Ipswich JAFFA had already wrapped up the 53-12 League title, before the sixth and final race was staged at Hadleigh.
But JAFFA still finished the season in style, with another team victory as well as an individual success over a surprisingly dry but very hilly course.
Ryan Ostler, of JAFFA, led home a field of more than 200 runners, with team-mates Jonathan Ling, Gavin Davies, Robert Chenery and Adam Wade also posting top 10 finishes.
Ed Charlton-Weedy, of 53-12, was actually Ostler’s closest challenger, with Harwich Runners’ Graeme Knott in third spot.
Meanwhile, Witham Running Club topped Pool B, to clinch promotion to Pool A by just one point from Hadleigh Hares, who won this category on home turf.
Victoria Kenny was an excellent runner-up in the ladies’ race, in the colours of Hadleigh, beaten only by Colchester Harriers’ international marathon runner, Sarah Stradling, who won with something to spare. Fellow Harrier Ellie Mayne finished third.
It was no surprise that the Harriers were first team on the day. Amanda Henry (fifth) and Lyn Higgs (sixth) completed the scoring team,
Harries’ men put in a solid performance to take third on the day, spearheaded by South of England over-50 champion Paul Spowage, who finished in eighth position.
Team-mate Anthony Barraclough recorded his highest ever league finish in 14th spot, and the scoring team also included Tim Ballard (23rd), David Wright (32nd), Kevin McAlden (42nd), Marcus Lamos (44th), Pete West (46th) and James Waterson (51st).
It all meant that Harriers finished second in the table, behind JAFFA but ahead of third-placed Springfield Striders.
Great Bentley Running Club rounded off their fine campaign with third spot on the day, and fourth place overall.
Great Bentley’s men’s team consisted of Simon Dale (16th), Chris Warren (18th), Ben Ficken (24th), Charlie Keitch (26th), Dave Goldsmith (28th), Michael Simmons (36th), Kevin Stevens (41st) and Dan Foster (48th).
And their ladies’ scorers were Emily Zethraeus (7th), Vicky Presland (10th), Anna Mills (30th) and Anna Lyon (35th) as the Essex club enjoyed another terrific turn-out.
Meanwhile, Tiptree Road Runners’ Robert Hadgraft completed his 25th season in the league, with his latest run at Hadleigh. Remarkably, it was his 84th league race over this period.
Simon Morgan was first home Tiptree in 58th place, followed by Paul Dellar (71st), Mark Lawes (83rd), Andrew Conway (109th), Hadgraft (126th) and Jeff Fairfull (143rd).
For the ladies, Lindsey Rolerkite finished 23rd for Tiptree, supported by club-mates Abigail Morgan (57th), Wendy Smalley (72nd) and Rose Haskey-Jones (73rd).
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