No Win at Winchester for our SAL Team.

It has most certainly been a disappointing end of the season for our senior team in their Southern League campaign. Second at Norwich in match one, first at home in match two and then fifth place matches three and four. Yes both these fell in the holiday season and we have missed vital members in both of these meetings proving that we do not have the depth in numbers that the larger clubs can call upon.

It was thought to be a formality for TVH to take the win and ensure their taking the league title which Chelmsford had won in 2023, but with only 33 points parting the remaining five clubs every placing was vital. Strong events for the men were the 400 metre hurdles in which full points came Archie Simms and Bradley Reed winning the `A` and `B` string races. Likewise in the hammer throw with Oliver Graham and Yasha Bobash taking the honours, Oliver`s performance of 60.29 metres was to give him man of the match acclaim. Indeed for CAC he was already their man accumulating 18 points as he contested all four throwing events. Nathan Bushnell`s return to competition was very welcome with a third place in the shot and second in the discus. Back to the track and newcomer Tom Rehal started off by setting a personal best time of 8m 45.7s for second spot in the 3000 metres - and paving the way for Zach Bridgeland to win the `B` string. These also paired up for vital points in the 1500 metres. Under 17 year James Becker, second in 100 and third over 200, was again showing his promise against strong opposition. Sadly however there were events in which we may have expected a strong showing but fell way short. In the high jump with athletes capable of two metres full points would have been taken - instead it was just one. Here the holiday season was most notable.

From the women's events and again it was the throws bringing about the best results with Jess and Maegan Hopkins taking full points from the shot putt and then placing second in both strings of the discus. Matilda Hewitt recorded a pb in the javelin with 32.33 metres. Grace Trammelling was a mere one centimetre from here best in the long jump. On the track Sienna Shipton with 57.78s set a pb for the 400 metres as indeed did Hannah Bolton in the 1500m – this after tacking second place in the steeplechase with Molly Drane also second in the `B` string. There were also two second places from the 800 metres with 15yr old Lottie Wilkin and Molly Drane. Rosie Townley with hurdles, high jump and javelin was an example of team spirit but still there were unfilled spots in the results. 

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft                             

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.      

More Pics can be found here.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.

NAL Cup Triumph for our Seniors.

Well, we missed out on the National League promotion match when short of athletes at the final meeting but then at short notice found we were included in a cup match at Bedford which involved four clubs from our Eastern region plus four from each of the North, South and West. And what a great result it brought for C A C, victory on 273 points ahead of hosts Bedford and Nott's on 241, with Herts Phoenix 235, Herne Hill 178, Bournemouth 162 and Kingston 149 following on.

There was a welcome return to our team for Onyeka Okoh and he responded with double success taking both the 400 metre hurdles and 400 flat events. Another athlete missing in earlier meetings was Thomas Hewes and he brought about another win via the high jump with a seasons best. From the throwing events there was a double success for ever present Kevin Wilson with wins in the shot and discus whilst also picking up valuable points in the javelin. Add in another first place for Oliver Graham in the hammer it will be seen how the throws were boosting the points tally. Second place for Sam Wright with his seasons best of 6.74m in the long jump but it was a personal best for Rhys Collings over the 110m hurdles event of 16.15s which brought him across the finishing line in second spot. Further seconds from the sprints via James Becker, from Luke Oliver over 800 metres, from Will Steadman in the 1500m whilst Joseph Perry set a pb in the 3000m. going under the 9 minute barrier.

From the women's side it was a case of solid team work through out.  Grace Tremelling came up with two personal triumphs of 9.31m for a pb in the triple jump -whilst also setting a seasons best in the long jump. Charlotte Graham took second place in the discus also contesting the shot javelin and hammer aiding our points tally. On the track Etty Sisson 400m. And Jodie Judd 1500m both took second places. Hannah Bolton placed third over the 800m then over the 3000m finished 4th. Zion Ateba tackled three events, the high jump with 1.58m gave a share of the lead whilst both the 100m and 400m hurdles races fourth place was gained.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft