Another year is drawing to it’s close, but what an exciting 12 months it has been! 2024 saw C&C teams winning National titles, and individual members setting National records. We have athletes from 13 to 70+ that have achieved great things from 60m sprints to 24 hour races, not to mention record-breaking throws and jumps. As a club, we can be so proud of what has been achieved in the last year. And it’s not quite over yet, as in the remaining days we still have members competing, and looking to do well in some big races. And don’t forget, after a one year absence, Boxing Day sees the return of the famous and traditional C&C 4 mile race. It’s great to see this old fixture back. Details are on the club website. What an excellent and enjoyable way to burn off those excess Christmas calories!
The 5th January is the Cambridgeshire County Cross Country Championships. Good luck and best wishes to all who have entered. It’s always a fantastic way to start each new year.
The following weekend, Sunday 12th January, sees the 4th race in the Frostbite League. This is turning out to be such an exciting series! The third race, at March, saw another really good C&C turn-out, where we again took 2nd place on the day. So at the series halfway stage, we are laying 2nd overall, but now only 1 point behind the leaders, Hunts. The January race is at Hinchingbrooke Park. This is Hunts home turf, and they will be looking to put some ground between themselves and us. However, it’s also our most local race of the series, so it would be fantastic to have a really good turn-out and push for that top spot! These races are really exhilarating, and if you can run swiftly over the mud in winter, imagine how much more quickly you’ll be able to run on a nice smooth track in the summer! It’s wonderful training! Be there if you can, to help yourself, and the team.
Now, lots of congratulations;
Firstly, to Holly Parker who ran the fastest Women’s Park Run time in the UK on Saturday 14th December. Her time was 16:36, 30 seconds faster than the second placed lady. On the same day, and on the same course (Storeys Field), Ben Jones ran the 6th fastest Men’s time in the UK for that day (15:26).
Also congratulations to coach Mark Vile who was a G.B. Team Manager at the recent European Cross Country Championships in Turkey. After having a great day there, he very unfortunately, developed appendicitis on the way home. Thankfully, I hear that he is now making a good recovery and is getting back to his normal self.
Above – C&C Coach, and now G.B. Team Manager, Mark Vile.
Big congratulations too, to the many C&C members who received awards and recognition at the recent Cambridgeshire County Awards evening, as follows;
Trophy Winners
Shannon Flockhart – 1st in the 1500m at the Morton Games – 4:04
Michael Hausler – 1st M60 Shot Put at the British Master Indoor Champs. – 13.95.
Finn Maclennan – 2nd U15 in the 1500m (4:07.82) at the English Schools.
Leah Wagstaff – 2nd in the U17 60m hurdles (8.61) at the England Indoor Champs.
Aran Peavoy – 7th in the U15 Long Jump at the English Schools.
Alex Melloy – 10th in the World University Short Course Cross Country.
Best Performances
Fiona Adler -U17 Women High Jump – 1.55m
Aran Peavoy – U15 High Jump – 1.65m
Pedro Cuadra – U13 Shot Put – 12.78m
County Colours
Cosmo Benyan, Harriet Clayton, Helene Greenwood, Juliette Hames, Tim Harrison, George Jennings, Adam Johnson, Jenny Leggate, Aedon Lydon, Harrison Pearson, and Kiera Shaw.
Also, very pleasingly, the following received the recognition of winning County Colours for their work as Officials;
Miguel Branco, Carol Darnel, Lisa Teverson and Richard Thurston.
Above – Well deserving winners. From l. to r. – Noel Moss, Richard Thurston, Lisa Teverson and Carol Darnell.
Very well done, and congratulations to all of the above, and also to Wendy Fox, Pamela Abbott, and Noel Moss for all they continue to do, in various roles, for Cambridgeshire Athletics.
Above – Pamela Abbott and Lisa Teverson. The trophy that Pamela is holding is for for the C&C Senior Women’s Winning Team at the County Champs. Pamela played her part by winning the 3k Race Walk.
Finally, if you are still looking for a place in the 2025 Cambridge Half Marathon, the Charity “Childhood First” are offering places. If you are interested check this link: https://www.childhoodfirst.org.uk/cambridge-half/
I hope that you all have a fantastic holiday period. Best wishes for the coming year. Let’s make it another great one for Cambridge and Coleridge A.C.
Exciting times lay ahead. Enjoy every minute of it!