Highgate Harriers returned to the podium at the National 6-Stage Road Relays for the first time since 2014 with a hard-fought bronze at Sutton Park, Birmingham, on Saturday afternoon.
Now regulars on the 12-stage podium, and with a silver medal over the longer format from this spring, 6-stage honours have been somewhat more elusive for the 1879. A fine Highgate six, led by relay captain Roger Poolman, held off fast finishing Western Tempo and Bristol & West to take the final podium position on a blustery day in the Midlands. The Gate finished just two seconds behind old foes Tonbridge AC in second, with Cambridge & Coleridge clear as winners over the 6 x 5.5km race.
The Highgate six all ran consistently and to form – essential in this short relay format, where one sub-par leg can see a team shed too much time to reclaim. The team’s standout run was however that from Poolman, who following his fast time at the Southern Champs ran one of the fastest of the day on the undulating Sutton Park – 15:49.
The squad’s attention now turns to the start of the cross country season and their defence of the Met League title at Claybury on Saturday October 11th.
Team Results:
- 1. Cambridge & Coleridge AC – 1:36:42
- 2. Tonbridge AC – 1:37:40
- 3. Highgate Harriers – 1:37:42
- 4. Bristol & West AC – 1:38:01
- 5. Western Tempo – 1:38:10
Highgate Results
- 1. Flurry Grierson – 16:18 (team position after leg: 15)
- 2. Jacob Allen- 16:04 (5)
- 3. Alex Leprêtre (2)
- 4. Peter Chamber (4)
- 5. Roger Poolman ( c ) (3)
- 6. Charles Cooper (3)
