Consistency the key for CAAC track heroes

And so the curtain fell on another Men's League season today at a sunny yet blustery Grangemouth Stadium where a healthy squad of CAAC athletes showed what they were made of, turning out in force to take 3rd place on the day and in the process clinch 3rd spot in the league at the expense of Whitemoss.

From the ignominy of a 6th place finish at the opening match of the season at Aberdeen consistency and some fine performances saw CAAC overhaul both Clydesdale and Fife while bearing down on Whitemoss and eventually toppling them at the eleventh hour. 2nd, 4th and today's 3rd place finishes bore testimony to what we can do with a fuller squad.

Part of the success of today's result was down to filling 26 out of the 32 places available and it was great to see such a healthy looking squad.  Mind you it didn't look healthy for long after Dermot Cummins, enjoying some end of season shenanigans by doing a spot of High Jump, decided to head-butt one of the stanchions and left the event with blood running down the side of his face.  Nevermind, he was still smiling and had already done enough for a 3rd B finish in the event cleaning 1.55m.  A quick trip to the Falkirk Infirmary minor injuries unit saw him patched up (with glue that looked more like we'd stopped in atB&Q for a tube of clear silicone) and returned to the fray in time to be involved in a fantastic 5000m race in which he set a new club record of 15:00.00.  He followed that up by anchoring the the 4 x 400m team to victory in the last event of the day coasting down the ome straight with time to look over his shoulder and brandish the baton in a victory salute well before the finish line.  Yes, it's fair to say that for the 2nd mathc running Dermot was the athlete of the day for CAAC.

In addition to those two victories CAAC had a further six 1st places (Fraser Scott, 1500m; Dave Singleton, TJ; Paddy Jumelle, B200m; Callum McKenzie, B400m; Bry Clark, B5000m; and Steven O'Brien making his return to the track in the B1500m), and backed those up with three 2nd's (Paddy Jumelle, 400m; Scott Pilkington, 800m; and Dave Singleton, HJ) and three 3rd's (Callum McKenzie, B800m; Dave Patton, LJ; and the 4 x 100m team).

All points scored got us where we ended up though and making up the team were sterling efforts from Stephen Milne and Dave Law in the throws and Ciaran Johnston  in the sprints.  Sadly it wasn't so successful a debut for new boy Ainslie Chinembiri, drafted into the team only days before the match, as he fell foul of the new IAAF ruling of one false start and you're out.  He hadn't raced for a good few years so could be forgiven for being a bit start rusty.  However, some swift negotiations drafted Ainslie into the guest 100m where he showed why we hope he becomes a regular for the team next season with an 11.34s run.

Our able officials on the day, Mike and Eileen Clerihew, Fiona Squires and John Ross were once again champion in the field.

So that's it.  The track season is finished for another season.  My report card inevitably reads "could do better" although definitely NOT "must try harder".  Thanks to all those who have turned out this year and made it a worthwhile league to be a part of.  We've missed some big names this year and I hope next year I've got some tough decisions to make on who to leave out rather than scrabbling for people to put in!  Dave Singleton can already smell promotion next year and if I'm not mistaken, I think he might be right!