Press Report 22nd September 2026

Essex AA Cross Country Relays 2026

The Essex AA Cross Country Relays took place last weekend on a challenging course on Chingford Plains in Epping Forest.
It was a successful morning for Ilford AC, which secured two county medals.

First up were the Senior Men, consisting of teams of 4 running 6km each.
Ilford’s Snr Men had a good outing claiming county bronze with a combined time of 1 hr 27 mins 16 secs.
The team consisted of Tom Gardener 21:31, Chris Goldsmith 21:48, Shamil Mohamad 19:50 and Manuel Vigo 24:05.

The Vets teams consisted of 3 runners competing over the same 6km course.

It was a great morning for Ilford’s V60 men who powered home to a County Gold medal in a combined time of 1 hr 17 mins 57 secs, coming home almost 4 minutes quicker than their nearest rivals.
The team consisted of Stephen Philcox 24:15, Dave Thomas 26:26 and Neil Crisp 27:15

On Thursday 3rd September former Ilford Athletic Club race walkers from as far back as the ’60s, 70s and 80s met up for a reunion pub lunch and drinks at “The Bull” in Romford Market Place – a venue outside which well supported “Romford Brewery 3 Kilometres walking races” started and finished in past decades. Organised by Tony Perkins a common link was that all present had completed epic 52 miles’ London-to-Brighton walks. Many tales and yarns from past athletics meetings were brought to life as past years were well recalled.  Messrs Ainsworth, Allen, Barber, Neagle and Perkins completed100 miles’ races during their active years
 
Picture taken by Deidre Rodrigues.  L-to-R Back row Len Ruddock, Tony Perkins, Brian Armstrong.  Front row : Dave Neagle, Steve Allen,. Dave Ainsworth, Alan Barber.