John Batchelor took the V70 honours at the weekend

Rising star Hamza Bahloul set a new personal best time on his way to taking second place in the 800 metres at Woodford last Saturday.

Rising star Hamza Bahloul set a new personal best time on his way to taking second place in the 800 metres race at the third leg of the London Inter-Club Challenge & Open Graded Meeting at Woodford last Saturday.

Ilford AC had five athletes competing, with 11-year-old Bahloul the pick of the performers when he crossed the line in two minutes 40.47 seconds.

Another solid run came from 14-year-old Jack Maher, also in the 800m, who clocked 2.13.31.

The club’s 18-year-old trio of Michael O’Callaghan, Shaun Sookoo and Alex Richards all acquitted themselves well.

O’Callaghan completed the 100m in 12.95 and the 200m in 26.04. Sookoo also doubled up, recording 11.83 and 24.36 in the sprints.

Middle-distance runner Richards completed the 1,500m in 4.17.80.

■ Elsewhere, 10 Ilford athletes made the journey to Felsted through torrential rain where Neil Crisp was the first club-runner home in 38.18 for 19th place overall.

Dianne Crisp ran a solid 45.37 to claim the sixth fastest W45 women’s spot.

Ever-improving Paul Emery ran a personal best 46.33 and Jenni Sheehan clocked an impressive 50.12, after a cautious start.

Sally Gillam had a fine run on tired legs to finish in 51.43, Pam Jones was next in 54.05 and Nicola Chester not far behind in 57.37.

Carol Muir (61.36) just pipped Robin Davis (61.36) at the finish line and Julia Ridley closed the Ilford contingent in 63.21.

■ Two of the club’s veteran runners completed the Last Friday of the Month 5km at Kensington Palace recently.

Switching from its regular home of Hyde Park due to the Olympic preparations, 180 runners took to the temporaray new two-lap course where John Batchelor finished in 20.27 to take the V70 honours and placed 55th overall.

Team-mate Pam Jones ran a season’s best 26.25 to place 148th.