City club are on track to be leaders in their field

No sooner does the winter cross country season finish than the busy summer track and field programme will be getting under way for Chichester Runners & Athletics Club.

As with other sports, there is an increasing demand on the timetable to schedule in events and league matches with Chichester’s senior Southern Athletics League squad in action on Saturday April 13, just a week after the Sussex road relays have brought the winter programme to a conclusion.

The seniors have one league match per month going right through to August and will have to fit in county and area championships into the schedule as well as open and invitation meetings.

They open their league fixtures at Down Grange, Basingstoke and will be up against Havant, Poole Runners and City of Portsmouth.

The club will also be represented in both the upper and lower age groups in the National Youth Development League with the under-13s and under-15s the first to be in action at the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth, on Saturday, April 27.

A week later the under-17s and under-20s will kick off their campaign at Walton-onthames on Sunday, May 5.

There are also Sussex League fixtures to look forward to with the under-13 and 15 league providing an ideal opportunity for athletes to gain experience at a more local level.

This time of year is an ideal time for prospective members to get in touch as the club need a whole range of skills for all their teams – including sprinters, hurdlers, distance runners, jumpers, vaulters and throwers in all age groups.

The club go back to summer training headquarters next Monday, April 3, at the University of Chichester with pre-season training and trials taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6pm to 7.30pm.

For more information about the club please contact Phil Baker on email - philbaker5@ btinternet.com.