Hilly Fields Proved to be no Obstacle for our Athletes.

With six team wins out of six Chelmsford dominated the young athletes results at the third fixture of the Essex Cross Country League fixture on Colchester`s Hilly Field courses.

The under 13 girls headed the way as Isla Kehoe and Beatrix Cooke took the first two places whilst newcomer to the ranks Hattie Blackburn placed fourth and Jessica Hobson 9th giving a points score of only 16  against the 21 of the S S Club, Zenobia Williams finishing 14th was very handily placed as a back up to the scorers. With the boys, despite missing Mason Sanford who was winning at an Eastern Association meeting at Bury St Edmunds, a tally of 33 points gave an advantage of five over closest rivals. Our squad were led by Joshua Dalton in third with spot with Thomas Burgoyne 5th, Sebastian Cook 8th and James Pollard17th all scoring but close by came Daniel Smith 18th and Charlie Jackson 20th.

No doubt about as to the winners in the under 15 girls as the first three past the post wore the green and gold. Francesca Phillips was closely followed by Izzy Eida and Amelie Shipton and with Chloe Haycock 16th the tally of 22 points gave an advantage of eight over Basildon. We also had Stephanie Smith 20th and Lily Hartman 22nd in the top half of the field.

An individual winner from the under 15 boys in Jacob Parrott. Joseph Delaney 5th, Fred Ferman 7th and Daniel Pollard a score of 23 points with Basildon (30 points) second as with the girls race. Khaya Fakazi completed our runners  placing 25th.

There was another individual win from Jacob Hurrell in the under 17 men repeating his success in the first meeting. With only three scoring at this age level Austin Kelly 5th and Thomas Carter 8th wrapped up the team result.

To the under 17 women and with Jessica Walker 4th, Emma Cox 6th and Katie Cox 14th gave a further win over Basildon.

With the senior women team our 50 points were to put us behind Havering 41 and Colchester Harriers on 44. Megan Williams was our leading runner being 4th followed by Lucy Nuttall 12th, Rachael Broome 13th and veteran Wendy King 21st. Our other competitors were Sophie McCall 34th and Anna Nuttall 38th.

To the senior men and alas with only five runners we were to relinquish our top spot in league two. It was a complete veteran turnout with David Fewell 20th, Will Parrott 71st, Nick Hunter 85th, Peter Tullett 160th and Mick Bridgeland 208th.

Not part of the league  races for the under 11 age group continue to draw good numbers. The girls have seen the same two heading the result with Lianne Esterheysen (Brentwood) and our Leila Robinson well to the fore with the boys. Bela Kehoe 6th, Olivier Bilby 14th, Bailey Kehoe 19th, Nethan Dahanayake 24th and Isabelle Perks 29th were other placings. The boys result went to Dylan Law giving Chelmsford a win with Freddie Blacketer 3rd, Arthur Cooke 9th, Harris Fuller 11th, Jacob Smythes 16th and Henry Ball 22nd.

Regarding league positions  at the current time can mean little for possibility at season end.  As an example in the under 13 girls Chelmsford place ninth with scores of 20,  1  and 1. That 20 was for none attendance at the opening fixture. After the fifth meeting a team has their worst score discounted thus with good pacing's in the remaining meets league titles can be won. As well as teams this same position applies to individuals - i.e. you can miss one race and still place high.     

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

2024 Junior Presentation Evening.

For the  annual presentation evening for the young athletes, the under 13, 15 and 17 year olds the clubhouse was decked very impressively in the club colours and this aptly reflected the performances of our young athletes during the year. There was a buzz about the room as one entered, not just from the youngsters but from parents also as all caught up on news since the last club fixture eight weeks back. The support these parents have given has been appreciated.

No fewer than 34 members appear highly placed in the U K ranking lists - and they show up in a total of 60 events. Perhaps no surprise then that they should retain the EYAL league title and the final cup match. Of course there were other achievements away from club meetings when medals were gained in various championship`s right through to national level. With so many at this level it must have been difficult for team managers in selecting those for the club awards.

Outstanding from the under 13 boys Mason Sanford ranked number 14 in the UK for his 1500 metres whilst given wins for the club at 800 metres and thus he was an obvious choice for the middle distance award. Other boys at this age level had been regular attendees at the league often competing in numerous events. Awards were made to David Brown (sprints), Motiejus Norkus (hurdles), JAMIE Roberts-John (jumps) and Bevan Judd (throws) - his hammer throw ranking 6th in the UK. Max Good, Nathaniel Vickers and Toby Stothard were awarded for their contribution at various disciplines.

From the girls Shindara Ayo-Adeyemo took the jumps award, a real all-rounder Shindara finished the season ranking 14th in the shot and 13th in the pentathlon. Beatrix Cooke with a ranking of 25th over 1500m was awarded the middle distance trophy with Breanna Dosumu (sprints), Maya Colese-Siklodi (hurdles), Maddie Moss (throws), Brooke Nowell, Macie Hall and Orla Martin were rewarded for their contributions as team players.

To the under 15`s and two very outstanding athletes lead the way. Joshua Babalola won titles  with the English schools the number one event - he also ranked number one for the hammer and these efforts now rewarded with thrower of the year. This must have been a close call for Jeremy Andersen was also to rank number one in the UK in the shot putt apart from good ratings in the discus and pentathlon thus his award was now for outstanding performances. The sprint trophy was to go to Zachery Ikharebore,  George Dixon (hurdles), Jake Read (jumps) and Joe Delaney (middle distance). Luke Webb and Jakub Skamla were rewarded for their improvements and outstanding efforts.

For the under 15 girls three awards were easily awarded. That for throws to Monica Malagala who ranks as UK number two in both shot and discus plus number eight in the hammer. Ezrah Harrold who rates at number two over the 800 metres and at six for the 1500m was the obvious choice for the middle distance award whilst the hurdles award went to Chelsea Clarke, an event which gives her a ranking of five - she also rates highly in the triple jump and pentathlon. Amy Pugsley claimed the jumps award, with her second place ranking in the triple jump being her best event although she also appears high amongst the high jump and pentathlon. The sprints award went to Alicja Yalaju  whilst Maddie Poulter, Josephine Walsh and Ava King received recognition for their achievements. It would have been noted from league results all had been consistent competitors.

Such is the standard from the under 17 men all those to receive awards appear highly in those UK rankings. James Becker (sprints), Edward Hughes (hurdles), Charlie Pyner (jumps), Jacob Hurrell (middle distance) and Stephen Adesina (throws). Daniel Brown, Jack Hignett and Oscar Dove  also have placings in those rankings but with the performances of those above lost out on their specific events but performances during the season in club fixtures and championships deserved their awards.         

With the under 17 girls Matilda Hewitt - ranked ninth in shot putt and also appearing in the discus and hammer events was to be the winner of the throws award. Likewise Sophie Catchpole (hurdles) and Amelie Scott (jumps)  and Milana Thorpe with her multi events performances all rank as seventh in the UK.   Olivia Hall (sprints) and Sienna Shipton (middle distance) plus Lucy Bulman  and Sophia Gavrilovic were recognised for outstanding performances by the team manager.

All the above were team manager awards, now long standing club awards followed with Ezrah Harrold and Fred Ferman collecting the 1500 metre trophies for the under 15 age group whilst Monica Malagala and Jeremy Andersen claimed the shot putt trophies.. The Melbourne Park shields were awarded to Harry Marshall and Matilda Hewitt with the trophies for most improved athletes going to Harry Lee and Sophie Catchpole. Finally Jacob Hurrell and Amelie Scott were awarded the trophies as Athletes of the year.

Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft

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CAC Were Flawless at the National XC Relay Champs.

More medals at national level for Chelmsford at the English cross country relays at Mansfield.

It was silver for the under 15 girls whilst both the under 13`s and under 17`s were to come away with bronze.

Worthy of mention -  all ten races were to see Chelmsford being involved and I cannot remember this having been accomplished before at this level of competition.

Starting with the lower age  Isla Kehoe on the opening stage ran a time of 8m 04s coming through in fourth spot. Orla Martin (8m 24s) now gained one place which Beatrix Cooke (8m08s) retained to the finishing line.

With the under 15 girls it was to be second place throughout with Ezrah Harrold timed at 7m 25, Ava King 7m 38s and Jorjja March 7m 25s. It was a remarkable  performance from the `B` team to place 7th with Erin Kelly (7m 54s), Lily Sanford (7m 57s) and Francesca Phillips (7m 58s). Hetty Harrison (8m 30s) and Amelie Shipton (8m 11s) were in 30th spot  after the second stage for a `C` team but without a third member  progressed no further.

For the under 17`s Lottie Wilkin with 9m 04s completed the opening stage in 8th place with Daisy Stollery on 9m 05s improving to third spot which was to be retained by Sienna Shipton (9m 27s). Niamh Roberts and Jessica Walker had started for a `B`team and were in the top half of the field of 66 teams at close of second lap.

At under 20 level two teams completed the event Larna Morgan (10.17), Ruby Vinton (8.48) and Kezia Beaton (9.40) finished in 15th place whilst The `B`team led by Lucy Nuttall who had come through ahead of the `A` team with her    9m 40s were to finish 26th with Molly Drane (10.39) and Sophie McCall (10.43) completing the team.

To the senior women with Megan Harris (10.17), Teagan Rayner (12.19) and veteran Wendy King (12.59) a final placing of 33rd in a field exceeding the hundred can be seen as a positive for they had notable names missing.

The senior men also without normal selections but from the 164 teams starting out there 48th place may be considered satisfactory with Tom Rehal (16.15), Ethan Reilly (16.35),David Fewell (17.42) and Sebastian Cirillo (17.50)

From the male side of the club most successful were the under 20`s as Will Steadman (9.08), Joseph Grange (9.09) and Regan Tuck ( 9.02) placed 5th. Good showing from the `B` team of William Nuttall (9.09), Gregory Martin (9.18) and Finn Rattray (9.31) placing 13th and only 50 seconds down on the `A`team.

For the under 17`s Austin Kelly (10.05), Jacob Hurrell (9.01) and Harry Wright (9.49) finished tenth - 92 teams lined up. The under 15`s with Jacob Parrott (7.05), Daniel Pollard (7.33) and Oscar Stollery (8.00) took 29th place.

It might have been tongue in cheek when at the top of this report it was stated Chelmsford were involved in all events but sadly the under 13 boys could only muster one lad, with Mason Sanford completing the first lap in seventh place. Such a shame for it was only last month a trio took the Essex championship title.  

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.