Medal Success at a Sun Soaked Southern Champs.

On a weekend that GB athletes were garnering their final medals in Paris our youngsters were contesting one of the major championship meetings in this country - the South of England event being staged at Walton on Thames. And it was a good showing for athletes wearing the colours of Chelmsford A.C. As they came away with five gold's and four silvers whilst there were quite a number of personal bests recorded outside the top three. Leading the way (and only as it was the first result I picked up) was Jacob Hurrell who after winning his 800m heat in 2m 02.26s went on then to lead home in this under 17 year final with 1m 54.65s . In this event Joshua Eida set a pb. of 2m 05.65s. At the same age group level Sophie Catchpole took the girls 300 metre hurdles title with her clocking 45.37s and added a silver to her collection won throughout the summer in placing second in the 80m hurdles. Also over the hurdles this this time in the under 15's 75m, Chelsea Clarke after coming first in her heat 11.35s went on to fight for a well deserved Silver in the final 11.31s. It`s been a grand summer also for Ezrah Harrold placing second in the All England Schools 800 metres but here was another impressive  performance - a heat win in 2m 21.57s and then 2m 13.43s for the title. Like her brother Isabella Eida ran a pb of 2m 25.30s in her heat.

The field events and it was another success for Amy Pugsley as she claimed the triple jump event for under 15`s with a distance of 10.70m - Amy also recorded a pb. In the javelin with 26.33m. Our final winner was Monica Malagala taking the under 15`s discus title with 32.31m. It was indeed a busy two days for Monica as second spot was claimed in the shot put with 12.82m, whilst also contesting  the hammer here being fifth with 39.42m. Maddison Poulter took part in these three events and also added the javelin event to her itinerary but with her best placing of fourth just missed out on a spot on the podium. Back to the track and Sienna Shipton after a second place in her heat with 2m 18.07s improved her personal best to 2m13.82s again in second place. Lottie Wilkin 2m 18.92s in her heat also improved in the final with 2m 17.97s for sixth  place. Over the 300 metre distance newcomer to the club ranks Jorjia March in the under 15 age group  ran 41.79s in her heat for second and it was the same placing in the final as she recorded 40.51s. There were pb`s for Isla Kehoe of 2m 31.82s from the under 13s 800m, from Stephen Adesina with 6.57m in the under 17`s long jump, Erin Kelly under 15 year, placed fourth in the 1500 metres - an event which saw Lily Sanford set her pb. Shindra Aya-Adeyeme , under 13 girls 100m and hurdles, Mason Sanford, another 13 year old and Chelsea Clarke, under 15, in 100 and hurdles were others putting in good performances and just missing out on the limelight.      

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.