C&C made more Club history in April: https://cambridgeandcoleridge.org.uk/bronze-at-english-road-running-relays/

Having missed out on a podium place by just 1 second in 2024, this year our Senior Men took bronze at the National 12 stage Road Relays. The club’s progress at this event since 2012 makes interesting reading:

2012 – 46th

2013 – 52nd

2014 – 43rd

2015 – 27th

2016 – 27th

2017 – 21st

2018 – 24th

2019 – 17th

2020/21 – no competition

2022 – 19th

2023 – 16th

2024 – 4th

2025 – 3rd.

This year, two C&C men’s teams turned out, and the B team came 26th, which is our 8th best performance as an A team!

Our ladies 6-stage team (pictured below) also came a highly creditable 16th. A excellent base to build on for future years.

Well done to all coaches, runners, and team managers in helping to bring about these excellent results.

The first Arkwright 5k took place in April at Histon. The club had an incredible turn-out of 89 runners! Two years ago we had a team of 63 at this event, and I remember thinking then that that was amazing! In the 24 months since we have added another 26 to the team! Remarkable! Well done to all that were there. The great thing about this league is that every single one of us counts, so you all played your part in bringing about a great start to the series for the club. 

Our EYAL teams made a good solid start to the season on 13th April at Cambridge. It was so great to see some of our youngsters competing for C&C for first time, and really giving their all for the the club. Similarly, at the EAL event on 27th. The facility was packed with both athletes and spectators in what was a magnificent day for athletics. It’s quite a sight when you take a look around and see so much going on all at once across the track and field events. However, thanks to all the organisational work put in beforehand, and all the efforts of our wonderful team of officials on the day, everything runs so well. I really can’t say this often enough, but the club, and it’s athletes, have so much to be grateful to all these volunteers for. 

Similarly with the Cambourne 10k. This was also held on 13th April, and again, thanks to all the work of C&C’s team of race organisers, it all went really well. The race attracted the highest number of runners for many years, which was great to see. Again, well done to all involved. Another fantastic effort on behalf of the club.

At the EAL on 27th, many of us were also trying to keep an eye on how our many C&C runners were doing at the London marathon. It was a hot day, far from ideal for distance running. My wife was down there standing near the finish. When she came home that evening her voice was hoarse from shouting for her friends, and for every C&C runner that went flying passed! She even got those around her in the crowd to cheer for the club! Apparently C&C got lots of mentions over the speakers.  

Despite the difficult conditions, our first 3 men home were inside 2:24; Jonathan Escalante-Philips – 2:19.39, Jack Nixon – 2:20.06, and Josh Carr – 2:23.29. For the ladies Holly Archer ran 2:39.45, and Jo Coley and Alessandra Serra were both under the 3 hour mark with times of 2:57.28 and 2:59.51 respectively. Holly’s time puts her second in the Ladies all-time club marathon rankings.

In the Manchester marathon, our frame runner, Claire Howard, did a fantastic time of 3:08.27. What an absolutely outstanding performance in her first ever marathon! 

I’m sure that many any other stories will emerge, as I am writing this just the day after the events, but congratulations to all of our C&C marathon runners. 

Coming up in May, a very busy month for T&F. We have the County Championships at Peterborough on 10th. the first SAL of the season, also at Peterborough, on 17th, and before those, the first EMAC match of the season, at Kings Lynn on Wednesday 7th.  

Later in the month there are the second round of matches in the EYAL (Ware, 18th May), and EAL (Colchester, 25th May). 

This, therefore, is a really key month. Performances and results in May can act as a spring-board for the rest of the season. We have a few new team managers as well this season, so please help and support them as much as you can. Let’s fill those teams! 

Good luck to all those competing in the County Champs. We hope to see lots of new County Champions for 2025!

Finally, as you may have already seen here  https://cambridgeandcoleridge.org.uk/fitness-assessment/  as a C&C member you can now book a fitness assessment at ARU for a discounted rate. The picture below shows club legend, Charlie Wartnaby, having a lab. test done, which no doubt showed remarkable fitness scores!

Have a fantastic month. Here’s a little quote for you;

“Ship’s are safe in the harbor, but it’s not what they’re built for”. 

Let’s get out there and compete this month, and make some moments to remember…..