As predicted, May was a very busy month, but a good one for C&C, with some fine team, and individual, performances.
Let’s begin with T&F.
In the EYAL match at Ware on 18th May, we came 5th. This followed-on from our 3rd place finish in the first match, so we are now in 10th position overall out of 21 teams in the League. To reach the Plate final, as we did last year, we need to hold this position, or maybe even push-on a little, so let’s try and have a nice big team turn-out at Colchester on 15th June. Well done so far, keep it going!
With the EAL, results so far we are showing good consistency and after two matches we are hovering around the top 3 positions across the age groups. This is really good, so let’s keep this going at the 3rd match, at Peterborough on 6th July.
The first SAL match of the new season was at Peterborough, and we got off to a good solid start. After holding 2nd place for much of the day, we narrowly slipped to 3rd place, but that’s still a place up on the first match of last season. Overall in the league we are currently 9th out of 18 teams. The next match is at Thurrock on 22nd June. At this fixture last year, we had a disappointing time, coming last out of the 6 teams on the day. We have “unfinished business” here therefore! Let’s really try put this right by filling the teams and having a really good turn-out. If we can put in a solid performance at this one, the next fixture, on 13th July, is on our home track. We won our home match last year, so a good performance at Thurrock, with the home match to follow, could see us in a good position.
Our Masters team in the EMAC league also got off to a good start at King’s Lynn. We can really look to build on that with our home match at Cambridge coming up on Wednesday 4th June.
Well done to everyone that has competed across the leagues so far this season, in some cases for first time on the track. It’s daunting, but you did it, so give yourselves a pat on the back for doing so!
Congratulations to all that took part at the County Championships too. The day saw many C&C athletes becoming County Champions, and many more winning medals. It was another great day of competition, and it was wonderful to see the C&C disability group strongly represented there too https://cambridgeandcoleridge.org.uk/county-champs-10th-may-2025/
Let’s not forget that May was also a very busy month for our Team managers and officials. A big “Thank You” to all of them, we are so grateful for all of your efforts.
The second Arkwright League match at Ely saw another massive C&C turn-out, and another wonderful team success. Six of the first ten men home were from the club, and three of the first five Ladies. The next race is at Newmarket on 5th June.
Many of C&C’s finest athletes are absolutely flying at the moment!
Jack Nixon had a day to remember when he won the Helsinki marathon recently in a time of 2:25.17. The race finished in the old Olympic stadium, and it was pure joy for Jack with family looking on. At moments like this all that hard work in training becomes so worthwhile! Congratulations Jack!
At the Comeback 5k at Battersea, three C&C men, Callum Elson, Jack Gray and Ollie Newman, broke 14 minutes (13:35, 13:51 and 13:57, respectively) Three more, Nathan Mapperley, Isaac Morgan and Mathew Morgan broke 15 minutes (14:09, 14:55 and 14:57, respectively). Two of our Ladies, Emily Rainne and Bea Wood were just over 16 minutes, with times of 16:08, and 16:11 respectively.
Tom Bridger ran a 1500m PB of 3:38:97. For the first time in one season the club has 3 athletes that have run under the 3:40, and there could still be a couple more to join them!
Tom Keen has another big race coming up on Friday 30th. It’s a World Athletics Gold meeting in Poland, and Tom will be running in the 1500m. We wish him the very best of luck!
You may have already seen messages about this – the club is once again gearing up for the annually Round Norfolk Relay. C&C has a long and illustrious history in the event, this year will be the club’s 18th appearance! The event will be held on 13th-14th September. For more info., or to get involved, email: [email protected]
Finally, we have experienced quite a large influx of new members to the club over recent months. This is great news. Don’t forget, we were all new members once, so if you see any new faces at sessions, or at races, let’s do our best to make them feel at home.
However big or successful we become as a club, we must never lose that friendliness or team spirit, or that feeling of pride every time we put on the white vest with the two blue hoops.
Have a wonderful June. Whatever your aims or challenges are this month, I wish you every success.