A Class act at English Schools.

What must be the most waited meeting for any young athlete has to be qualification for the English Schools Championships, this season staged in Birmingham and we certainly had a fair share competing here  -  seventeen in numbers.

THE FIVE STAR AWARD can only go to Joshua Babalola (pictured) who took the under 15 boys hammer event apart winning with a very impressive 57.85 metres, some seven metres beyond his nearest rival. Incredibly this was only his 8th meeting, only two last season and that second one was to be second place in these schools championships.  Oh -  by the way his best and on reported stands at 58.31m set a week earlier at Stoke on Trent in the English Schools T&F Cup Final.

Of course there were other outstanding performances that saw places on the rostrum gained, Alastair Brown in the Senior Boys age group placed second in the shot put with 14.99m, whilst also in the shot third places came to Jeremy Anderson, under 15 boys, with 14.43m and to Monica Malagala, under 15 girls with 12.45metres. The top five in the under 17 girls shot all came up with pb`s Matilda Hewitt only just outside her best with13.45m placed sixth.

Sticking to the field events, often forgotten with the track usually drawing more attention, there was another very good performance coming from Amelie Scott to take second place in the under 17`s triple jump with a personal best of 11.59m. In the under 20`s pole vault Jack Hughes placed 4th with 4.20m, whilst Sam Wright clearing a very good clearance of 7.17m, in the long jump placing 5th.

And so to the track and let’s start with the personal best from Ezra Harrold of 2m 10.77s for her second place in the 800m- this after a 2m 11.38s and second spot in her heat. These at under 15 level. Moving to the under 17`s and Jacob Hurrell with 3m 57.34s for the 1500m also took second - after placing first in his heat with 3mb59.85s. There was third place for Will Steadman in both heat and final of the under 20`s  800 metres with clockings of 1m 53.17s and 1m 55.63s. Another of our athletes coming up with a pb Sophie Catchpole, clocked 44.46s for the 300m hurdles -after a time of in her heat 44.63s. Ruby Vinton made the final of the under 20`s 1500m and clocked 4m 36.55s, over the hurdles Josephine Walsh and Chelsea Clarke contested the 75m event with times of 11.71s and 11.70s respectively whilst Ed Hughes, 58.49s, and Daniel Brown 58.56s, were  in the 400 hurdles for the under 17 boys.

Of interest - if you do not succeed at first, try again, Daley Thompson tackled the 200 metres in these championships 50 years ago - placing 4th. The next year he won that event.  Of course it`s well documented that 1984 - yes 40 years ago - he  took the Olympic title - a goodly number of SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS have gone on to be Olympians.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

A Very low Turnout but a Gutsy Display From our Vets.

The EMAC ( Eastern Masters AC ) league comprises of separate men & women teams ( V35+, V50+ & V60+) with 4 matches run in the evenings over the summer. After the 4 matches are completed, the first two clubs in each of the 3 divisions, automatically make the final & the best two 3rd places also make the one day final.

Friday night 5th July saw CAC vets team compete in the pouring rain for the 2nd of four EMAC league matches, but an enthusiastic competition nevertheless, even though the pole vault was cancelled due to admin problems.

Men's team: disappointing last position leaves us now 4th & much to do if we are to get back up to 2nd place to make the final. With only 10 men competing, the low turn-out left gaps that was only filled by older athletes dropping down to younger age group like Peter Tullett, to enable David Butler & Stuart Bazley to gain more points in their age groups. Roger Skedd as usual was the biggest points winner with 5 events done, Dave Bauer won both his throws events, I played my part in the throws. We welcomed Carl Paxman & Geoff Keily to the team & they filled in some of the gaps. Gerry Daniel injured himself in the long jump, but bravely ran in the relay to help the team be able to run both relays. Amr Ziko about to get married in his native Egypt, he will miss the last two matches, (he didn’t think his future wife would appreciate to get married close to Thurrock for our matches), so will pose sprint & relay problems for those matches. 

Ladies team: Only 4 athletes, the normally strong CAC ladies team is no where to be seen this year! Caroline Horden did her best to win as many events as possible with a total of 30 points, Clare St John Coleman 22 points, new member Jemma Spellacy won the shot, 2nd in javelin for 15 points & Nicola Hewitt in three events 20 points. What would have been the result with say 10 ladies present?

​Filling all events is key to success, so numbers competing, especially V60+ is crucial  (rules allow elder athletes to perform in younger age group, but not visa versa ). 

Finally, a HUGE thanks to the officials who came, Geoff Reed, David Hewitt, David Barnett & Malcolm Potter. Without them we have no matches.

If you want to join the CAC masters team in the EMAC league either 1st claim or 2nd claim from another club, 

contact: Geoff TYLER  on tylergeoff@aol.com

Report written by Geoff TYLER​ CAC team manager for men & ladies.

Miles of Miles, Should be Miles of Smiles.

Yes a successful venture with 175 athletes contesting the range of age groups from under 11`s to veterans. A further 21 competed in the 10,000 metre event - including 15 for the Essex Championship.

Starting with the under 11 year races and there was a victory for Dylan Law from the Chelmsford Junior Endurance  Under 11 Club. Dylan`s time for the mile 5m 26.26s with an intermediate time for 1500m of 5m 06.64s. In the girls Leilla Robinson clocked 5m 46.51 and 5m 25.60s coming through for third place. It was an excellent turnout from the Junior Endurance Club which should feature well for CAC in the future.

Moving to the under13`s and Isla Kehoe set a pb for the 1500m of 5m 11.86s on route to the mile of 5m 33.11s placing fourth - note here that an entry came as far away as Liverpool.  In the boys race Mason Sanford came a winner with times of 4m 45.53s and 5m 09.49s.

Such was the standard in the under 15 girls event we had to be content with third spot - with other placings following on. Erin Kelly (5m 04.15s) was followed over the finishing line by Ava King (5m 05.18s), LILY Sanford (5m 11.10s) and Francesca Philips (5m 20.82s) A second race saw Isabelle Eida & Hetty Harrison well to the fore. Isabelle`s times of 5m 05.48 and 5m 27.02s were both pb`s with Hetty on 5m 05.72 and 5m 24.95s close by.

In the under 15 boys Jacob Parrott took the win with his 4m 31.45 and 4m 54.62s whilst Luke Webb placed 5th.

At under 17 level we had two winners, Sienna Shipton with 4m 46,9s and 5m 15.08s and  Jacob Hurrell who set a pb with his 3m 55.59s and 4m 14.12s. A further win came from the senior men with Joseph Perry`s 4m 00.61s and 4m15.70s, with the second place spot going to Callum Charleston. Rebecca Quinlan just missed out on top spot in the women`s event, timed at 4m 47.08s and 5m 07.77s with Kayleigh Atkinson close up on 4m 54.21s and 5m 19.75s.

So a good day for the athletes, and very satisfactory for the organizers, No there was no takers of the prize offered for a first four minute mile on Essex soil - all likely contenders for this would have been at the UK trials seeking selection for the Olympics. Maybe next year !!!        

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Gallery 3                     

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft