Champions (top), Ben Noad No 39 (left), the boys celebrate their win (below),  
(far right) John McKeane, (inset) Duncan Burbidge and Audun Nordveit

Published: 13 February 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

A TRUE team of heroes led Highgate Harriers to one of the most successful silverware hauls in the club’s history on Saturday when they scooped no fewer than five trophies in a bonanza of a cross-country meet.

Highgate were crowned senior men’s and women’s division one champions in the ATW Metropolitan League, widely considered to be the toughest cross-country league in the country.

They also won the Howard Williams Trophy for their combined team results in the senior men’s and women’s league. The success didn’t stop there, however, with The Gate also winning the senior women’s ‘B’ team division two championship and, with it, promotion to the top flight. The club also won the combined boys’ Under-15s and Under-17s league.

Held at Wormwood Scrubs, all of Highgate’s 12 scorers in the senior men’s race finished inside the top 51 places out of a field of 362 finishers.

Audun Nordveit (inset), dubbed the “Charming Norwegian”, just missed out on first place as he finished the 8,000m course in 24 minutes, 41 seconds to take second spot.

Highgate’s other scorers were Ben Noad, who was ninth, Chris Rainsford, 15th, Robel Bahelbi, 24th, Henry Dodwell, 27th, Ryan McKinlay, 29th, Jonny Laybourn, 30th, Ben Pochee, 39th, Duncan Burbidge, 44th, John McKeane, 45th, Andrew Lawrence, 48th, and Tom Christopher, 51st.

Their combined efforts helped Highgate retain the title which they won last year for the first time since 1966.

Becky Penty led the Highgate contingent home in the senior women’s race as she finished the 6,000m course in a time of 26.22 to take third place. Out of a field of 150 finishers, Ashley Scott, 10th, Alex Gounelas, 11th, Hannah Vine, 13th, Katie Meredith, 14th, and Emma Dixon, 19th, all scored valuable points for the Harriers.

Proving that the club has a bright future, Highgate also captured the boys’ Under-15s and Under-17s junior title for the first time in living memory.

Among the top runners were Terry Fawden, Joshia Mills, Dempster Fawden, Alastair Sleeman, Adam Stewart, Arnold Harrison and Filip Bastian.