Roger Poolman with Highgate Harriers teammate Alex Lepretre

HIGHGATE Harrier Roger Poolman managed to record a personal best that won’t be beaten on the final race day of the season in the Metropolitan Cross-Country League.

The distance runner missed the meet altogether as he traded Trent Park for the Temple Church, where he married Georgina Howitt in front of family and friends, including a number of his Highgate teammates.

Cross-Country ace Roger marries Georgina Howitt

And Roger received the best wedding gift of all when the news filtered through that not only had the Gate scooped their 11th successive senior men’s Met League title, but he had also been crowned the individual senior men’s champion for a second time.

“It was an absolutely incredible day,” said Roger, who lives in Newington Green. “Winning the senior men’s title was the first thing I mentioned in my speech, which surprised a few people.

“I had two first and second-place finishes from the other four races, so the only person who could beat me to the title was my teammate Alex Lepretre, and I sabotaged his chances by inviting him to my wedding!”