Ilford Athletics Club sent a small squad of five runners to the Redbridge cycle track for the first race of the new Chingford League season due to a packed race diary.

Ronan Edwards impressed to win the under-17 men’s race with a time of 19:48 as Breege Nordin (22:58) placed 30th and second in the women’s over-60 category.

Gary Coombes finished 10th and third in men's over-40 category in a time of 17:18, John Crawley placed 38th in a time of 19:24 and Trevor Robinson was 124th in a time of 29:25.

Prior to the race, the club was awarded shields for winning both the men’s and ladies' second division titles last year, earning them promotion to division one.

Ilford Recorder: Ilford AC were crowned champions of the ladies division twoIlford AC were crowned champions of the ladies division two (Image: Ilford AC)

The Essex Championship was once again staged in conjunction with the Pleshey Half Marathon.

The race from the picturesque village is over a rolling hilly course and conditions were made more difficult on the day due to hot weather.

It was a successful day for Ilford AC with the club winning eight county medals and runners setting three new personal bests for the distance.

Ilford Recorder: Gary Coombes (1:15:49) led the way for the Ilford team with an excellent fifth place, winning him Essex Gold in the M40 age group and a new personal best at the distance.Gary Coombes (1:15:49) led the way for the Ilford team with an excellent fifth place, winning him Essex Gold in the M40 age group and a new personal best at the distance. (Image: Ilford AC)

Gary Coombes (1:15:49) led the way for the Ilford team with fifth place, winning him Essex gold in the men's over-40 age group and a new personal best at the distance.

Backing him up were the ever-reliable Malcolm Muir (1:21:17) in 16th place and Danny Holeyman (1:24:20) in 25th place - the three combined to win an Essex silver medal in the male team prize.

Ilford Recorder: Ilford AC trio bagged the Essex silver medal in the male team prize.Ilford AC trio bagged the Essex silver medal in the male team prize. (Image: Ilford AC)

Sam Rahman (1:24:42) was just behind those three with Terry Knightley (1:27:21) finishing 37th, which not only earned him a gold Essex medal in the men's over-60 category, it also broke his own Ilford AC all-time Half Marathon men's over-60 record.

Ilford Recorder: Terry Knightley won a gold Essex medal in the M60 categoryTerry Knightley won a gold Essex medal in the M60 category (Image: Ilford AC)

Remarkably it was Terry's 64th Essex County medal.

Backing the team up were Dennis Briggs (1:33:47) in 58th, Stephen Crane (1:37:45) in 73rd and Ray Everingham (2:13:07) in 208th.

Leading the ladies home was Sameena Ahmed (1:29:11) in 47th place to earn her an Essex silver medal in the female veteran over-40 category.

Carlie Qirem (1:36:59) finished 68th with a new personal best and the third lady home was Breege Nordin (1:41:25), who won a gold medal in the female veteran over-60 category and 90th overall.

Just like the men’s team, the ladies combined to win a team silver Essex county medal.

Ilford Recorder: Ilford AC ladies won a team silver Essex county medal.Ilford AC ladies won a team silver Essex county medal. (Image: Ilford AC)

Gaye Young (1:44:49) finished 106th, followed by Carol Muir (2:11:47) in 205th for a bronze medal in the female veteran over-55 category.

Julia Galea (2:13:55) in 207th also gained herself a bronze medal in the female veteran over-60 category and Pramila Monro (2:22:50) in 235th.

Ilford Recorder: Tony Young at the British Masters 10,000m ChampionshipsTony Young at the British Masters 10,000m Championships (Image: Ilford AC)

Tony Young (47:19) finished 12th in the British Masters 10,000m Championships at Jarrow on the track.