IT was time for celebration in the Wharfedale Harriers camp at the final PECO cross-country race of the season.

For the third year in a row athletes of all ages have enjoyed individual and team success, with the men’s team taking the prestigious Premier Division title.

The PECO League comprises five races across the season and are staged in various stunning parks around the edge of Leeds, such as Golden Acre Park and Roundhay Park.

This year’s finale was staged in the spectacular grounds of the historic Temple Newsam House.

All races are challenging in their own right and can be made more so by the additional challenges brought by a Yorkshire winter.

Thus, any success is no mean feat in this series of what are widely called, “proper old fashioned cross country races.”

The Wharfedale men’s team stormed to initial success in the series by winning the first race.

They continued to field a strong team and had an outstanding series, winning all the races.

Consequently, they took the Premier Division title in fine style. The win is all the more impressive as three years ago they were languishing in the Second Division. Their fortunes changed when they took the Second Division title and gained promotion two years ago.

Last season, they repeated their success to take the First Division title and gain promotion to the Premier Division.

In addition, the Wharfedale men’s veterans team also won the premier division showing some real class throughout all ages in their ranks.

On an individual level, Jack Smith took the senior men’s title, finishing in the top 10 for all five races.

Nick Charlesworth repeated his success of the 2016-2017 season to take the 2017-2018 men’s vet 50 title.

The ladies team, who were promoted from the Second Division at the end of the 2016- 2017 season, were second in the ladies First Division and so win a place in next season's premier division.

Meanwhile the lady vets were a very respectable third in the First Division which is an impressive showing given that their ranks were depleted for much of the season.

The junior leagues are grouped by school years. In the junior ranks, one of the club’s youngest runners – Hugo Bishop – finished third in the Year 2-4 league with five top 10 finishes.

Alex Thompson continued his success of last season to again win the year 7-9 league title, with three wins, a second and a fourth position across the series.

His brother Will improved on his second place from last year to be joint winner of the year 10-12 league with club mate Jack Muir.

Will had two wins, a second and two thirds.

Jack scored one win, and three second places to draw.