Published: 14 February, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

Highgate Harriers men’s team (pictured) carved their names in to the history books on Saturday when they guided the club to a glorious victory in the Metropolitan Cross-Country League.

It’s the first time that the Harriers, nicknamed the Gate, have won the title since the competition first started back in 1966.

It was a landslide victory at Moor Park in Northwood as all 12 of the club’s precious point-scorers crossed the finishing line inside the top 42 – from a field of 288 athletes.

Ben Noad, who was the first Harrier home with a time of 30:13 to take fourth place overall, knew exactly what to put the Harriers’ victory down to.
“It was team bonding all the way through,” he said. “It was after the first meeting, when we were a good second to Woodford Green, when things started to come together.”

Hot on Ben’s heels was Tim Gardner, who took eighth place, while Ryan McKinley and Ben Pochee were ninth and 11th respectively.
The points continued to pile up with Richard Scott finishing 17th, Henry Dodwell in 23rd place, Peter Downie 25th, Robel Bahelbi 28th, Fergel Smithwick 30th, John McKeane 33rd, Andrew Lawrence 35th and Nick Gold 42nd.

Harriers capped a magnificent weekend when their ‘B’ team in the league secured promotion after finishing top of the table in Division Three.