ILFORD had five runners in the Southern Masters Cross Country Championships at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, where Bree Nordin did exceptionally well in the women s race, which was combined with the over-70s men s race. Nordin placed 35th overall in a field

ILFORD had five runners in the Southern Masters Cross Country Championships at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, where Bree Nordin did exceptionally well in the women's race, which was combined with the over-70s men's race.

Nordin placed 35th overall in a field of 139 runners and her time of 26 minutes and 44 seconds over the 6km course was good enough for an excellent 11th place in her over-50s age category.

Andy Catton led an over-50s team comprising Chris Togwell and John Mackenzie to 11th place out of 17 teams in the combined 50 and 60-plus men's event.

Catton was far from happy with his performance as his time over the 10k course was 38.15 and placed him 31st out of 105.

Togwell followed him home in 43rd after clocking 39.32, with Mackenzie closing in 99th with 47.40. Second claimer, Iain Campbell, was out running for the Metropolitan Police in the over-40s race where he clocked 33.51 to lead his club home.

On Sunday, Ilford's Keith Ennis had to contend with arctic-like conditions plus some 10 degree hills at the notoriously tough Watford half marathon. Ennis finished in 1:32.27.

On Sunday Lee Valley Indoor Athletics Centre hosted the first London Games event which spanned the whole day and saw Ilford athletes impress.

Eight athletes took part in numerous events, from sprints to hurdles, high jump and long jump.

Rachel Giwa, in the under-20 women's section, ran in two events, the 60m and 200m. In the 60m, her first race, her power took her towards a good time of 7.70 but this was vastly improved in her second race over the same distance where she came home first in a time that equalled her PB of 7.65.

In the under-17 men's section, Kofi Gibbons Jeffers competed in the 60m hurdles and sprints, achieving 9.44 and later 9.28 in the former and 7.50 and 7.41 in the latter.

Laibah Malik, in the under-17 women's section, ran the 60m sprint as well with good times of 9.26 and 9.27 while Gloria Alabi did the same with 8.30 and 8.29.

Melodie Ihouma ran 8.31 in the first race of the sprints and recorded the same time in the second race, whilst Ebuka Nwadiegwu, competing for the first time, ran the 60m sprint in 8.47 and smashed that time in the next race with 8.37.

Her brother, Healson, competed in the under-20 men's long jump and he did not disappoint with a good sequence of jumps that led him to finish in third place with 6m 38cm. Simeon Stuart did the same event and came away with fourth place with 6.32m.

Last to compete was Elijah Collins, in the under-20 men's high jump, and despite not having a proper winter season behind him due to other commitments, he was able to equal his PB with a leap of 1.75m.

Ilford's athletes will now take part in either the Indoor AAA's at Birmingham or the Essex Indoor's at Lee Valley.