Press Report 6th January 2026
ESSEX CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gloucester Park, Basildon
Saturday 3 January 2026
The Essex Cross-Country Championships were held on a very cold day over a challenging hilly course in Gloucester Park Basildon
Ilford AC disappointingly only fielded 5 men in the senior mens 3 lap race over 12km.
There was a fine run from Alex Richards who led the squad home in 10th place in 40mins 48 secs. He was supported by Joash Adler, who was also in good form, coming in 46th with 44 mins 24 secs and Malcolm Muir in 47mins 23 secs for 70th. Terry Knightley placed 145th with 56 mins 55 secs and Steve Chissell recorded 59 mins 26 secs for 156th spot.
Best for the Ilford Ladies was Jordan Hinds in 28th in the Senior Ladies 2 lap 8km race in 37mins 26 secs. Next in was Dani Thomas, who is showing improvement in every race this winter, in 55th with 41 mins 12 secs with Natalie Crips close behind in 58th in a time of 42mins 06, also having a good run. Alison Sale came home 68th with 44 mins 03 secs and Dianne Crisp recorded 50mins 46 secs for 95th. The ladies team was completed by Frieda Keane in 121st in 55.33 and Julia Galea 126th in 57.08
In the team competition the Ilford Ladies were the 11th club in the rankings
The Essex Cross country Championships held at Gloucester Park Basildon saw six young Ilford athletes battling the extremely cold conditions to produce some great individual performances
Ilford debutant Shamil Mohammad produced an outstanding run to finish 7th in a time of 28.5m over the testing hilly course in the U20 category. Shamil was well supported by teammate Samuel Crane in 12th place clocking an impressive 30.30m
U17 runner Fabio Reina produced yet another great race claiming 14th place in his category recording a time of 21.52m supported by teammate Ryder Islam in 28th place in a time of 24.52m
Ilford’s only U15 runner Elias Furreedan battled really well in the harsh conditions to record a time of 20.57m finishing in 63rd place. Another good run in a successful season for Elias
Danilo Reina was the only U11 runner for Ilford and ran a really strong competitive race finishing with a time of 13.25m in 41st place
All athletes and supporters should be congratulated on attending the competition such cold conditions
