CAC Bring back a Metal Rarer than Steel from Sheffield.

Indoor meetings brought CAC two national champions for in Cardiff Seb Clatworthy took the Welsh high jump title with a leap of 2.08 metres whilst at Sheffield Monica Malagala claimed the England’s under 17`s shot putt title - this with a huge personal best of 14.41 metres and way ahead of any opponents.

Chelmsford colours were indeed seen throughout the later championships with no fewer than twenty members in attendance - ironically the same number that had made the short trip to Basildon for the cross-country fixture.

Apart from that gold by Monica other medals came back to Chelmsford with the shot putt again featuring for Shindara Ayo-Adeyemo taking second spot in the under 15`s event with 10.87m, Shindara also achieved pb`s in the heats of the 60m hurdles with 9.48s and surpassing this with 9.37s in the semi-final in fourth spot. Chloe Allam also reached the semi in this event with a best of 9.25s. Back to the under 17`s and it was silver for Jorjia March in the 800m when after first in her heat improved this to  2m 08.53 in the final missing top spot by just 0.18 seconds. It was a further silver to come via Jake Read with his clearance of a pb of 1.93m in the under 17`s high jump, our last silver medal came from Lottie Wilkin, with awards from road and cross country at national level to her credit now placed second in the 1500m in 4m 35.79s thus completing a rare treble. To complete our medal claim Amelie Scott was to have three bests, two coming from the hurdles with 8.75s in the heats followed by 8.67s in the final giving her a well-earned bronze and a place on the podium.

Personal bests came from each of the age groups. From the under 15`s Toby Tubbs clocked 40.16s in the 300 metres. At under 17 level Jasmin Lunn clocked 25.69s in the 200m, Lily Hartman from this event went a shade faster with 25.52s before a 40.62s from the 300m. Over to the long jump and with a leap of 5.89m gave a pb and 5th spot. For other performances we had Charlie Pyner, high jump, and Matilda Hewitt, shot putt, placing fourth in the under 20`s age groups whilst James Becker, sprints, and Sam Wright, long jump, also contested at this level.                                                                                                                                           

At the British Milers Club meeting at the Lee Valley centre Jorjia March stepping up two age levels to the seniors 800m and clocked 2m 06.05s. Promises well for the summer with all the performances above.  

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.

It's Over and Out for this Seasons Essex XC League.

It was a poor showing for CAC for the final Essex League meeting of the season staged at Basildon, perhaps one could say matching the weather of late, dismal, for only nineteen athletes contested the twenty categories on the programme closing in with just two teams which accounted for eight of those runners.

Our senior women were in the frame for top spot for the league title with Havering, but it was not to be for despite great runs from Hannah Bolton and Megan Williams finishing 3rd and 4th with support from Rachel Broome 17th, Emma Cox 19th and Sophie McCall 22nd Havering again just had the edge to lift the seasons trophy. The under 17 women started the day with holding on to second             spot in the table for Basildon were clear ahead. Katie Cox put in another grand race to finish second with Jessica Walker 4th and Amelie Goodall 10th their 16 points left them just two adrift of Basildon but did assure them of that second spot in the table. How things could have been better with the attendance of other `members` through the campaign in county events. How we can pick up medals in county events but have no involvement at under 13 and 15 level here was strange, at least in the under 11 race Olivia Bilby showed her consistency placing fifth - a position also gained in the seasons table. 

Difficult to follow that no teams whatsoever from the male side of the club, In the under 11`s Lewis Boarer came up with a great run to lead the field home with Toby Hutt placing 10th. Praise to the Chelmsford Endurance team again led by Samuel Miller 6th with brothers George and Thomas Jaggard 17th and 24th and Max Porter 25th. From the under 13`s James Pollard placed 16th and Noah Hammond 17th, whilst in the under 15`s Jake Boarer ran well for fifth place with Sebastian Cook 23rd. Under 17`s and yet again just two turning out with Daniel Pollard 4th and Joseph Delaney 5th but most surprising we saw only three in the senior race although only Zach Bridgeland 18th is in that class for we now had veterans Nick Hunter 57th and Peter Tullett 86th.

So, after many seasons of team trophies, this season the cupboard is bare but on the individual front there were a number going forward to receive awards. Six were claimed from the women with Katie Cox second in the under 17`s with sister Emma, running at senior level, also second in the under 20`s. From the senior’s consistency earnt Hannah Bolton a second place with Rachel Broome third, but we can also include from the over 50`s veterans class Wendy King first and Ann Nuttall third for although missing this last race had performed well during the previous four meetings. Also worthy of mention in the under 11`s Olivia Bilby placed 5th with the Endurance team having Coco Phillips 9th and Evie Law 12th. The Endurance team`s Samuel Miller must take pride of place from the under 11 boys as his consistency over the five races earnt him the silver award. Lewis Boarer and Toby Hatt of CAC placed 7th and 9th. From the under 13`s James Pollard and Noah Hammond placed in the top ten whilst Jake Boarer placed 5th in the under 15 boys. Moving to the under 17 men and Daniel Pollard and Joseph Delaney rate four and five. Not surprisingly there are no senior men mentioned, and we move to the over 45-year veterans with Nick Hunter seventh. Top spot however from the over 55` via Peter Waite. For the second year Peter Tullett shows his consistency claiming the over 65`s crown - an age including Mick Bridgeland placing fifth.  

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.

South of England XC Success.

Pride of place for CAC at the South of England cross country championships staged at what now appears as a regular venue of Beckenham Place Park, Lewisham, Kent, go to Mason Sanford in taking second spot in the under 13-year boys’ event - and just two seconds down on the winner. Mason`s run also led to a bronze medal placement for the team with Dylan Law well to the fore in 15th place, Freddie Blacketer 38th and James Pollard 98th completing the quartet whilst Noah Hammond and Arthur Cooke were handily placed in reserve.

It was also to be a third team finish for the under 17 women's team and only six points adrift of the silver medals claimed by Milton Keynes. Amelie Shipton led the team home with an excellent eighth place with Emmie Lole close by 14th, Hetty Harrison 34th and Jessica Walker 54th with Niamh Roberts in reserve.

There was a promising start for the under 15 girls with Francesca Phillips 13th, Ava King 16th and Beatrix Cooke 19th and at this point there was little difference in the points of the two clubs that were to top the table at the end of race. Thanks to Vivien Prelevic they were however to place eighth.

Disappointment that the under 13 girls could not muster a full squad with Sadie Davis 29th, Leila Robinson 47th and Scarlett Metcalfe our sole representatives. What a day for our close neighbours Brentwood in this event with their Madison Kinder leading to a 1, 2 and 3 individuals although it was to be a third place for them in the team stakes.

CAC interest in the under 20`s and senior women rested on one in each event with Kazia Beeton getting into the top ten of the former with ninth place and in the senior`s Antonia Moore 87^th. The male side of the club did however complete teams in each event.

We have already reported on the under 13`s.and it was to be sixth team for the under 17`s with Jacob Parrott 23rd, Daniel Pollard 40th, Joe Delaney 49th and Austin Kelly 61st with Max Chivers 65th and Ben Smith 85th close by. For the under 15`s Jamie Gilbey led the home being 20th with Josh Humphries 52nd, Jake Boarer 70th and Kyaya Fakazi 132nd completing the scorers with Ed Delaney also amongst the finishers.

For the senior men Zach Bridgeland led them home finishing 87th and was supported by Peter Waite 237th, Scott Thomas 246th, Will Parrott 257th, Stephen Woodford 285th and Luke Fitz-John 311^th for a team placing of 21st.

Away from the domestic scene what a grand international debut for Sam Wright. Previously his highlight was coming away from the English Schools Championships with the gold medal – which may have led to his selection for an England squad competing in the Iceland International Games. As followers of the Instagram site will have seen Sam triumphed with a leap of 7.07 metres. Of course Sam may treat this as his main event but as a multi eventer - and achieving success including the decathlon - he can be considered as to master ten events. Well done Sam.

Full gallery of the SEAA XC Championships here.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.