Highgate Harriers’ men’s team made history on Sunday as they won the Southern Six Stage Road Relay for the first time in 25 years.

Since their previous success in 1990, the closest the club had come was a second-placed finish in 2004.

However, Robel Bahelbi, Chris Rainsford, Danny Russell, Andy Maud, Shaun Dixon and Audun Nordtveit teamed up to come first out of the 79 clubs at Aldershot, finishing in a combined time of one hour 50 minutes and 14 seconds.

In the process they beat a Belgrave Harriers side including an Olympian and two internationals, while Highgate had just one international of their own in Nordtveit.

Bahelbi ran his best ever road relay leg on stage one, coming sixth in 18:27 and passing over to Rainsford, who took the team up to fourth on the second leg.

Russell then exploded into the lead on the third lap, clocking 18:26. Maud followed that with the team’s fastest run (17:57) as Highgate stretched their lead.

Norwegian Nordtveit (18:16) ensured there was no let-up and Dixon brought the team home in 18:32.

There was further success as Highgate’s B team finished 13th overall and also qualified for the National Six Stage Road Relay Championships on October 3.