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.

31 Athletes, 8 Medals, 23 New PB's marks a very Successful Southern Indoor Champs for CAC's Juniors.

Certainly, track and field has a season of 12 months thanks to indoor meetings having seen the South of England staging championships in December and now following with further championships for the under13, 15- and 17-year age groups. The proof of their popularity can be gauged that many events drew entrants requiring some ten heats. Ploughing through this one finds that Chelmsford was well represented with many having that ‘PB’ shown against their performance. Regrettably I cannot include all these in a report although it shows promise for the future - instead concentrate on those going to semi-finals.

The stage was set from the opening event on day one when Bella Kehoe won her heat of the 800 metres for under 13`s in 2m29.95s With Sadie Davis second in the next heat with 2m 31.98s. It was a long wait for the final entailing a return the following day when Bella was to finish in the silver medal position with 2m29.04s with Sadie fifth in 2m 32.29s. Again over 800 metres and in the under 15`s sister Isla Kehoe took second place in her heat with 2m 21.94s then followed with a pb in the final of 2m 19.63s again taking silver. Over the 60m hurdles Chloe Allam was in great form winning her heat in 9.12s, then again at the head of the semi-final in 9.23s before setting a pb in the final of 9.09s for well deserved gold medal. Shindra Ayo-Adeyemo also reached this final placing 6th but setting a pb on route with a clocking of 9.51s. At under 17 level three girls went through the heats of the hurdles Abigail McElroy 7.99s, Alicija Yalaju a pb of 8.11s and Abigail Nwaker 8.16s but failed to go beyond the semi-final stage.

The field events were to produce two wins for CAC athletes in the shot putt. Monica Malagala to record a comfortable victory in the under 17`s shot putt - with Alicija Yalaju sixth with 9.88m. At under 15-year level Shindra Ayo Adeyemo came up with a second pb to go alongside her hurdles time. Here in the shot 11.42m saw well in control as she took the gold position, Timmy Osei was also setting a pb with 9.02m and finishing just outside the medals with 9.02m. Back on the track and to the 200 metres. Niamh Taiwo in the under 15`s set a pb in her heat then improved further to 27.23s placing 4th in the semi-final. Going to the under 17`s and three girls were to qualify via the heats, all placing second, Jasmin Lunn, Lily Hartman and Ruby Collier. In the semi-final Jasmin placed first with Lily second in her race. To the final and Jasmin came out with a pb of 25.92s for third place with Lily fourth timed at 26.16s. Stepping up to 400m and Stephanie Smith after winning her heat clocked 60.08s in the final to place 4^th.

Back to the field, now turning to the jumps. Abigail McElroy came up with a pb of 11.02m for second place - an agonizing just two centimetres shy of the top spot.  Was to be silver also for Chelsea Clarke in the under 17 high jump clearing 1.60m

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft