Published: 24 September, 2015
by STEVE BARNET

YOU’D be mistaken for thinking that the men’s team representing the Highgate Harriers raced around Aldershot at such great speeds on Sunday that their clothes flew off! 

However, it was all part of the club’s uncon­trollable celebrations after they were crowned kings of the south following an impressive victory on the open road. Tackling a 6,000m course each, Robel Bahelbi, Chris Rainsford, Danny Russell, Andy Maud, Audun Nordtveit and Shaun Dixon ran their hearts out to guide Highgate to victory in the Southern Six Stage Road Relay Championships. 

Bahelbi got the club off and running as he recorded his best ever road relay leg to finish the first part of the race in sixth place with a time of 18 minutes, 27 seconds. 

Rainsford took the team up to fourth place with his time of 18:36, before Russell exploded into the lead on lap three with his time of 18:26. Maud clocked Highgate’s fastest run as he whizzed around in 17:57, a lead that club-mate Nordtveit successfully protected with his time of 18:16. 

Anchor Shaun Dixon led the team home with his time of 18:32 as Highgate finished first out of a field of 79 clubs with a combined time of 1:50:14 to win the Southern Six Stage Road Relay Championships for the first time since 1990. 

Highgate’s ‘B’ team of Jonathan Laybourn, Ben Noad, Ben Pochee, Brahma Pochee, Peter Hawkings and Fergal Smithwick combined their efforts to finish 13th overall. Having secured a top 25 finish, it means the club will now have two sides competing in the National Six Stage Road Relay Championships on October 3. 

• Highgate Harriers men’s team clothes in on the title, or is that clothes off? From left, Robel Bahelbi, Chris Rainsford, Danny Russell, Andy Maud, Audun Nordtveit and Shaun Dixon