The final race in the Peco Cross-Country League, hosted by St Bede’s AC at Esholt woods, took place in gorgeous, spring-like conditions.

Abbey Runners ran out easy winners of the men’s league with four members in the top eight places – beating Ilkley Harriers into second – to seal the league title over the five-race series.

Will Kerr and Simon Forde from the host club made the top twenty in sixth and 16th, sandwiching their second-claimer, Jon Dawson in ninth.

In the ladies’ race, Kirkstall Harriers beat off Abbey Runners and Horsforth Harriers but could not stop Abbey from doing the league double.

St Bede’s finished fourth in both the men’s and ladies’ team competitions on the day and fourth and fifth respectively in the series, with Eccleshill Road Runners sixth and eighth.

In the individual series results, Kerr finished second in the men’s open category, behind Gwilym Thomas (Valley Striders), and Stephen Wolstenholme (Bradford-Airedale) was second in the over-50s category.

In the ladies’ series, Helen Love (St Bede’s) won the over-50s. Team captain Kerr said: “Best performance was by our ladies in the last race where they finished fourth but only 15 points off first. Next season I expect a title push!

“The men would have got promotion had it not been for the shocking turnout in the first race.”

PECO LEAGUE FINAL TABLES: Men’s teams:

Premier Division: 1st Abbey (6pts); 2nd Ilkley (9); 3rd Valley Striders (21); 4th Horsforth (21); 5th Rothwell (22); 6th St Theresa’s, Leeds (29); 7th Ackworth (32).

Division 1: 1st Kirkstall (8pts); 2nd Virgin Active, Leeds (10); 3rd Chapel Allerton (13); 4th St Bede’s (14); 5th Airecentre (24); 6th Eccleshill (34); 7th Dragons (36); 8th Kippax (38); 9th York Postal (44.5); 10th Woodkirk (49); 11th Horsforth Fellandale (52.5).

PECO LEAGUE FINAL TABLES: Ladies’ teams:

Premier Division: 1st Abbey (9pts); 2nd Kirkstall (11); 3rd Horsforth (14); 4th Ilkley (20); 5th Kippax (24); 6th Rothwell (30); 7th Dragons (32).

Division 1: 1st Ackworth (8pts); 2nd Chapel Allerton (10); 3rd Virgin Active (17); 4th Valley (21); 5th St Bede’s (27); 6th Airecentre (29); 7th St Theresa’s (29); 8th Eccleshill (39).