Press Report 12th May 2026
Essex County Track & Field Championships
8 Ilford AC athletes competed at the Essex County Track & Field Championships held at Chelmsford over 2 days
Sofia Crane got the team off to a good start in very warm conditions throwing the Hammer with a season’s best effort 22.28 metres
A.J. Mullings Roache secured a brilliant Bronze medal in the U14 boys 80m Hurdles with a personal best of 13.12s
A.J. returned on Sunday in very cool blustery conditions to secure a superb Silver medal in the High jump with another personal best of 1.45 metres
Teammate Max Andrews managed to jump 1.65 metres in the difficult conditions to secure a brilliant Gold medal
U16 boys representative Dhanusshan Ponnambalam threw 10.93 metres in the Shot putt competition to gain second place and a well-deserved Silver medal
Daniel Okereke qualified for the U14 boys 200 metres final finishing in 6th position clocking 25.86 seconds
Senior Women’s team had a very successful weekend with Ellie Wright completing the 100m & 200m double with season best times of 12.36s & 25.34s respectively earning Gold medals over the two events
Teammate Krystle Balogun matched Ellie’s efforts with her own Golden double in the Women’s over 35 category 100m & 400m also clocking season best times of 12.92s & 60.91s
Omotola Sadare earned an excellent Silver medal with a throw of 28.82 metres whilst fellow teammate Ellen Cunningham completed the successful weekend for Ilford AC with a Gold medal performance in the Shot putt recording a season’s best distance of 10.97 metres
A successful weekend on two days of vastly contrasting weather conditions. Big thanks to our competitors, spectators and especially our Officials for all of their efforts over the weekend’s competition
MARATHONS
2 Ilford AC Runners were in action over the Marathon distance at the weekend.
In the Halstead and Essex Marathon, Malcolm Muir gained himself an Essex Gold medal in his age grouping, coming home in 3hrs 13mins 20secs.
Further afield in the Copenhagen Marathon, Christopher King ran a massive personal best, coming home in 2hrs 53mins 35secs
Bideford 10K
On Sunday, Terry Knightley gained his 3rd England Masters vest representing the country at the Bideford 10K Masters Final Road Race in Devon.
The race was run over a notoriously hilly out and back course from Bideford Quay to the town of Instow returning on the Tarka Trail in chilly windy conditions with well over 1,100 finishers.
Despite being ill in the two weeks leading up to the race Knightley ran his best in the Male Veteran Over 65 category finishing in 44 minutes and 1 second.
Colchester 10K
On a blustery Sunday morning 4 runners made their way to Colchester
for the annual Colchester 10k organised by the local Rotary Club.
On a flat and fast course the team were lead home by Neil Crisp in
40:53 [117th], followed by Steve Horsley in 46:01 [264th], Natalie
Crisp in 47:27 [327th] and Dianne Crisp in 56:54 [678th].
Season bests were set by all at a very well organised and supported
race with over 1,200 finishers!
EUROPEAN MASTERS ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Catania, Sicily, Italy
The 20th Edition of the European Road Running Championships were held in Catania on the Italian isle of Sicily. Over the weekend there was a half marathon, 10km and 5km road events plus walks and a cross country relay. Two runners from Ilford Ac took part in the vent
In the 10km Edward Skinner placed 239th and was 24th in the M70 age group with a time of 59mins 13 secs. . He was the third scorer in the 5th placed British team.
Rob Sargent ran in the 5km event and came home 62nd in 31 mins 50 secs to place 3rd in the M70 age group and take the bronze medal
In the picture Rob (right) is with 2nd placed David Proffitt of Lliswerry runners in Wales
