Ilford AC hosted their Club 10 mile cross country championships in conjunction with the Stock Exchange 5 mile championships at Chigwell Row on Saturday afternoon.Blessed with some good weather Malcolm Muir narrowly retained his title over the tough 4 lap course comprising forest tracks, steep climbs, and strength sapping grassy sections.4 runners shared the pace for the first 2 laps, Abdi Berleen, Malcolm Muir, Darren Bottrill and Martin Clarke, with the lead frequently changing hands. Muir with another race scheduled for Sunday was sitting in the pack enjoying the ride as Berleen continually tried to break away.

 

By the end of lap 3 Clarke was a spent force leaving the other 3 to contest the spoils as each one in turn struggled to go clear. The final sprint for the line proved to be an exciting affair as Muir started to celebrate a bit too early and was nearly caught by the fast finishing Bottrill who had come from 50 metres back to surge past Berleen. Old favourite Gary Christie, who had travelled up from Brighton in the morning, came through ferociously in 4th to take the vets over 40s prize with Martin Clarke having to settle for 5th place and the over 50s award. Finishers and times in the men's race were as follows :- Malcolm Muir (75.38) Darren Bottrill (75.40), Abdi Berleen (75.48), Gary Christie (77.12), Martin Clarke (77.59), Alan Lattimore (79.00), Leon Thomas (82.54), Duncan Turner (85.08), Ian Burdin (85.26), Henry Ricketts(87.31) and Peter Spelman(89.32).  

 

In the women's race Breege Nordin had things her own way easily winning in 81.08 from Nicola Hopkinson in 2nd, 85.31,  and Sally Gillam in third, 89.49. Pam Jones completed the course in 96.33. Prizes were presented by Club President Claire Levey in the clubhouse afterwards

 

In the Bedford half marathon on Sunday Nikki Martin ran a personal best to complete the undulating course in a very good time of 1hr 38mins 17secs.