Springfield Striders Friday Night 5 miles
Pleshey
26th June 2015

A handful of runners from Ilford AC made the trip to Pleshey on Friday evening to compete in the Springfield Striders Friday night 5 mile race. On a spectator friendly yet challenging 2 lap course Malcolm Muir was back in action despite still suffering from a stomach complaint. Clearly still some way below his best the Ilford captain still managed 3 rd place in a time of 28.38 to finish top male 40 runner of the night. Billy Green was next home in 64 th clocking 38.47 whilst the ladies were represented by Nicola Chester(96 th in 44.15 and Carol Muir 115 th in 48.17. Springfield’s Mark Newton led the 129 strong field home in a time of 26.56.

Last Friday 5km
Hyde Park, London
Friday 26 June

Pam Jones returned her fastest time of the year for 5km on the fast Hyde Park course recording 29 mins 27 secs for 186th spot and leading F75 category athlete

Fast Friday
Waltham Forest Track
Friday 26 June

Ilford Ac’s Sam Rahman tackled the 10000m at the Fast Friday track meet at the Waltham Forest track. Sam ran a controlled race by keeping in the pack for the first half of the 25 lap race reaching 5000m in 17m 40s. He battled on in the 2nd half to record a new personal best time of 36m 02.9s to take 5th place in the B race.

Horndon 10km
Sunday 28 June
A trio from the Ilford Ac squad took part in this 10km which is held in conjunction with the Horndon Village Festival on a muggy Sunday morning.

Rohan Alexander once again impressed in 44th spot out of 413 finishers with 42 mins 55secs while Billy Green found the going tough in the weather conditions and on a hilly course recording 54m 24s in 220th spot. The evergreen Pam Jones continues to improve as the summer rolls on in 343th with 63m 21s

 
Rohan Alexander once again impressed in 44th spot out of 413 finishers with 42 mins 55secs while Billy Green found the going tough in the weather conditions and on a hilly course recording 54m 24s in 220th spot. The evergreen Pam Jones continues to improve as the summer rolls on in 343th with 63m 21s

North Downs Run
Sunday 28 June

Peter Spelman was the only Ilford runner in this year’s North Downs Run, a 30k trail race that goes from Gravesend in Kent. The conditions were much better for running than last year when it was very hot allowing Peter to clock a chip time of 3.29.44. This year although humidity appeared at times to be high it was cooler and there was a little rain. This remains one of Peter’sfavourite races and great preparation for his annual outing to Davos to compete in the Swiss Alpine Marathon in 4 weeks time.

Woodford Green Open Meeting

Ashton Playing Fields
Tuesday 9 June

The first Tuesday Open Meeting staged by Woodford Green was held on a blustery chilly evening and a handful of Ilford endurance runners in action.

In the 800m Sam Rahman placed 3rd in heat 2 with 2 Mins 18.17 secs with Krystle Balogun giving her usual determined performance in 4th with 2m 20.23s

Sam Rahman was back in action in heat 1 of a fast 3000m recording 10m 18.10s for 12th.In heat 2 Steve Philcox placed 2nd with 10m 33.57s and Kevin Wooton next home in 10m 41.51s while Bradley Brown finished in 12m 18.01s in 11th

City of London Mile
St Pauls London
Sunday 14 June

The City of London road mile was held on a drizzly cool morning starting from outside the entrance to St Pauls Cathedral and running past the Bank of England and Guildhall to finish on the North side of Wren’s baroque church.
The race was run in waves and Sam Rahman led the Ilford challenge in 57th spot in a total field of 2470 in a new personal best time of 4m 54.03s. Next home was Tony Hyde in 5m 20.94s with Krystle Balogun recording 5m 31.55s. Neil Crisp finished in 5m 50.70 s and Bradley Brown with 6m 05.33. Jenni Sheehan, the ladies team captain, ran a time of 6m 13.02s and Bree Nordin 6m 24.05. Rob Sargent was next over the line in 6m 53.23s with Dianne Crisp recorded 7m.17.23 s with Doris Gaga 7m 48.35s.

Ilford club junior Arun Manget had a fine run recording 5m 43.52s

Southend Half Marathon

Sunday 14 June

In the Southend half marathon, run on a fast seafront course, Rohan Alexander placed 156th in 1h 35m 20s, a time he was pleased with as he was coming back from injury while Peter Spelman finished in 1h 59m 20s.

Havering 25th Anniversary 10k
Sunday 14 June

On an overcast but ideal day for runners, 175 people toed the line for the ‘Havering 25th Anniversary 10k’ held at Thames chase country park in Upminster.

Ilford were led home by Billy Green in a PB time of 49:28, the first time this athlete has achieved a sub 50min 10k

Watford Open 3rd June

The two Ilford athletes competing at this Open graded meet both retuned Pbs. Tom Gardner with 8-40 & Ahmed Abdulle 8-55 in the 3000m.

Essex Schools Track Champs June 13th Chelmsford.

Ahmed Abdulle representing Redbridge Schools controlled the race from the start to run out a comfortable winner in the 3000m in 9-03. Later he was informed that he has been selected to represent Essex Schools in the English Schools Track & Field Champs at Gateshead.

South of England champs June 13th Lee-Valley

Krystle Bologun did not have the best start with her preparation for this race, but still put in solid 2-19 for the 800 in the heats

Essex County Track & Field Championships
Chelmsford
Saturday / Sunday 23rd / 24th May

Ilford AC Young Athletes produced some inspired performances in the Essex County Track and Field Championships held at the Chelmsford AC track on the recent bank holiday weekend.

Star of the show was Muhammed Weyli who broke the U17 men’s Club record of 50.2, set in 2005 by Gary Smallman, with an excellent time of 49.64, ranking him 5th in the country at U17 level for the distance. Teammate Kelechi Okorie running only his 3rd 400m race placed 2nd with a time of 50.27 just outside the old record.

Another noteworthy performance came from Shane Johnson who competed in three different events earning three medals with three personal bests in the U15 section:-2nd in the long jump with 5.00m, 2nd in the 300m with 39.78s and 3rd in the 200 with 25.15s. The weekend was topped off by Thomas Cooney with his English Schools qualifying time and his National Standard time in the 300m (37.31) and 200m events (23.39 in heat 2), achieving gold in the former. He also ran 5th in in the 100m with 11.72 having done 11.72 in his heat.

Supporting well wereSam Malpass who came 3rd in a strongly contested 400m run (50.38) with Kelly Mavididi also getting 3rd in the under 20s 400m (61.85). Naomi Browne was 2nd in the U17 300m with 42.00. Zehn Ahmed achieved a personal best in his 100m race (12.09 in heat) and his triple jump (3rd in 11.00m). Nathan Meskell earned himself 2 personal bests in the U15 100m (12.37) and triple jump (2nd in 10.57m). He also ran in the 200m clocking 25.74.

On the afternoon of the second day of the same championships Ilford AC were represented by Malcolm Muir in the Masters over 35 1500m. Malcolm kept with the main pack during the first half as the leading two runners, Paul Grange of Havering and Nick Sasha of Orion, pulled away. With 700m to go he made his move and secured third place and the bronze medal in 4 mins 24.00 secs.

Less tan 30 minutes later Muir was in action in the Senior 500m, which was won by Ilford’s Tom Gardner in 15m 22.30s, and placed 7th in a quality field in 16m 18.96s with clubmate Sam Rahman 8th in 17m 31.44s.

Folkestone Coastal 10k
Sunday 31st May

A Gale Force Wind and driving rain greeted the 553 athletes who lined up on Sunday for the 4th Running of The Folkestone Coastal 10K Road Race in Kent.

On A Flat Promenade Seafront Out and Back Course initially into a Gale Force headwind for 5K that literally stopped you in your tracks, and then returning with the wind behind you for the final 5K on the promenade, Ilford AC Club Super-Veteran, Terry Knightley, came 34th Overall in a time of 41 minutes and 28 seconds.

He was followed in 490th Position by new member and Veteran over 55, Kim Baxter, in 68 Minutes and 30 seconds.

The Race was won by local Athlete, Paul Whittaker of Southend Athletic Club.

Kent Road Runner Marathon
Peter Spelman reports that he was the only Ilford competitor in this unique event although club colleague Carol Muir was there to encourage and cajole him during every one of the 17 laps held on an undulating cycle circuit.

The course was made even tougher by 3 significant inclines on the circuit comprising 51 hills in total but these did not phase the Ilford man who finished in a time of 4.26.46 being rewarded by a finishers medal described by the race organiser as probably the biggest in Europe!

SCVAC League Match 2
Stevenage
18th May

The team of 5 athletes competed admirably to finish a creditable 4th in match 2 of the SCVAC League held at Stevenage & North Herts AC on 18th May.

Henry Ricketts competed in the 35 age group covering the 200m (29.2), 800m (2.45.7), 3000m (13.48.5) and hammer (8m 66cm) with a best placing of 4th ironically in his least favourite distance of the 3000m.

Malcolm Muir covered the 40 age group in the 200m (29.4), 800m (2.17.7) and 3000m (9.35.2) winning the longest track distance on the evening.

Peter Whiting in the age 50 category covered the 800m (3.23.7), 3000m (15.53.9) and hammer (19m 38cm) which gave him his best position of 2nd.

Gerald Daniel came down to the 50 age group to compete in the 200m (31.7) for 5th.

Andy Catton showed a return to track form competing over 800m (2.45.8) and 3000m (11.46.4) in the 60 age group finishing 2nd and 1st respectively.

The evening finished with the 4 x 400 relay where the team of Henry, Malcolm, Andy and Gerald finished 5th in 5.07.7 even though Gerald picked up a hamstring strain while catching the 4th placed athlete.

The team now move onto match 3 at Barnet Copthall on 15th June where Peter Whiting will be looking after the team.

Other Races

Meanwhile the Ilford’s superveterans have been doing the Club proud on both road and track in the over 60s category. On Tuesday night Tony Nixon ran 19.32.03 in the 2nd of the 5 race Harwich 5k series to record the fastest age graded time of the night equating to an incredible 14.44.88. Not bad for a 67 year old. This was matched by club stalwart Andy Catton who recorded 19.28.9 to take the SCVAC track gold at Ashford on Saturday morning to add to the 10 miler he won earlier in the year.