An Effort to be Proud of in the NAL Promotion Final.

Well, we missed out on promotion to the topflight of the National League, but we most certainly did ourselves proud as we finished third against such strong competition as the final result showed with Tonbridge on top with 583 points followed by Swansea 555, CHELMSFORD 502, Sale (Manchester) 483, York 435, Crawley 405, Herts. Phoenix 348 and Yeovil 205.

Prior to the day I had listed our top two in each event, obviously everybody would not have been available and indeed no fewer than twenty fell into this category. A large proportion of these are in the under 17 age group and have of cause been involved with school exams whilst competing in major championships throughout the season so understandably this has been their first opportunity to book family holidays. An example of what we missed - in the women's high jump we failed to score, the competition was won with 1.63m and we have three competitors with better heights that this. However, let`s not dwell further on this and look at the highlights from our team. In the women's events there was a great double from Kissiwaa Mensah as she won the 100m in 11.66s and the 200m with 23.83s. Returning for relays at the end of the meeting and joined Nneka Okoh, Erin Minton-Branfoot and Georgia Tombs there was another win in the 4 x 100m with a time of 47.62s  - a best of the season. To the women's throwing events and Jessica Hopkins won the shot putt with 13.36m with sister Maegan`s 11.17m ensuring maximum points by heading the `B` string. Jess was also to place first in the `B` discus and score further points in the javelin. From the hammer event both Helene Ingvaldsen (56.14m) and Charlotte Graham (41.60m) took second place, Charlotte was also involved in the discus and javelin events.  Back to the track and in the 400m it was a third place for Georgia Tombs with 57.35s, just shy of her best time. One of the few under 17`s here Lottie Wilkin placed fourth in the 800m, again not far short of her best with 2m 17.01s. Lucy Nuttall doubled up by contesting 800 and 1500m with Jessica Walker another of our younger members her partner in the later event. There was a personal best for Sophie McCall in the 3000m with 11m 04.92s and veteran Wendy King stepped in again to help the score along by running the second string. Lily Parris covered both hurdles’ events whilst the steeplechase saw Holly Watson setting a pb with Molly Drane close winning the second string. Indeed, the steeplechase proved to be a good event for CAC for in the men`s race full points came our way with Will Nuttall winning in 9m21.32s and Ethan Reilly on 9m 55.83s another to improve on his best - and placing first `B` string athlete. Again, the throws brought many points with the hammer best of these with Oliver Graham (57.86m) and Yasha Bobash (47.34) bringing in full points. There were two second placings in the shot putt via Alastair Brown (14.83m) and Kevin Wilson (12.66). This pairing also contested the discus with Kevin`s 42.92m giving him third place and Alastair on 41.71m second in `B` string. Full points also were gained in the high jump with Seb Clatworthy soaring over 2.08m and under 17-year Charlie Pyner 1.88m. In other field events two under 20`s in Sam Wright third and Jack Hughes sixth scored well in the long jump and pole vault. Over the middle-distance events there was consistency in performances without any first places. Take the 3000 metres which saw Joseph Grange 8m 31.39s and Finn Rafferty 8m 57.74s taking second spots, it was likewise in the 1500m with Gregory Martin 4m 05.45s and Joe Perry 4m 11.78s whilst over 800m veteran Paul Grange finished third on 1m 55.07s another just short of a season’s best Jacob Alexander with 1m 58.68 took fourth spot.  At the 400 metres Onyeka Okoh ran a season’s best of 49.04s having earlier being second over the 400m hurdles with 52.46s. It was to be another season`s best in the 110m hurdles with Bradley Reed fourth in 14.92s, Sam Wright another of our more junior members took third in the `B`race in 16.12s.

This does not complete the seasons fixtures with a Southern League meeting at Norwich on the 30th, Currently we sit in fourth place with eleven league points just one of six clubs on this total. We head Norwich by just ONE match point so it could not possibly be closer thus only a win can keep us ahead. Apart from the other clubs on 11 points a further two are on ten and any could overhaul us and possibly leave us mid table.

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.