Weekly Update - 12th Aug. 2026

Southern Athletic League, Hemel Hempstead (Sat. 8th Aug.)

At the final Southern Athletics League match of the season, it was all to play for, reports Mick Bond. We were top of the division after three matches, but up against the teams who were second and third and with only two to get promoted, we knew we had to finish in the top two otherwise would miss out. It was nip and tuck all afternoon between ourselves, home club Dacorum AC and name sakes Cambridge and Coleridge.

We knew the first part of the day we would be strong but with gaps in the team in the latter stages any lead would shrink, and so it panned out with a ten point lead changing to us being six points down on C&C and level with Dacorum with only 4 events to be scored

With people filling into cover both mixed 4x4 teams and good final results in the Men’s Triple jump, Discus and steeplechase however we did enough to secure second place and actually end up just 1.5 points behind Cambridge and Coleridge and 19 points ahead of Dacorum.

A big thank you form Team Managers Mick Bond and Duncan Hope to everyone who has turned out at the four fixtures, to everyone who has added points by officiating and to everyone who has stepped in to cover where they might not have wanted to!

SAL Division One watch out here we come.

Thames Meander Marathon, Barnes / Richmond (Sun. 9th Aug.)

Sunday’s Thames Meander Marathon ran as two 13.1-mile out-and-back loops along the Thames Path, starting from Small Profit Dock Gardens in Barnes and heading upriver to the turnaround at the Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts, Richmond, before retracing the route — twice, writes Christian Poulton.

What started as a pleasant riverside run turned into a proper battle as the temperature climbed through the morning. I went through halfway feeling comfortable and on schedule, but the heat took its toll over the final 10km and it became an exercise in damage limitation to the line.

Still, there was plenty to be pleased with: 15th overall, in 3:39:33, from a field of 124 , and first in the Vet Male 60+ category — a decent day’s work on a course that always measures a touch long by the watch.