Saturday saw Chelmsford Athletic Club host a Southern men's double meeting at Basildon, and this was the last meeting that was needed to be held outside the borough as the old Melbourne Stadium did not meet the required standard needed by the various leagues in which they participate.

Now refurbished, the new Melbourne Stadium is such that the Essex AAA are looking at the venue for next year's County Championships.

The meeting on Saturday did not get off to a good start with either team unable to take advantage of a 'home fixture' and finishing in fourth place out of the five competing teams.

Guildford won the event with 140 points. Aldershot finished second with 116 points, Cambridge had 101 points, Chelmsford 95 points and Serpentine 75 points.

In the Division Six match, Newton Abbots long journey from South Devon did not prevent them from winning the meeting with 132 points.

Peterborough were second with 112 points, Chelmsford third on 109, Weymouth fourth with 104, and Southend who had the shortest of journeys, ended up with just 60 points.

On June 5, Chelmsford AC will be hosting a double Southern men's meeting, at Melbourne Park.

Among other clubs competing will be Met Police, Brighton, Tonbridge and Ealing.

Many past members had looked forward to these much improved facilities and current members invite them to attend this fixture as a "grand reunion".

Refreshments will be provided.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.