Chelmsford Athletes Deliver for Essex at English Schools XC

No fewer than seventeen of our members were included in the Essex teams for the English Schools cross country championships staged at Pontefract, Yorkshire with the junior girls bringing about the best result as they took second place behind Surrey. Brentwood`s Summer Smith tasted a rare defeat being placed fourth when leading the county in but it must be remembered that the schools age groups differ from that used in club competition and here four of the top six were of the older club range. Full marks then to our Ava King and Ezrah Harrold placing 6th and 7th, with Erin Kelly 23rd and Francesca Phillips 79th achieving those second place medals

There was also place medals for the intermediate boys where Jacob Hurrell led the team to third spot with his eighth place. In this event Harry Wright was fourth home for Essex finishing 52nd, whilst the intermediate girls also claimed the bronze medals. In this event Brentwood's Olivia Forrest gained top spot whilst Daisy Stollery placed 38th and Lottie Wilkin 139th from the field of 343 finishers. In the senior age groups Chelmsford athletes led their teams home with Joseph Grange 11th in the boys race in which Finn Rafferty placed 47th and Gregory Martin 104th.

In the girls race Kiera Atkinson finished 14th with sister Kayleigh 62nd and Lucy Nuttall 135th, to the junior boys and Jacob Parrott 41st and Fred Ferman 82nd helped Essex to a fourth place.

And so the cross country season draws to its close -  not  so for the National Championships which should have been earlier this month but cancelled due to weather is to now be staged in September - with the age groups as per this past season. Our under 13 girls must be in the frame for medals then.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

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CAC Athletes shine at the UK Inter- Counties Championships.

Staged at the new venue of Wollaton Park, Nottingham, our under 13 girls again achieved an incredible first which I feel will not be noted by many. Yes of course Essex were led home by Brentwood`s Summer Smith who has had a wonderful season with first places in all races but of the remaining seven places in the Essex team all were taken by Chelmsford. Ava King 6th, Erin Kelly 8th and Heidi Woodley 23rd completed the scoring team for 38 points to take the title ahead of Yorkshire 79 and the North East on 116. Now Francesca Phillips placed 30th and this would have brought about a club score of just 67 to have beaten all of the counties, yes a remarkable achievement.

Other placings in the field of 298 finishers were Lily Sanford 85th, Isabella Eida 97th and Emma Pickering 226th.

From other races Fred Ferman in the under 13 boys had what must be considered as the best performance placing a most respectable eighth in such a major meeting. The under 15 girls led home by another Brentwood athlete Olivia Forret in pole position found Ezra Harrold 30th and Daisy Stollery 51st - Essex a most respectable fourth behind Scotland, Surrey and Yorkshire. Essex also placed 4th in the under 20 men and here Finn Rattray finished 27th and William Nuttall 47th. It was also 4th for the under 20 women with Chelmsford well represented with Kiera Atkinson 25th, Sophie McCallum 69th and Sophie McCall 109th.

From other events Joseph Grange 13th and Gregory Martin 72nd were in the under 17 men`s race, an age range in which Kayleigh Atkinson 25th and Lucy Nuttall 138th were in the women`s race. In the under 15 boys Austin Kelly placed 59th and Jacob Parrott 153rd whilst in the senior women Rebecca Luxton - classed as a veteran but still showing much younger athletes the way home finishing 63rd and third Essex  athlete home.

Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft

A strong Showing for our Y7/8's in the Essex Schools XC

The Essex Schools cross country championships for year 7 and 8 students staged at the Writtle College saw Chelmsford A.C. youngsters  taking two of the titles. 

In the year eight boys event Fred Ferman took the honours with Casper Norris 64th, Khaya Fakazi 69th and George Dixon 104th in the field of 182 finishers.

In the year seven race it was Beatrix Cooke leading the field of 191 home whilst Georgia Matthews and Orla Martin were also well to the fore in this large field being seventh and eighth.

No individual title from the year eight girls race but our members filled places two through to seven with Ava King and Erin Kelly taking the silver and bronze medals ahead of Heidi Woodley, Francesca Phillips, Lily Sanford and Isabella Eida.  Representing their schools we do not have access to team placing’s. In the same race Emma Pickering placed 20th and Heidi Whatton 26th. Winner Summer Smith now Crawley AC. for her third club of the season.

The year seven boys event saw Dominic Grant 22nd,Thomas Burgoyne 24th, Sebastian Cook 72nd and Max Good 93rd.

Report written and compiled by Roy Meadowcroft