Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club among prize winners at East Region Volunteer Awards in Bury St Edmunds

There was plenty to celebrate for Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club at the East Region Volunteer Awards in Bury St Edmunds.

The club’s Mo Park won the Community Project of the Year prize as recognition for his work towards the building of a track adjacent to Carver Barracks.

Park, who worked alongside Tina Knight on the project, said: “You don’t often get the opportunity to take something from waste ground to a brand new track and me coaching every week at something I helped to create is great.

“This award is called Community Project of the Year because it was a real community-led project. Without the community coming together it wouldn’t have happened.”

Meanwhile, Noel Moss was one of the recipients of the Services to Athletics and Running accolades.

Moss has held a variety of roles within the club, including coach, team manager, official, kit organiser, event organiser, announcer, membership secretary and co-chairman.

Asked what his stand-out memories have been, Moss said: “My first English Schools’ AA medallist and officiating at the Olympics.

“But judging at the lower level leagues is the most rewarding – you get to see the up and coming youngsters and you are helping them on their way.”

Cambridge & Coleridge also finished runner-up to Werrington Joggers in the Club of the Year award.

President Neil Costello said: “We’ve spent a lot of time ensuring good succession planning – right people in the right places.

“We also improved how we work together as a team – not just officials and coaches but we’re a big club with a huge range of people.”

And club chairman Peter Thompson added: “We have lovely people in the club and they do a wonderful job. They work like people who were paid for it but they do it as volunteers.”