Oh so close…
After gaining promotion back to the top flight this time last year we knew that life in Division One of the Midlands Athletic League was going to be a challenge.
And after the first match in Gloucester where we finished 5th out of 6 we were fully expecting a relegation battle.
However thanks to somewhat of a comeback in the technical match in June – only 8 events such as steeplechase, hurdles, triple jump etc. the events which aren’t usually all that popular, we started to fill nearly every event and the points began to roll in.
A second place finish in Nottingham in July, was followed by another second place in Rugby in August. Suddenly there was an outside chance of winning the title!
It all came down to the final match of the season at Birmingham University on September 9th. We would have to win the fixture and hope that Gloucester could do no better than third.
The BRAT team did their part gaining our first win of the season but unfortunately Gloucester managed to hang onto second place on the day and therefore they became champions for a second successive year whilst the BRAT team had to settle for the runners up spot, just a single point behind.
The final league table –
Gloucester 21
BRAT 20
Notts 18
Rugby 14.5
Bristol 12.5
Cannock 11.5
As team manager, I’d like to thank every athlete, official and volunteer who helped out this season; it has been a long hard battle, especially after the first meeting, but it does show that providing we can get a full team out, we are more than capable of competing at this level – our aim for next season must be to go one better and win the league!
Nigel Clegg
Senior Team Manager
