In the high quality Brooks international road race in Armagh on Thursday 14th of February there quite a few personal best times achieved by the Harriers in the men’s 5k. In 32nd place was Roger Poolman in a personal best of 14:24; 57th was Chris Rainsford in 14:33; 74 Alex Crosland in a personal best time of 14:44; 83rd Robert Wilson also in a personal best time of 14:47. The personal best time also applied to Sean Renfer who ran 15.02 in 116th place, 125th was Robel Bahelbi in 15:06 and in 184 in a personal best time was Jon Laybourn in 15.38 198 was Henri Murdoch in 16.02 and 200 Andres Chua 16.08. All these Highgate runners finish well up in the Metropolitan league cross-countries so it shows that the standard of Armagh is very high indeed. The winner was Finnish International Topi Raitanen in a new course record of 13:43.

In the women’s 3k, won by international Steph Twell in a course record equalling 8:59, Hannah Viner finished in 22nd place in 9:36, Molly Renfer was 30th in 9:40, Rebecca Johnson and 32nd in 9:40 and Yasmin Goater was 39th in 9:46. Emma Burgess was 77th in 10:36 and Jemima Storey was 109th in 12:03. The team finished as the second club team behind Leeds City.

Chris Rainsford, on winning the Robin Hood Half marathon, in his personal best time of 67.54, on the 30th of September last year has been selected to run for England in the international road race, in Granollers Spain, on the 24th of February this year.

DOMINIC AMONGST THE SENIORS
Under 20 Highgate Harrier, Dominic Ogbechie, had a good start amongst the seniors in the indoor British Championships at Birmingham on 9 February. He was the first Under 20 with 2.18 to finish second overall – his height bettered his Southern Championship height of 2.15 in January.
Only one person, a senior beat him at Birmingham Chris Baker, with 2.22.
Dominic’s coach Marius Guei must be pleased with his good start in the season.

Of the 23 or so clubs in and around London, in the Start Fitness Metropolitan cross-country League, Premier Divison One, Highgate Senior Men were victorious for the 7th consecutive year. The total league points for the top seven clubs were 1 Highgate Harriers 5,377; 2 Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets 4,621; 3 London Heathside 4,163; Serpentine RC 3,269; Thames Valley Harriers 3,849; Hillingdon AC 3,110; and Woodford Green 3,013.
On the day for the final meeting London Heathside won with Highgate third but it is the total of all five meetings that counts.

In the Senior Men’s race 441 runners finished the hard course at Alexandra Palace Park. It was a very exciting duel up front.  Jamaal Seyfu (LH) was in the lead early on but there was a select group of half dozen, just behind him and ready to pounce. At the end the race became a flat out sprint to the finishing line. William Ryle-Hodges of Shaftesbury Barnet, got home by inches ahead of Roger Poolman. It was difficult to separate them and they both recorded a time of 26:55. Shaftesburys’ Middlesex Champion Phil Crout came third.

Highgate’s scoring ‘A’ team on the day were 2 Roger Poolman (26:55); 11 Captain, Robert Wilson 28:03; 16 Sean Renfer 28:27; 30 Charlie Haywood 29:36; 47 Jon Laybourn 29:51; 54 Darryl Davison 30:08; 57 Matt Mintrom 30:12; 68 Ben Noad 30:41; 71 Daniel Brewer 30:55; 100 Tom Cowling 31:40; 102 James Porcas 31:43; 105 Danny Issacs 31:50.

HANNAH BACK TO HER BEST

In the Senior Women’s race Hannah Viner, who previously had some illness, was back to her best; taking the race out from the word go she put so much daylight between her and the next woman to come home – 23 second behind.

For a long time Yasmin Goater of Highgate was in 2nd place but two experienced runners from other clubs who were previous league winners, went past her and she ended up 4th but still ran very well.

Highgate Harriers finished third in the Senior Women’s League overall behind first placed London Heathside and Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets in second. Highgate’s runners to finish on Saturday in the first 100 out of 244 were 1 Hannah Viner 20:49; 4 Yasmin Goater 21:32; 9 Nina Griffin 21:54; 26 Rachel Baker 22:58; 30 Emma Burgess 23:08; 35 Kani Hinchelwood 23:37; 45 Lisa Wenninnger 23:52; 73 Louise Faherty 25:13; and 97 Natasha Cendrowicz 26:01.

Theo Machin-Paley was 14th in the Under 17 Men’s race but 4th under 15.
8th of 50 runners in the Under 17 Women’s race was Ellen Donald, who was 5th under 15.

One who often keeps his results up his sleeve but, a very good runner, CHRIS RAINSFORD was performing well... It was noted that on Sunday 3rd February he was 1st in the Cancer UK Research Winter Run in the fast time of 31:23.

In the high standard British Universities Cross Country Chanpionships,Highgate Harrier, Niki Faulkener, from Imperial College came 57th in the Men’s ‘A’ race in 34:20.8 and in the ‘B race, also a good standard, Highgate Harrier Terry Fawden came 27th for Loughborough. The cross country was held at Exeter.

Highgate Harrier, Alex Davidson who is over a MV55 road, cross-country and track runner, was 108th of 1,469 in 35.57 in the Chichester 10k at Goodwood on Sunday 3 February.
Two other former Highgate runners were among the finishers - ‘Star’ runner Andy Maud, who runs for Clapham Chasers. He was 3rd in 29.37; and in 91st place was Andrew Aitken (MV40), who now runs for his local club Striders of Croydon. He ran round in 35.32.