Essex XC League - Loughton

Ilford AC opened their cross country season with the first fixture of the Essex League held at Loughton AC on Saturday afternoon. On a predominantly flat and rock hard course the men's race saw Malcolm Muir lead home the squad in 11^th place. However he would have undoubtedly been placed higher had not a painful blister forced him to slow and lose ground on the last of the 3 laps of an extended 8.5k course.

Next home for Ilford was John Macdonald who worked his way through to a fine 21^st position after a cautious start. Matt Maple had a great battle with Matt Herbert and just got the better of him finishing 44^th with Herbert 2 places behind in 46^th. Superveteran Martin Clarke is gradually returning to fitness and finished in 74^th after tussling with rising star Darren Bottrill in the early part of the race. Bottrill was somewhat disappointed with his 84^th placing. John Platt turned in a solid 101^st position and finished strongly just ahead of Henry Ricketts 107^th and Duncan Turner 111^th. New boy Oliver Hock turned in a pleasing 118^th place in his first cross country race.

The women’s race consisted of 2 laps of the same course and was measured at approximately 6k. Club Captain Breege Nordin recovering from illness came 20^th to lead the team in. Team manager Keelie Brooks was only some 50 metres adrift storming home in what was undoubtedly the run of the day in 23^rd place. Pauline Tester 41^st and the evergreen Pam Jones 47^th completed the scorers.

The junior section of the club was well represented with debut boy Alex Richards the pick of the runners. Alex confirmed some of the recent form he has been showing on the track placing 11th in the U13 boy's race. Another debutante was Liam Leddy who ran strongly to finish 26^th in the same race. In the U15 Girls both Aimee Jones and Madeline Thompson acquitted themselves well finishing 27^th and 29^th respectively. In the U15 boys Johnathan Tatton found the hard ground not to his liking and his 30^th placing belies a greater talent.

The club now looks forward to the next Essex League fixture at Highlands Park Chelmsford in two weeks time when it hopes that some of its more established stars will return.