Andy Maud stole the show in only his second appearance for Highgate Harriers on Saturday, recording the best time of all the club runners at the National Six Stage Road Relays.

Maud, who ran the second leg for Highgate at Sutton Coldfield in the Midlands, crossed the line in 17 minutes and three seconds – which was quicker than four international runners at the event.

His time beat those posted by Reading’s Jonathan Davies (17:14), Bolton United’s Tom Lancashire (17:17), Scotland’s top cross-country athlete Andrew Butchart (17:19) and the English 5k track and inter-counties champion Richard Weir of Derby (17:21).

Maud’s display helped the Harriers to finish ninth out of the 72 clubs at the competition, despite the fact they were missing four of their five fastest runners.

Robel Bahelbi went first and clocked 18:00, followed by Maud, Chris Rainsford (18:07), Robert Wilson (18:40), Ben Noad (18:51) and Over-45 veteran Ben Pochee (18:58).

That gave Highgate a total time of 1:49.39, leaving them ahead of Enfield & Haringey, Brighton and Hove, Swansea Harriers and a Bedford & County AC side who have generally had the beating of them in recent years. Tonbridge AC won the title in 1:47.24.

Meanwhile, the Harriers’ B team had also qualified for the event, and they were 32nd overall in 1:54.59.

That made them the third-fastest of the B teams in the race, while they also beat the first teams of Hercules Wimbledon, Tyne Bridge Harriers, Trafford Harriers, Taunton AC, Morpeth Harriers and Nene Valley.

Fergal Smithwick clocked 18:54, followed by Jon Laybourn (18:51), James Millett (18:47), Sean Renfer (18:39; Michael Dan (20:00) and Oliver Kean (19:48).

Meanwhile, Highgate’s ladies were in action at the Women’s National Four Stage Road Relay Championships – and they came 12th out of the 85 clubs at Sutton Coldfield, clocking 1:00.18 and overcoming local rivals Shaftesbury Barnet, Serpentine and Hillingdon in the process.

The Harriers’ first three runners were Under-20 juniors, with Hannah Viner (15:28), Georgia Fear (15:34) and Hattie Brock (15:52) being followed by 23-year-old Ashley Scott (15:22).

Emma Burgess also ran in the event, making up a Highgate B team by herself, and she finished 42nd overall in 16:16.

Elsewhere, Sophie Sheldrake set a personal best to finish as the second-fastest woman in the Middlesex 10k road race on Sunday – and as she was the quickest runner who was eligible to represent Middlesex, she won the county gold medal.

Sheldrake improved her best time from 38:54 to 37:54 while racing around three laps of Victoria Park.