Athletes
from Ilford AC
competed with
some notable
success in
Sunday's Essex
AAA's 20 mile
road running
championships hosted by
Colchester
Harriers. On a
flat 2 lap
course held
around the
country
roads of Great
Bromley village
127 starters had
to contend
with some damp
cold and windy
conditions.
Ilford's Malcolm
Muir led a group
of runners
chasing Gary
Chandler of
Springfield
Striders who had
broken away from
the start to set
a commanding
lead of over 5
minutes at the
halfway stage.
Muir rallied
strongly on the
second 10 mile
loop running
a negative split
to drop his
pursuers and
finish in a
personal best
time of 1hrs 56,
but still
some 4 mins
behind the
winner Chandler.
Muir was ably
supported by a
much better run
from Terry
Knightley whose
2hrs 9 mins 43
secs was good
enough to win
bonze in the
over 40 veteran
category. Iain
Wilson, still
seeking to
recover his best
form after a
long lay off,
ran a strong
2hrs 13 minutes
to compete the
scorers enabling
Ilford to close
3rd position in
the men's team
competition.
Matt Herbert
found the going
tough in the
final miles but
nevertheless
completed the
course in a
creditable 2hrs
21 minutes
providing some
great backup to
his club mates.
The women's
performance was
particularly
pleasing as they
emulated the
bronze
medal performance
of the men with
some strong
individual runs
by 3 athletes
using the race
as a stepping
stone for
the London
Marathon. Bree
Nordin got off
to a flyer
goiiing through
the 10 mile mark
in 69 minutes.
Unfortunately
she lost some
ground in the
latter part of
the
race and eventually
had to settle
for 5th
position.
Nevertheless her
2.25.02 clocking
earned her 3rd
place in the
over 45
competetion. Nicola
Hopkinson ran a
solid 2.36.36
using the race
as a stiff
workout as she
likewise
prepares for
London .Sally
Gillam completed
the scoring trio
with yet
another Personal
Best clocking
2.44.32.
At the
presentation
following the
race Ilford AC
picked up yet
more awards for
performances in
last years
2005 Essex Road
Race
Championships
with Malcolm
Muir and Terry
Knightley
winning Gold in
the senior and
Male 40
categories
respectively and
Bree Nordin
winning silver
in the women's
over45 and
bronze in the
senior
categories.
