Herne Hill Harriers have successfully defended their Southern Counties Veterans Athletics League title for the third year in a row, capping off one the club’s most successful track and field season in its 122-year history.
This year’s final, which took place at Ashford, Kent, was remarkable for the closeness of the result, with league contenders Blackheath and Bromley chasing the Harriers all the way in a match lasting over seven hours. Herne Hill Harriers eventually emerged as winners in a nail-biting finish, beating their south London rivals by a single point and scoring a total of 266 points.
The Harriers were determined not to let history repeat itself, when in 2006 they were beaten to first place by Oxford City by half a point. The 2011 veteran title joins the Harriers’ Division 2 title of the men’s British Athletics League (promoted to Division 1 in 2012) and promotion to Division 2 of the UK Women’s League in 2012.
In other news, Herne Hill Harriers’ Southern Women’s League team closed their season with a narrow defeat at Kingsmeadow in a well contested match to finish third in the league table. The team recorded three wins and two second places this season.
Final match scores: Aldershot,Farnham & District 95,Herne Hill Harriers 90,Kingston & Poly 80,Basingstoke & Mid Hants 67.