FOUR IN A ROW – AND IT’S GETS BETTER!

Ilford AC sent a strong squad to the annual Moulton 5 Miles Walk on a testing
“out-and-back” in rural Suffolk countryside north east of Newmarket. On a cool
overcast Saturday, perfect for athletics, it was Ilford’s Francisco Reis who
took the race by storm sprinting away from all rivals to enjoy a big advantage
by the turn. The gap was needed as a quality athlete was after him in former
Welsh Senior Champion Mark Williams of Tamworth AC, one noted for producing his
best work over the closing stages of races. Indeed he closed gap but the Ilford
man’s early efforts proved too much for the Welshman to make inroads and Reis
strode broke the tape in 39 minutes and 1 second to record his 4th consecutive
victory in what was his fastest time ever on this tricky course. Williams came
2nd in 40.39 and warmly congratulated the victor. Ilford’s Captain Steve Uttley,
a regular visitor to the frame at this firmly established and well supported
event, again made it when filling 3rd place in 42.13. Pete Ryan, a twice former
winner, gave a confident display throughout as he claimed 5th spot in 43.32
while Steve Allen closed home the Cricklefields-based team to retain their team
title when passing the timekeepers in 46.56 to come 9th despite racing unhealed
with blisters from the recent Isle-of-Wight Walking Festival.

Ilford’s ‘B’ team were led home by former Scottish international Stuart Bennett,
10th in 47.28 while in 22nd spot with 51.19 on the stopwatch, the Club welcomed
back Kevin Marshall to sprint racing after his extended spell concentrating on
ultra-distances.

Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)

NOW IS THE HOUR

Ilford’s FRANCISCO REIS was the pick of Ilford’s contingent who contested the
Southern Area 1 Hour Championship Walk at Eltham’s Sutcliffe Park track on a
rainy Saturday afternoon. The format requires competitors to race walk as far as
possible in 60 minutes around an athletics track and it was defending Champion
Reis who set the pace for over 50 minutes with his only serious challenger,
Olympian IAN RICHARDS (Steyning AC), nestled in some 30 metres in arrears. That
was until the closing stages when the wily Richards let fly with a devastating
burst to overtake the race leader and power on to complete 11,846 metres in the
allotted time, with Reis 2nd having accounted for 11,746 metres. Ilford won the
team contest for a 10th time, indeed having won each year since this competition
was instituted with STEVE ALLEN, 5th having covered 9,718 metres, the best of
the rest!

There was little rest for either as both lined-up on Sunday afternoon at a
warmer Ashtons Track for the Essex County AA 10,000 Metres Championship. Reis,
who hasn’t an Essex qualification, appeared as a guest competitor and won the
visitors’ prize with a sound 51 minutes and 29 seconds timing which secured him
3rd place behind Colchester’s 2 King twins. In 4th place, and 3rd Essex
finisher, was 2012 defending champion STEVE UTTLEY, Ilford’s Walking Captain,
who clocked 54.06. STUART BENNETT shrugged off injury worries to fill 7th spot
in 60.08 with Allen 8th in 61.46. Awards were presented by Essex County
President Claire Levy, an Ilford AC member.

Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)

ROUND-AND-ROUND FOR 12 HOURS

The annual Crawley Track 12 Hours, which although mainly attracts runners,
always lures race walkers to it’s starting line at 7am on Saturday. It meant
rising at 3.30am for Ilford’s intrepid duo!

20 faced the starter (from a record 31 entries) and Steve Allen claimed 8th
place by covering 54 miles. Despite a few twinges, Olly Browne was 10th having
accounted for 52 miles. Both were expertly attended to by Browne’s son Angus,
an experience helper at ultra-distance events. It was a cold, wet and windy day
at Crawley’s K2 Leisure Centre Track – indeed 2 gazebos were wrecked, though
thankfully nobody was injured.

Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377382)