Another title for Nordin

Bree Nordin of Ilford Athletics Club established herself as Essex’s leading F55 endurance runner, as she took another title in the category and finished eighth overall at the Pleshey Half-Marathon on Sunday.

With a time of 1:35.54, Nordin smashed her year’s best for the distance by over two minutes.

Malcolm Muir led the way for the Ilford men in the Essex-based event, when he finished sixth overall in a field of over 400, clocking 1:14.35.

Spencer Hempstead was the second Ilford athlete to complete the testing rural track, when his time of 1:18.14 earned him 13th place overall and a bronze in the M40 category.

Kevin Newall returned to full action following a summer injury and clocked a year’s best of 1:19.14 to finish 19th overall and help Ilford secure third place in the County Championship.

Sam Rahman neared his personal best with 1:21.10 to finish 22nd with Kevin Wotton one place and 13 seconds behind him for his best effort of the year.

Terry Knightley was 37th overall and fifth in the M50 by clocking in at 1:23.22 and Neil Crisp grabbed sixth place in the M50 after finishing in 1:26.42, 49th overall.

Graham Williams took the Essex bronze medal in the M70 category with his time of 2:06.57.

Also ran: Bradley Brown (1:31.00, 70th), Rob Sargent (1:42.52, 168th), Declan Cullen (1:49.40, 227th), Dianne Crisp (1.48.41 220th, 42nd lady) and Carol Muir (2:18.23, 375th)

A week earlier, Steve Philcox narrowly missed out on a personal best at the annual Ingatestone Road Race in Essex.

Philcox finished ninth overall and was one second off his personal best over five miles with his time of 28.24.

Bree Nordin was sixth in the ladies’ event and fastest in the W55 category by stopping the clock at 35.09.

Carol Muir placed 29th, Pam Jones 38th (first in W65) and Julia Ridley was 48th.

Graham Williams’ time of 42.24 saw him finish 106th overall but first in the M70 category.

And bringing it home in the same category was a rare outing for Gerry Pells, whose time of 53.19 saw him place 132nd.

? East London Runners is hosting the Valentines Park 5k charity race and children’s fun run with the support of Ilford Athletics Club on Sunday.

The race will be run all on paths within the park and will commence close to the Melbourne Road entrance.

For full details, including entry form and entry fees, please visit www.eastlondonrunners.org.uk