Highgate Harriers' men won the Middlesex Cross-Country Championship title at Perivale on Saturday, while the women's team notched a creditable second place. Men's captain Henry Dodwell led by example, finishing sixth in a time of 45 minutes 29 seconds

Highgate Harriers' men won the Middlesex Cross-Country Championship title at Perivale on Saturday, while the women's team notched a creditable second place.

Men's captain Henry Dodwell led by example, finishing sixth in a time of 45 minutes 29 seconds over the 12,000-metre course.

He was followed home by fellow points scorers Dave Bruce (46mins 39secs) eighth, Chris Beecham (47mins 58secs) 14th, Peter Downie (48mins 58secs) 23rd, Alex Panayioutou (50mins 31secs) 38th and Alistair Lindsey (51mins 8secs) 42nd.

Other Harriers to finish included Jonathan Deane (53mins 33secs) 60th, Greg Fusezi (56mins 26secs) 76th, Jose Barretta (58mins 45secs) 90th and Nick Stockman (63mins 13secs) 107th. Ryan McKinlay (48mins 26 secs) competed as a guest and was 16th.

Highgate finished with a total of 131 points, well clear of second-placed Harrow (151) and Thames Valley Harriers (160).

The individual winner was defending champion Steve Sharp (43mins 50secs) of Belgrave Harriers.

In the women's competition over 8,000m, Svenja Abel and Esther Evans completed an individual one-two, but that was not enough to seal first place in the team event for Highgate.

Abel won in a time of 33mins 24secs, beating team-mate Evans (34mins 23secs) by 59 seconds. Astrid Wingler (36mins), came seventh while Alex Goodwin (38mins 1sec) was 16th, ahead of Anne Curley (38mins 23secs) 18th, Natasha Cendrowicz (39mins 23secs) and Louise Burnie (39mins 24secs).

Harriers women finished on 26 points, just four behind winners London Heathside (22) and ahead of third-placed Ealing Southall & Middlesex (53).

One notable absentee was Kate Jenrick, who was running in the Surrey Championships in Croydon.

Jenrick (35mins 48secs) completed the two-lap race in 12th place out of 98 finishers.

Highgate compete in the Metropolitan League Cross-Country fixture at Wormwood Scrubs tomorrow.

editorial@hamhigh.co.uk