ILFORD walker Steve Uttley managed 54 minutes 17 seconds for second place at the Civil Service Championships in Birmingham last week. Ilford s Bob Dobson, a winner of this title in previous years, finished 10th on this occasion. Ilford s Lesley Richardson

ILFORD walker Steve Uttley managed 54 minutes 17 seconds for second place at the Civil Service Championships in Birmingham last week.

Ilford's Bob Dobson, a winner of this title in previous years, finished 10th on this occasion. Ilford's Lesley Richardson, making her first walking appearance for a while, finished ninth in the women's 5km event.

On the following Saturday, Ilford was strongly represented in the southern team for the inter-area track match held at Darlington.

Ilford's Phil Barnard took second place in 50.09 with Steve Uttley fifth in 55.17. Sadly Ilford's second claim member Steven Crane was disqualified for a technical infringement with less than 100m to go while lying third.

This cost the South valuable points and contributed to their narrow loss to the north in the overall standings.