Ilford AC Walking Section – Press Report 28/07/2013  

Jul 282013
 

MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN GO OUT IN THE MIDDAY SUN
A trio of Ilford AC walkers, FRANCISCO REIS, STEVE UTTLEY and PETE RYAN were the pick of the Club’s contingent at Allianz Park on a blisteringly hot Saturday as they occupied 3 of the top 5 positions in a London Inter-Club Challenge 5,000 metres walk. The race started at 12 noon, and despite large stands each side of the track which encircles Saracens rugby union pitch, there was no shade to be had anywhere. From the “off” a 3-strong group formed the van with Hillingdon AC’s Polish representative walker Fabian Deuter in the van closely tracked by Ilford’s Francisco Reis and Bexley-based teenage prospect LUC LEGON.Midway through the 3rd lap the youngster fell back leaving Deuter and Reis to battle it out and not till the closing stages did Deuter find something extra to claim victory in 24.23 with Reis a close 2nd in 24.27. Legon filled the frame in 25.52 with Ilford’s Captain Uttley filling 4th position clocking 26.52 after a steady race as he’d come under starter’s orders carrying a slight injury. In 5th spot with 27.41 on the stopwatch came Ryan who’d intentionally walked a tactical race, covering the opening lap in a slower time than usual for an athlete of his calibre. Ryan’s tactics paid off handsomely as the latter stages saw him move forward purposefully as rivals wilted! Much needed copious amounts of cool water was trackside for drinking and sponging, but Ryan was the only finisher not to avail himself. Now Essex-based Ryan’s a tough Northerner who said he didn’t need such assistance!

Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-37382)

  Ilford AC Walking Section – Press Report 23/07/2013  

Jul 232013
 

Ilford Retain National Team Title For a 3rd Consecutive Season

Ilford retained their National 10 Kilometres walk team title, for a 3rd consecutive season, at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit on Saturday 10 July. The scorching temperatures of recent weeks were relieved slightly by a light breeze and a short overcast period, but temperatures were still uncomfortably high as the field set off on the first of five 2kms shuttle laps, designed to avoid the hillier parts of the circuit. Francisco Reis, Ilford’s Portuguese and UK International set off with the leading bunch and established himself in 4th place early on, a position he held until the finish in a time of 50 minutes 51 seconds. Steve Uttley. after a period away from training through injury walked a steadier race, gradually working through to 8th place, then holding off a determined late challenge from 2 walkers just behind to retain that position in 55-52. The Ilford scoring team was completed by Steve Allen in 15th place in 60-19, just one place ahead of Stuart Bennett who recorded 60-38.

Sadly Ilford’s other competitor, Ed Shillabeer, fell foul of the judges on the requirement to keep the knee straight as the heel touches the ground, a difficult rule to comply with as athletes become tired in tough conditions, and his long journey from the West Country did not bear fruit on this occasion.

Nevertheless, Ilford’s 3 scorers beat 2nd placed Surrey Walking Club by the comfortable margin of 8 points on a day in which conditions were far from easy and on which the shuttle course was felt by many to be considerably slower than the lap course which it replaced. Ilford walkers had further success in the Inter counties race held in conjunction, as Steve Uttley was 3rd scorer, with the 2 International King twins from Colchester in the winning Essex team and Francisco Reis won bronze with the Middlesex team.
Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377372)

  Ilford AC Walking Section – Press Report 14/07/2013  

Jul 142013
 

WALKER IN THE RUNNING
Ilford AC’s former Scottish International athlete STUART BENNETT chose race walking as his mode of progression when appearing in the high profile 5 Miles run around Stratford’s Olympic Park on a hot Sunday. Bennett was ahead of many runners as he walked to fill 7,721st position in 51 minutes & 31 seconds. Competitors enjoyed the kudos of finishing on the famous Olympic Stadium track! Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)

  Ilford AC Walking section – Press Report 10/07/2013  

Jul 102013
 

SEQUENCE MAINTAINED

Ilford’s inform FRANCISCO REIS was a convincing victor in Monday evening’s Veterans 2,000 metres race walk at the delightfully situated Hemel Hempstead track. Off to a fast start in hot conditions, rivals were left floundering by the end of the opening circuit as he pressed-on the win in 9 minutes and 19 seconds. Since making a comeback 4 years ago, Reis has raced many times in this long-established Series of Veterans 2,000 metres events and has yet to be beaten!

On Sunday over 3 laps in the blistering hot York sunshine, STEVE ALLEN raced the annual Postman’s-in-Uniform 10 Kilometres. Traditionally this event has it’s social gathering the night beforehand, where copious amounts of alcohol are imbibed by many of it’s participants. Behind former International Denis Jackson, racing in his home City and winning in 62 minutes and 5 seconds, it was a teetotaller – Edinburgh’s Colin Scott – who gave the Ilford man a hard time as he firmly claimed 2nd spot enjoying an 800 metres’ lead going into the final circuit. However the heat got to Scott and he dramatically lost pace; so enabling Allen to pass in the closing stages to place 2nd in 64.26 with the abstemious Scotsman 100 metres in arrears coming 3rd. Competitors have to toil in a Postman’s uniform!

Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)

  Ilford AC Walking Section Report 08/06/2013  

Jun 082013
 

DOUBLE WIN FOR ILFORD AC WALKERS
The Southern Area 20 Kilometres’ race walking championships were held around 12 flat twisting circuits of a public park in Enfield on a sunny but blustery Saturday afternoon.It was a remarkable triumph for FRANCISCO REIS who, for a second successive Saturday afternoon opened up a huge lead right from the off. He was never headed and soon after midway achieved a rare feat of lapping the entire field. Reis completed his journey in 1 hour 48 minutes and 47 seconds to win the Area Championship, with Barnet AC’s Steve Allen 2nd in 1.59.22. After lapping Allen, the Barnet athletemade a gallant attempt to “unlap himself” before settling for a distant second.In 4th place came Ilford’s former Scottish International STUART BENNETT who, like Reis, put in impressive work during the early stages. He was prominent in the chasing group for most of his race, despite starting with a niggling back injury and also being on Southend-on-Sea’s Half Marathon programme the following day. Bennett was rewarded with 4th spot in 2.04.19. In conjunction with the Area event Essex County AA staged their annual 20K Championship, which saw Bennett as the first Essex qualified athlete home so taking the top County honour.
Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)