A Fine Home win in the SAL

At the end of the day a comfortable victory was gained in our Southern League fixture at Melbourne Park although throughout the day points were much closer  - with fortunes changing between clubs behind us'

The meeting got started well for CAC with Sophie Catchpole running the 400m hurdles for the first time and winning in 65.5s. One of the under 17 year age athletes included in this senior competition Sophie also took the `B` string high jump result.  In the men's 400hurdles Archie Sims had another fine run winning in 57.2s.

Two track events brought maximum points on the women`s side. In the 400m most noticeable for here Georgia Tombs (57.7s) and Sienna Shipton (59.8) set personal best times. In the 1500m Kiera Atkinson also had this distinction with her 4m 39.6s win - whilst sister Kayleigh followed her home to take the `B` string result. Full points were taken in the high jump by Zion Ateba who won the event with 1.63m whilst also winning the 100m hurdles (15.9s) with Rosie Townley taking the `B` string (16.2s). Another of the under 17 taking the honours was Matilda Hewitt in the shot putt - also placing second in the javelin.

There was another impressive performance from under 17 James Becker as he won both the 100m (11.0s) and 200m (22.5s) whilst over 800m full points came as Joseph Perry (1m 55.7s) and Jacob Alexander (1.59.5s)    the former achieving a pb.  Joseph also won the `B` string 1500m but praise must go to Paul Grange (3m 59.0s) placing second in the `A` result - Paul classes in the over 45 age group but continues to match the younger opponents. Bradley Reed won over the 110m hurdles whilst in the field events maximum points came in the hammer throw via Oliver Graham (62.18m) and Yasha Bobash (44.53m). Oliver also finished second in the `B` shot with Kevin Wilson second in the main result but gaining a win in the discus. Jack Hughes with a clearance of 4.30m in the pole vault won the pole vault with Roger Skedd an over 40 athlete second in the `B` and also collecting valuable points as he contested the triple jump, discus and javelin.                                                                                                          

With the relays closing the meeting the men won the 4 x 400 event whilst the women took the 4 x 100 race.   

Yes  -  all in all an excellent result for both Norwich (who had beaten us on their home soil) and Brighton were ahead of us in the league standings and that  now reversed. No doubt Windsor Slough and Eton will top the table for they were involved in a home fixture and would surely take another win.   Our next match on 14th July takes us to Gillingham were our opponents will be Medway & Maidstone (hosts), Woking,         Basingstoke , Norwich (yet again) and WINDSOR. A top of the table clash.

Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft

Picture galleries Part 1 & Part 2

Three wins from Three for our Juniors

What another outstanding team performance by our youngsters in the Eastern Young Athletes League at Bury St Edmunds. Racking up another score exceeding the 700 mark is coming a habit, we were the only club to achieve this distinction last season and it`s the same this time round. And importantly it is the whole team under 13, 15 and 17`s girls and boys for all took the honours by topping their groups when the final scores were reckoned up.

It is difficult to know as to where to start with so many winners, maximum points in many events via both `A` & `B` strings. The under 13 girls achieved this in four events, 800, 1500, high jump and long jump. Shindra Adeyemo involved in the later. 

So dominant were we in the under 15 girls only seven points failed to come our way (six in the pole vault where we fail to find competitors).  Three girls each took three wins -  Josephine Walsh, Chelsea Clarke and Monica Malagala whilst Alicja Yalaju, Amy Pugsley each had two wins. Of course with maximum in the sprints no surprise of the relay win. 

The field events were to be our strong point in the under 17 women's category although Amelia Scott and Milana Thorpe won hurdles races before their jumping and throwing events. The jumping event saw Amelia and Olivia Hall in the triple jump take maximum points - this an event the senior team failed to find competitors in the previous days home match. Matilda Hewitt won both shot and hammer and only bettered by our own Lily Frost in the discus.                                                                   

Although fewer wins from the under 13 boys consistent seconds put them ahead of rival clubs on the points chart consolidated by the relay in their last event.           

For the under 15 boys the was another double for  Sam Steadman in the 200 and 300 metres, George Dixon and Jake Read paired up in the hurdles before also heading the high jump result. Jeremy Anderson took wins from the shot putt and discus. James Becker was again in fine form in winning the under 17`men 100 and 200.

Arsenii Handzil found success in the high and long jumps whilst it was good to see Daniel Brown in the pole vault and picking up full points. Brothers Harry and Oscar Dove paired up in the hammer with good results. 

So as you can see from the league table above we go into our final match of the season with four clubs unbeaten having been seeded from last years final table as to not meet each other - can you imagine Manchester City not playing Arsenal, Liverpool or Aston Villa.  Our points scored puts us in a strong position and a home fixture on 21st July against  St Albans, Stevenage, Colchester Harriers, Colchester and Tendring and Braintree should with another 700 plus score see us finish as champions again.

For the full gallery click here.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

Our NAL Team Hold Their own Against Quality Opponents.

Our opening National League fixture, held at the Melbourne Park stadium brought about a very satisfactory start, beaten only by a very strong club in Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers.

1, Shaftesbury 600 points

2, Chelmsford 536 points

3, Havering 525 points

4, Herts. Phoenix 501 points

5, Newham E Beagles 407points

6, Herne Hill Harriers 358 points

Certainly we got away to an excellent start, taking pole position in both strings of the men’s 400m hurdles via Onyeka Okoh (53.91s) and Archie Sims (59.79s). Later in the day Kristian Brown in the 110 hurdles placed second with a pb clocking of 14.79s whilst Bradley Reed won the `B` race (15.13s). In the steeplechase there were full points with William Nuttall (9m 54.51s) and Ethan Reilly with a pb of 9m 58.75s. Dropping down in the distances Lee Dollard placed  third with a pb of 10.60s in the 100m. As a veteran Pal Grange ran well for third in the 800m with Thomas Woodward second in the `B`race. These placings were duplicated in the 1500m with Jacob Hurrell and Gregory Martin.

Turning to the field events Seb Clatworthy overcame the strong winds clearing 1.90m for a win whilst Jack Hughes put in a fine performance in the pole vault with 4.20m.Kristian Brown with 66.98m won the javelin and was supported by Kevin Wilson second in the `B` Kevin also gained valuable points contesting the discus and shot putt although perhaps the best throwing event was the hammer throw which saw Oliver Graham second with 60.68m and Yasha Bobash first in the second string.                                                                        

There can be little doubt that Chelmsford`s athlete of the meeting was Kissiwaa Mensah. First in the 100m with a pb 11.39s, first in the 200m in 23.56s and then part of both the 4 x 100 and the 4 x 400 teams as  they were to take second spots. Nneka Okoh ran a pb to win her 100m in 12.64s    and also placed second over 200m (26.22s). Jumping up to the 3000m and there was a gallant run by 15 year old Daisy Stollery placing third (10m28.44s) with Sophie Mccallum taking the `B` string honours with (10m45.51s) - another Pb.                                                     

Amelia Scott , another of our young talents, won the long jump (5.57m).  Jess and Maegan Hopkins took maximum points in the shot putt with 13.58m and 12.80m also coming away with valuable points in the discus. In the hammer Charlotte Graham placed third with Jess winning the `B` string.                                                                          

Alas we failed to have competitors in the triple jump, pole vault, high jump and javelin thus missing out on many points.    

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft