 race series.

The Cricklefields based club were boosted by the return of former winner Amin Koikai who led the race for the first half lap of the 2 lap course, before eventually being swallowed up by the chasing pack. Nevertheless it was a fine performance for the Kenyan born veteran and his 16.50 and 5 th place gave him top male 40 plus run of the day. The Ilford men packed solidly behind him with Sam Rahman clocking 17.12 for 9 th ahead of a quartet of very strong veterans, Malcolm Muir 17.41, 11 th, Steve Philcox 17.42, 12 th, Paul Holloway 17.50, 13 th and Kevin Wotton 18.15,19 th completing the 6 man scoring squad that won through as the top Elvis male team on the day.

Further category prizes came Ilford’s way with Tony Hyde taking the over 50’s with 18.17 in 20 th position overall and Andy Catton the over 60’s with 20.42 in 69 th place. Although triumphant in the 6 man Elvis team competition Ilford just lost out to East London Runners in the main team race which is based on only 3 to score.

Similarly the ladies race proved to be a very close run affair between Ilford and East London Runners in the main and Elvis series competitions with the latter just prevailing in both, just 2 points separating them in the main race. Krystle Balogun battled bravely for her 2 nd place to clock 19.41 but was no match for winner Jenny Ansell ‘s (ELR) time of 18.35. Good support came in the shape of prolific women’s over 55 winner, Bree Nordin, 21.14 and club captain Jenni Sheehan 21.15, coming homein 8 th and 9 th respectively.

There were 267 finishers with the winner Nick Shasha of Orion clocking 15.57. The Elvis series now moves on to its conclusion with Race 7 at Valentines Park on 27 th September.

Other Ilford positions with times were 23rd Neil Crisp 18-34, 44 th Terry Knightley,19-37, 96 th Stephen Parker,21-59, 111 th Kieran McKenna,22-32, 115 th Billy Green,22-40, 116 th John Mackenzie,22-40, 117 th Declan Cullen, 22-45, 122 nd Abdi Berleen, 23-05, 126 th Nicola Hopkinson, 23-19, 129 th Zuzana Sinalova,23-26, 149 th Victoria Morgan, 24-11, 161 st Doris Gaga, 24-54, 167 th Pathrose Louis, 25-11, 171 st Baldev Singh, 25-20, 175 th Sukhbindar Jandu, 25-30, 176 th Ernest Forsyth,25-33, 180 th Julia Galea, 25-57, 197 th Sharon Honey, 27-25, 200 th Carol Muir,27-34, 221 st Pam Jones,29-37, 230 th Julie Gillender, 30-12, 240 th James Huddart, 31-36, 241 st Kim Baxter, 32-18, 252 nd 193 rd Sheila Sinclair, 34-47.

ENGLISH TRACK & FIELD CHAMPS – BEDFORD INTERNATIONAL STADIUM -29th-30th August 2015

After completing his 1st year at cross country and Track & Field and coming into these championships as Essex & South of England champion Ahmed Abdulle was against a very competitive field of 24 athletes from as far afield as Scotland and the Channel Islands. On a dull and wet windy day, he stayed with the early pace but had to settle for 10th place in a new Pb of 8-49 in the U/17 3000m

ESSEX COUNTY 10000m CHAMPIONSHIPS
Southend
Saturday 29 August

There was more success for Ilford AC at the Essex County 10000m Championship at Southend’s Garon Park track on Saturday. Sam Rahman can a well controlled race in the 25 lap event held in warm sunshine. He moved steadily through the field to finish in a new personal best of 36 mins 00.7 secs to be awarded the bronze Essex county medal

  Press Report 25th August 2015  

Aug 252015
 

Carol Muir’s 100th Different Parkrun

A large contingent from Ilford AC turned out to offer some superb support for their fellow clubmate Carol Muir as she completed her 100th different Parkrun at Raphaels Park, Romford last Saturday morning. This community event has developed its own terminology over the years and Carol who has competed in Parkruns the length and breadth of the country certainly now qualifies as “Queen of the Parkrun Tourists”. This was also Carol’s 209th completed Parkrun over 100 diferent 5k courses that began at the first Valentines Parkrun back in February 2011. For the record Carol clocked 27.38 in this fun event which recorded a certain Elvis Presley also from Ilford AC as a first timer in 4th place.

  Press Report 17th August 2015  

Aug 172015
 

Southern League Match 5
Hemel Hempstead Saturday15th August 2015

Ilford AC finished their Southern League campaign with an excellent 4 th place at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday. This was Ilford’s toughest match of the season as three of the four opposing teams were in the top 6 of the division after the first four fixtures.

Ilford were no match for these three teams, but they had an all day battle with Braintree, with Ilford finally prevailing by 4.5 points, after the final event.

Top performer’s for Ilford were Vicky Onyeka and Krystle Balogun, who both did four individual events and a leg of the 4x 400 relay. Vicky took 2 nd place in the 100m in 13.6 and followed this up with 4 th in the 200 in 28.1. Before coming a top class sprinter Vicky was a thrower and returned to these events to win the shot put with 8.31 and take 3 rd in the Hammer with 24.86. Krystle once again won the 800m in 2.21.3, this means she was unbeaten over 800m in the League this year. She also took 3 rd place in the 400m in 61.5. Having a few hours before the relay Krystle decided to try a few other events and ran a very impressive 200m in 28.6 for second place, before gaining valuable points in the B string shot with a throw of 6.71.

After an injury hit 2014, Kelly Mavididi is going from strength to strength and had a great win in the B string 400m with a time of 63.3, she also ran a great leg in the 4x 400 relay. New member Adaku Okorie gained valuable points in the Long Jump with 2.56 for 4 th, 5 th in the Javelin with 12.07, her most impressive performance was in the high jump where a jump of 1m 25 gained 4 th place, she was also in the 4x 400 team.

The Final member of the ladies team was Naomi Browne who started the day with 4 th place in the Long jump with 4m 38 and was in the lead in the 100m, before suffering a hamstring injury around 80m, bravely she finished in 4 th place.

With more athletes on the men’s side, the workload was able to be shared, however almost everyone ended up doing at least two or more events.

Malachi Harley ran a great 100m gaining second place in a personal best time of 11.7, he followed this up with another personal best in the long jump with a leap of 5m 28 for 3 rd, before running the 3 rd Leg of the 4x 400. Zehn Ahmed also gained a personal best of 24.6 in taking second place in the 200m, before switching to the shot put where he finished 5 th with a throw of 5m 96, before finishing his afternoon with a leg in the 4x 100.

Kelechie Okorie has his usual busy meeting with 3 rd place in the 400m in 50.9, and gained valuable points in High Jump with 2 nd place with a jump of 1m 70, before switching his attention to running in both relays. Competing in only his second match Gboldade Ogunyemi had a solid run in the 400m for 5 th place in 61.5, but was outstanding in the B string High Jump which he won with a jump of 1m 60.

Jeffrey Nkrumah who is coach to many of the athletes had a busy afternoon, firstly helping organise the team, before putting on his racing spikes and coming 3rd in the B string 800m in a time of 2.11.5 which was only just outside his seasons best. He then switched to the Triple jump to take 4 th place in a personal best of 11.56, before running in both relays. Pete Whiting continues to gain valuable points in the field events, originally only coming to officiate Pete ended up doing the shot where he was 5 th in 6.39, discus 5 th in 17.92, Hammer 4 th in 16.56 and finally 4 th in the B string Javelin with 25.56. The final member of the field team was Tony Nixon who was 3 rd in the B string discus with a throw of 13.56

Ilford have struggled a bit with middle distance races this year, but this fixture, the team mangers SOS call was taken up firstly by new second claim member Lee Johnson who competing in his first match took 4 th in the 800m in 2.12.7 before returning later to take 3 rd in the 1500m with a time of 4.38.4. Sam Rahman ran a season’s best of 4.37.2 in taking 3 rd place in the A string 1500m, before following this with 2 nd in the B string 5000m with a time of 17.15.4. James Smith who is currently preparing for the Bournemouth and running 70 miles a week, decided to get in some speed work with a 5000m, where he was hoping to run 16.30, James stuck to his schedule until the last few laps where he fell away slightly but still managed a personal best of 16.36.9. After having a short rest and despite a dodgy technique he completed the 2000m steeplechase in 4 th place with a time of 7.49.7.

Bradley Brown ran in three non scoring races, running 15.2 in the 100m, 20.43 in 5000m and despite an injury 40.4 in the 200m.

Final match position. Dacorum & Tring 315.5, Medway & Maidstone 313, Colchester & Tendring 312, Ilford 161.5 and Braintree 157

Final League positions are not yet to hand, but Ilford are expected to be in 18 th position, which has exceeded expectations in their first season back.

WORLD MASTERS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lyon France

The last day if the 21st World Masters Athletics Championship in Lyon, France dawned overcast, cool and still. Ideal conditionals for the full and half marathon races on a wooded twisty turny course in Parilly Park.

Rob Sargent of Ilford AC was on the Great Britain team for the half and he ran a steady race reaching the end of the first lap in 51 minutes in 43rd place in the M60 category. He pushed on the second lap and gained one spot in his age group recording 1hr 46min 12 secs to finish 444th in a field of over 650.

  Press Report 11th August 2015  

Aug 112015
 

World Masters track and field championships
Lyon France

The 21st edition of the world masters track and field championships is currently taking place in Lyon, France and is the first staging of the games in Europe since 2009 and the first time in France.

The first week has notable for strong sunshine and high temperatures of 35C plus. The first day featured the cross-country where there were 2 runners from Ilford AC on the British team for these events. Pam Jones ran an excellent race and was up in the leading group on the first of the 4 laps. Despite a tumble on the second lap she pushed on to finish second in 47 mins 33 secs for the 7.5km course to win the silver medal in the F75 category and lead the British team to the world title in the same age group. Club endurance coach Rob Sargent ran in the M60 race and finish 50th and 5th Britain in 40m 12s.

The 5000m track races followed two days later when. Pam Jones again ran a well judged race. She kept an. even pace for most of the race, only slipping a few seconds a lap in the last mile to come home 5th, and 1st GB runner, in 30m 09.00s in the F75 race. Rob Sargent started strongly in the M60 event but tired in the heat to record 24m 46.91s and was placed 57th in the overall result.

Ilford’s Peter Ryan also travelled to the championships but was unable to compete due to a foot injury

Woodford Green Open Graded meeting
Tuesday 4th August 2015

Ilfords junior middle distance squad put in some fine performances at this graded meet, with 2 athletes making their debut on the track, junior girl Jordan Hinds coming 2nd in the 800 in 2-44-03 and Jack Halil 1st in the 800 in 2-36-22. Usamah Patel’s younger brother Farris Patel ran a Pb in the 800m in 2-33-52 with Bradley Deacon back from holidays clocking 2-45-00. Keshan Beckett Edwards Pb’d in the 800m posting 2-48-54 .Ellie Wright ran 2-50-27 in the 800 and Tom King on his break from University recorded 2-13-44 also in the 800.

In the seniors Ilford had 5 athletes competing at distances 100m, 800m and 3000m. In the 100m races Sam Rahman, Bradley Brown and Julie Gillender posted times of 13.25, 14.70 and 19.88 respectively. The 800’s saw Sam Rahman 6th in his race in 2.16.96 just ahead of Krystle Balogun who ran a personal best of 2.18.15. Kevin Wotton won his race in 2.31.76. In a top quality 3000 metres Steve Philcox recorded 10.16.07 for 9th place ahead of Kevin Wotton 12th in 10.55.94.