Press Report 14th July 2015
Sam Rahman kicked off the week for Ilford AC last Monday evening when he ran the 800m at the Mile End Open Meeting. He reached the bell in 65 seconds and tired a little on the second lap to record 2m 14.59secs for 5th place in a quality race.
The next night there was another open track meeting , this time at Woodford Green. On a breezy night the two Ilford runners in the 1500m were hampered by the wind. Steve Philcox recorded 4m 57s .35s and was almost matched by Tony Hyde in 4m 57.58s.
Sam Rahman was in action again, this time in the 3000m. Sam ran a well judged race and picked up the pace in the last 600m to finish 2nd in 9m 54.15s, just 0.26 seconds off this personal best.
Tuesday night also saw the 4th of the 5 race Harwich 5k series held over a blustery Promenade Course at Dovercourt where Ilford’s Tony Nixon once again demonstrated his ageless speed clocking 19.32 to take the best age related time prize for the third consecutive time. No other runner even got near his adjusted time of 14mins 44 seconds.
At the challenging off-road Thorndon Park 10km on Saturday Bill Green placed 83rd in 56m 54s in a field of 152 finishers
At the Yeovilton 5k on yet another windy Wednesday evening Ilford’s over 60
Peter Ryan crossed the line in 64th position recording 21-16 to place 6th in his age category .
Press Report 7th July 2015
Dagenham5 mileish ELvIS
Wednesday 1 July
Ilford AC were out in force for the 4th leg of this summer’s ELvIS series held on a very hot evening in the Eastbrookend Country Park in Dagenham. Leading the way for the club in the 2 lap 4.8 mile race was Malcolm Muir who finished 5th and 1st in the M40 group, despite still being troubled by a stomach problem, in 28mins 19 secs. A stride behind him was the improving Sam Rahman with 28m 20s with Kevin Wotton putting in a fine run or 8th with 29m 35s. Tony Hyde took the M50 category title in 12th in 30m 24s. Steve Philcox came home 16th in 30m 51s and Neil Crisp was 1 place and 1 second behind him to complete the scorers. The team finished 2nd in the match behind the powerful East London side.
Krystle Balogun made her first league appearance of the summer and made it count finishing 2nd lady in 32m 07s, with Jenni Sheehan backing her up in 5th spot with 36m 33s and Bree Nordin 7th and once again 1st F55 in 36m 40s. Nicola Hopkinson recorded 41m 48s to complete the scoring team who like the men were 2nd to East London.
Also running: Terry Knightley (22nd 31.44) Rohan Alexander (29th 32.23) Steve Parker (53th 35.33) Declan Cullen (66th 36m 45s) Bill Green (81st 39.39) Rachel Halpin (99th 41.56) Pathrose Louis (107th 42.29) Doris Gaga (11th 42.53) Victoria Morgan (120th 44m 13s) Suki Jandu (122nd 44m 56s) Julia Galea (126th 45.43) Carol Muir (139th 49m 10s) Pam Jones (140th 19.19)
Orion Forest Five
Saturday 4July
The second of Orion Harrier’s summer five mile off-road races was held in Epping Forest on Saturday morning. The small squad from Ilford AC were headed by Bradley Brown who came home 42nd out of the 113 finishers in 38mins 52secs. Rachel Halpin recorded 43m 09s for 70th spot, while Victoria Morgan finished in 44m 13s for 75th. Pathrose Louis was83rd in 44m 59s and Bill Green clocked 46m 39s in 92nd.
Brentwood 10km
Sunday 5th July
This years Essex 10km Championship was held in conjunction with the Brentwood 10km held on a fast rural course based in the village of Blackmore. The race took place on a surprisingly rainy morning and the Ilford AC challenge was headed by Sam Rahman in 24th spot in a new personal best of 35m 46. Next home, also recording a personal best, was Paul Holloway in 40th place in 37m 23s, while Robin McNelis placed 46th in 37m 44s.
Steve Philcox had a good run for 47th with 37m 59s and Kevin Wotton and Neil Crisp both were given 38m 23s for 56th and 57th respectively.
Bree Nordin was the first Ilford lady with 44m 41s for 152nd and 16th lady. Bree again claimed the F55 category county gold medal. Jenni Sheehan placed 25th in 45m 53s and Nicola Hopkinson was 247th overall in 50m 46s
Pam Jones took the bronze Essex medal in the F65+ group recording 62m 27s.
There were also new best times for the distance for Declan Cullen with 46m 59s and Doris Gaga in 52m 59s
Also running were: Terry Knightley ( 65th 38m 59s) Steve parker (149th 44.34) Bradley Brown (156th 44m 52s) Rob Sargent (214th 48m 31s) Bill Green (247th 50.14) and Julia Galea (317th56.06)
In the Essex county team competition the men placed 9th and the ladies 5th
There were 414 finishers.
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Bewl 15
Sunday 5th July
On Sunday Ilford AC’s superveteran Graham Williams travelled to Bewl Water, in Sussex to compete in the very muddy Bewl Water 15 .Despite a torrential downpour the Ilford man was pleased to come away with a resounding success picking up the silver medal in the over 75 class.
Dulwich 5k
Thursday 25th June
Three athletes from Ilford, ventured across to South London to take part in the Dulwich 5k the previous Thursday. The field was not as strong as in former years but was still won in a brisk 16.10, by Alex Gibbins of Blackheath. Ilford were represented by Bradley Brown, and Gary Floate, making a welcome return to competition together with his wife Meredith Floate.
Bradley and Gary were close throughout the race, with Bradley just ahead for the first two laps, Gary went past Bradley at the start of lap three and held a small gap to the finish. Gary clocked 22.33 for 83rd place with Bradley close behind in 22.42 for 85th. Meredith was surprised by the fast start of the race and took a while to get into her stride, but by the third lap she was flying along and crossed the line in 34.17 for 149th.
Watford graded meeting
1st July
This was Ahmed Abdulle’s last race before going to the English Schools Athletics champs at Gateshead on the 10th & 11th July. Seeded in the A race he found the going tough at this level but still gave a good account for himself setting a new 3000m Pb of 8mins 51secs.
Press Report 30th June 2015
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.
Press Report 23rd June
Eton Manor 5k
Tuesday 16th June
Leyton
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No less than 31 athletes from Ilford AC lined up for the Eton Manor 5k last Tuesday Evening. Held in Leyton on a multi terrain course believed to be slightly over distance this was the 3rd in this year’s 7 race “Elvis” series between 8 competing local clubs.
Once again without their captain Malcolm Muir and some of their faster track stars Ilford were always going to be up against it with both East London Runners and Eton Manor being once again out in force.
Nevertheless less the Club put in a good performance with Sam Rahman leading the way for the men in 8th spot in a tie of 18.06. He was well backed up by a legion of strong Ilford veterans namely Kevin Wotton (16th, 18.37), Tony Hyde (17th 18.38), Paul Holloway (19 th, 18-40), Stephen Philcox (20 th , 18.42) and Neil Crisp (24 th, 19.23). In addition Tony Hyde was the top male 50 runner of the day with Andy Catton (57 th, 20.46) taking the over 60’s prize.
Jenni Sheehan led the ladies home (75 th, 22.06) combining with the female over 55 winner Breege Nordin (85 th, 22.43), Melinda Jones (98 th 22.56) and Rachel Halpin (72 nd, 25.32) to close the 4 strong team.
East London Runners took top spot in both the Men’s and women’s Elvis team competitions with Ilford 2 nd and third respectively.
Other Ilford positions and times were as follows 38 th Terry Knightley 20-03, 43 rd Rohan Alexander 20.16, 76 th Bradley Brown 22-12, 84 th Stephen Parker 22-29, 85 th Peter Ryan 22-32, 94 th Declan Cullen 22-49, 110 th Billy Green 23-20, 124 th Gary Floate 24-05, 139 th Pathrose Louis 24-54, 159 th Doris Gaga 26-42, 161 st Sukhbindar Jandu 26-57, 162 nd Nicola Chester 26-58, 167 th Baldev Singh 27-27, 176 th Julia Galea 27-54, 183 rd Sharon Honey 28-27, 211 th Carol Muir 31-27, 213 th Pam Jones 31-42, 226 th Kim Baxter 34-16, 228 th Julie Gillender 34-36, 234 th Meredith Floate 35-46.
The next race in the series is at Dagenham’s Eastbrookend Country Park on 1 st July.
British Masters 5km Championship
Horwich
Sunday 21 June
5 Runners from Ilford ACs endurance squad travelled to Horwich, just north of Manchester to compete in the British Masters 5km Road Championships.
The squad were led home, over a 3 lap course featuring 600m climb on each lap, by Peter Ryan in 101st place in 20mins 53 secs which earned him 11th spot in the M60 category. Rob Sargent recorded 23m 43s for 14th M60, while Julia Galea recorded a personal best of 27m 09s for 7th in the F55 grouping.
Pam Jones won another British age group title by the taking the gold medal for the F75 category in her best time of the year of 29m 48s. Carol Muir was feeling unwell on the morning of the race but bravely battled on to finish in 35m 13s.
The ladies combined together as a team in the F35-44 group and were rewarded with silver medals for taking second spot in the club competition.
Out and About
Ilford legend Tony Nixon continued his one man assault on the Harwich 5k series posting yet another superb time in the 3rd of the 5 race handicap series last Tuesday evening. Held along a windy promenade out and back loop Nixon blasted along the Dovercourt seafront and despite saying he felt tired afterwards still stopped the raceclock at 19.38. The organisers always also give an age related time which came out as an unbelievable 14.50 for the 67 year old Nixon. However the Ilford stalwart then went on to prove that he is not completely unaffected by the ravages of father time by departing with half his kit still left in the changing room.
Meanwhile the only genuine Fell race in Essex saw 2 Ilford men tackle the 5k course comprising of some of the more notorious hills of Epping forest and hosted by Orion Harriers. Robin McNelis came home a creditable 27th in 25m 48s while Billy Green recorded 33m 31s for spot 82.
SCVAC League
Allianz Stadium Hendon
Monday 15th June
A very small but yet high calibre “team” competed in the Southern Vets T & F league at the Allianz Stadium, Hendon on Monday 15th . Amazingly 3 Ilford Athletes managed to cover most of the evenings events finishing a truly creditable 6th out of the 9 clubs with 96 points (Malcolm Muir 38, Pete Whiting 33, Andy Catton 25)
Malcom Muir :-
100m M40 9th 15.3
5000m M40 1st 16:39.2
400m M40 4th 62.6
1500m M40 3rd 4:35.9
TJ M35 5th 6.01
Discus M35 6th 13.75
Pete Whiting :-
100m M50 4th 15.3
400m M50 6th 74.1
1500m M50 8th 7:35.3
TJ M50 3rd 7.98
Discus M50 3rd 21.48
Shot M35 8th 6.46
Andy Catton :-
100m M60 4th 17.7
5,000m M50 7th 20:54.0
400m M35 6th 80.6
1500m M60 2nd 5:37.0
The Ilford trio confessed to being disappointed that they did not have a fourth person for the medley relay !