There is a children's ditty, The wheels of the bus go round and round, round and round all.... For our seniors unfortunately the last two league matches it`s changed to a 1965 song by the New Minstrels - Three Wheels on my wagon.
In the National League there were hopes of a second place in the table and edge out Havering for a place in the final at Bedford. These hopes were dashed as we slipped to fourth place behind Shaftesbury 622, Havering 500 and Herts. Phoenix 487 with our 455. Never the less some fine performances were put in. Paul Grange again over the 800 metres ran 1m 57.79s for second place with Joe Abbott taking first in the `B` race on 2m 01.45s. Moving up to the 1500m Ben Felton came up with a pub of 4m 03.18s - this after winning the 3000m in a season`s best of 8m 49.30s. Maximum points were gained in the 110m hurdles via Rhys Collings and Luke Keteleers - Rhys a pb of 16.74s. Sam Wright in both long and high jump with support from Temil Johnson-Alo and Charlie Pyner ensured that good points were gained here whilst Kevin Wilson contested all four throwing events.
On the ladies side Etty Sisson making her debut finished third in the 400 - paving the way for Georgia Tombs to take the second string in 59.90s. Georgia also contested the 100 and 200 metres. Ruby Vinton and Hannah Bolton each placed second in their 800m races Hannah later coming up with a pb of 5m 33.88s in the steeplechase. It was the throws bringing the best rewards however with Jess Hopkins winning the shot putt and second in the discus, sister Maegan placed second in the shot and Charlotte Graham second in the discus.
Just a week later and it was into a Southern League fixture in which clearly Windsor would be stern opposition. As it turned out with 289 points they were pushed by the hosts Medway with 279 with Norwich on 258, Woking 232, Chelmsford 185 and Basingstoke 133. After the earlier season results CAC still occupy fifth place in the table.
From the men's sprints James Becker continued with excellent form setting a pb of 22.19s for the 200 metres. An early event, the 800 metres, brought full points from Luke Oliver (1m 57.54s) and Jacob Alexander ((2m 01.63s). Jacob was to go on and record pb`s in the 400m hurdles and steeplechase taking the `B`string honours after Joseph Grange won the event in 10m 09.0s for his own pb. It was full points also in the 1500m with Paul Grange and Ben Felton leading the way home, Ben also won over the longer distance of 5000 metres. Rhys Collings improved on his best set the previous week with 16.14s over the 110 metre hurdles. Kevin Wilson and Yasha Bobash picked up full points from the shot putt and valuable points in the other throwing events.
On the women's side Lottie Wilkin placed third in the 800 metres with Daisy Stollery (2m 17.37s) having her best time when winning the `B` result. Lucy Nuttall third in the 1500m put in her best time whilst in the triple jump Grace Tremelling also achieve this. Charlotte Graham first in the discus and second in hammer also contested the shot and javelin. With these performances one most wonder how come so far away in the team result. Well unfortunately there were many events that we failed to put out competitors. From our early season turn outs we have missed what must be considered our star performers and as we rely on many under 17`s with schools events and now escalated by the holiday period we find that we do not have the back up of numbers as the likes of Windsor who flooded the events with non-scorers.
As they say `things can only get better'.
NAL gallery here
SAL gallery here
Report written by Roy Meadowcroft