It was no surprise, as Woodford were never out of the first two in Division One in any of the fixtures but the other Premier Division club Shaftesbury Barnet were overhauled by Serpentine RC for second place, in the very last meeting at Perivale.That may have been because some of the Shaftesbury Barnet runners were saving themselves for the following week's 'National' at Parliament Hill Fields. That would never have happened in the 1960's or '70's for that matter.
Herts Phoenix, who also won both Under 13's league titles, were promoted to Division One of the league, along with Woodford 'B' team.
    Highgate Harriers Women were in second place behind Woodford with Essex ladies, after the penultimate meeting but by finishing their first six scorers in 21 out of 105 at Perivale, they truly nailed their victory to the post for the seventh year in succession. The Under 17 titles were won by Hillingdon AC and St Marys Richmond respectively.
    It was interesting to hear what the organisers had to say. Firstly the Chief Results Steward Gavin Collett and then Howard Williams the Founder of the League, 43 years ago.
What were the major changes in recent years?

  Gavin Collett:- 'More runners these days, definetly. I am not quite sure about the quality, on every occassion. There were a couple of races where Howard had run out of numbers. People just take a pack so, we have to order more numbers but that has got to be a good sign. What the Met League has got and is really good is that, over the years, it provides what is essential -Inter Club competition. Okay, Woodford and Shaftesbury have been miles ahead in the past but it is good competition. Hillingdon have battles with London Heathside. There are battles within battles. It is not about winning at the end of the day is it!
22 clubs compete in it. No one seems to go away. Everyone seems to be coming back like Serpentine, who are phenomenal. The number of people they have got is out of the World is'nt it!? It is healthy. Certainly what we find at Hillingdon is you get more people turning out for the club in the league races than you do in the Championship races. It is really the ' Bread and Butter' and the thing people want to do. It is probably different at the top end. People will concentrate on Championships, which says something for the league doesn't it!
Howard Williams the main official who started the league in 1966 has seen great changes over the years as he says:-
"Numbers. We did not have the women to start with only men. It has certainly gone well. I am quite pleased with it. I have missed officiating at two league meetings since the start in 1966!
 'I wondered were there more veterans competing as the years went on?
 'Definetly. In the early days we just had seniors. Seven teams for the men and that was it. We developed by having women compete. That has grown fantastically. We have had 150 women and 340 men competing. As long as it is giving people pleasure that is what I am concerned about. I get pleasure out of doing it. It is nice to think other people still want to come."

                                                                                    
                                                                                   260 finished in the Final Senior Men's Met league at Perivale.

         After 2 miles, in the first of  3 laps, James Trapmore and Bertie Powell, were leading Hussain Jama. Olly Laws was not in the first five at that stage, as he wanted to complete the race in prepartation for the 'National' and because he had a long time off with injuries with very little racing indeed. In fact his best 5k on the track was 14:03.2 back in 2004.
After the first quarter of the final lap Laws, moved passed Trapmore. Although Trapmore did not give up hope, as he chased Laws home. Laws had enough in the tank to win and put himself in line for Newham & Essex Beagles team for the 'National' the following Saturday. It was Trapmore and Powell's best position ever in the league. Behind that came Tom Bedford, son of previous league race winner Dave Bedford the ex-10k World record holder and, Henry Dodwell, who had a good last lap battle with Tom. Bedford, who is starting to get fit again will run a marathon in May. There is a bet on that he can't do 2.25 for the marathon by 2011. If he achieved it he will get £12,000. Of course he hopes not to get injured in the process.
Svenja Abel was impressive, winning the Women's race and Becky Penty was a clear second. Abel has been plagued with injuries but pleaed with her 14th in the Southern. She has been doing work in the gym a lot and only three training sessions a week, as well as working hard in her final part of a phisiotherapy degree course at Hertfordshire University.
Niall Fleming, 16, made a return to cross-country after a long lay off with injury problems but although he did not feel fit enough to do the Southern at Perivale, he looked really good coming away in the last 800m in the Under 17's race. He has won the London Mini-marathon twice and done a 4:12.34 1500 and should be better off for the enforced rest.