Wolverhampton & Bilston set the cross country pace

They topped a 20-team table, clinching the title at Aldersley Stadium on the term’s fifth and final race day ahead of Rugby & Northampton, who came out on top the campaign prior.

It is a second triumph in three seasons for Wolverhampton & Bilston, whose competition win in 2016/17 was their first for 30 years.

And they now want to establish themselves as the very best athletics club the region has to offer for youngsters, to add to their already strong ranks of under-11s through to under-17s whose efforts saw them go all the way.

“It was quite a significant achievement,” said Richard Preston, the club’s assistant coach for endurance runners.

“It was all of our kids from under-11s, some as young as eight or nine, right the way through to under-17s, so it’s great to have that success and those foundations in place. Winning it should attract more youngsters to join us.

“We’ve got hundreds of youngsters already, but we’re hoping this success can boost our numbers even more.”

Wolverhampton & Bilston were just 13 points ahead of Rugby & Northampton going into the last round of races.

But they fought the nerves to grab the trophy by a 416-point margin – 33,576 to 33,160.

At Aldersley, Owen Ulfig was victorious for Wolverhampton & Bilston in the under-11 boys, Isabelle Price in the under-13 girls, Louise Hackett in the under-15s girls and Jess Humphreys in the under-17s women’s race – each awarded 200 points.

They also won the under-11s boys team, the under-11s girls team, the under-13s girls team, the under-15s girls team and the under-17s women’s events.

“We were pretty dominant, to be honest with the under-11s boys and girls – most of them did really well,” said Preston.

“We won the competition two years ago for the first time in 30 years and we wanted to prove that it wasn’t a fluke.

“Rugby & Northampton managed to beat us to it last year but we were determined to get it back, so we’re all very pleased with how things have turned out.

“It’s been very good and we want to make sure we build on it, that we dominate in the future.”

Tipton Harriers, Halesowen, Cannock & Staffordshire, Dudley & Stourbridge and Birchfield Harriers were some of the other clubs who competed in the league.