ILFORD AC youngster Iain Macdonald finished in ninth place in 30 minutes 23 seconds at the East London Five Inter-club series, race three, held at Orion Harriers headquarters in Epping Forest on Saturday. Captain Neil Crisp (30.24), was just behind McDo

ILFORD AC youngster Iain Macdonald finished in ninth place in 30 minutes 23 seconds at the East London Five Inter-club series, race three, held at Orion Harriers' headquarters in Epping Forest on Saturday.

Captain Neil Crisp (30.24), was just behind McDonald in 10th, while Robin McNelis chipped in with 13th in 30.37, with Terry Knightley, returning from a back injury, 20th in 31.27 and Darren Bottrill 35th in 33.02.

It was left to veteran Steve Parker, 48th in 34.52, to close the victory. Kevin Newell also had an excellent run recording 33.25 for 38th.

The race was won by Orion's Shay Joyce in a new course record of 28.34.

The women's squad was somewhat depleted, but still put up a terrific battle to run the eventual team winners, Orion Harriers, very close to finish a creditable second.

Captain Dianne Crisp led by example, finishing top over-45 woman on the day and 11th woman home overall. Nicola Hopkinson clocked 40.03 for 28th and Sally Gillam 41.56 for 34th.

Nicky McNelis was next home in 42.52 for 39th. New recruit Jo Bushnell followed her in 56th place clocking 48.14.

Not far behind, Carol Muir completed the women scorers, improving four minutes from her previous outing on the course, clocking 49.02 for 60th place.

Other Ilford times and placings were: Peter Spelman 39.40 (84th), Martin Clarke 41.21 (89th), Gerry Trill 41.25 (90th), Billy Green 42.40 (102nd), Satha Alaganandasundaram 44.27 (108th) and Robin Davis 50.48 (113th).

Meanwhile, Ilford's Pam Jones was among 277 British Masters athletes competing in the biannual World Masters Track & Field Championships in Lahti, Finland.

Pam was second to Poland's Zofia Tuosz in the 8k cross country, finishing in 40.44, 14 seconds behind, although she was giving the Pole two years.

Jones finished second again to the same athlete in the 5,000m, clocking 25.50, just three seconds adrift of the victor after nobody wanted to set the early pace.