Despite having twice been crowned National Champions of the annual spring discipline, Highgate Harriers had never before secured the Southern 12 Stage Road Relay Title. That was until Sunday 24th of March, when Highgate’s 12 men laid down a fierce marker of intent two weeks out from this year’s national, seizing their first Southern Title in dominant fashion.
Highgate’s Alex Leprêtre took the race lead on leg 5 of 12 and from there the men in black and white never looked back. Highgate were to romp home over two minutes ahead of second placed Cambridge and Coleridge, and over two and a half minutes in front of bronze medalists Hercules Wimbledon.
The race, traditionally run in the early spring following the end of the cross country season, sees teams of 12 alternate 6 longer legs with 6 shorter legs (on this course 8.6km and 5km respectively), and pits the region’s best clubs against each other in a battle for area title and national qualification.
The 12 Highgate men who added this title to that of Southern Cross Country Champions from this winter were:
- Robert Wilson
- Joseph Young
- Jacob Allen
- John Gilfedder
- Alex Leprêtre
- James Ross
- Flurry Grierson
- Sam Jinks
- Roger Poolman
- Monte Watson
- Terry Fawden
- Charles Cooper
In addition to the title clinching A team, Highgate were one of few clubs with the depth in quality to qualify a B team for the national championships. Highgate’s second string - all sub-16 minute 5km men in their own right - finished 15th overall and third B team. While the we were also the only club to close a complete C team, finishing in 39th of 45.