About 18 schools from as far afield as Flinders Island, St Marys and St Helens travelled to Kings Meadows High School, where 700 runners took part over distances ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 kilometres.

The region's traditional powerhouse again dominated, winning three of the four girls' titles.

``That was really good and great to win,'' said grade 8 student Amelia Bransden after her second successive title.

``It was hard going up the hills but a pretty good course overall.''

Riverside health and physical education teacher Toby Musovic said winning wasn't the most important factor for the 64-strong team.

``We're just glad to have the kids participating and having a good time,'' he said.

``That's the best thing and what we're here for.''

Division 1 schools brought teams of six in each age group, with division 2 schools adding teams of four over a sun-drenched undulating course around the school grounds.

``It was a fantastic day with perfect weather and a great course,'' said NHSSA executive officer Andrew McCarthy.

``We used to hold this at Windsor Park before Kings Meadows offered to host it, and we've had it here for about the last 10 years.

``It's such a good course we decided to leave it here. People watching can see most of the course but it's also got a good bush run and some uphill sections, and they get plenty of support on the home straight.''

Scottsdale pushed Riverside all the way to finish second with Jonty Krushka among the winners in the grade 9 boys.

``That was hard,'' he said.

``I've come second for the last two years and they were pushing me the whole way, so it was good to get the win.

``It was a tough course. The hills were really hard and it was long. At Scottsdale we only run 2.9km, so to run 4.5, I was spent at the end.''

6pt UNIV INTO HELIOS; Starts in UNIV, breakback goes to helios, loops on breakbacks.RESULTS _ Winners:  DIVISION 1: 1 Riverside, 2 Scottsdale, 3 Exeter, 4 Kings Meadows, 5 Queechy, 6 Prospect, 7 Christian School, 8 Brooks; 

DIVISION 2 1 St Helens, 2 Deloraine, 3 Cressy, 4 Port Dalrymple.

GRADE 7 GIRLS:  Emily Heazlewood (Queechy), BOYS: Connor Neil (Cressy); GRADE 8 GIRLS:  Amelia Bransden (Riverside), BOYS: Chayce Jones (Kings Meadows); GRADE 9 GIRLS:  Courtney Webb  (Riverside), BOYS:  Jonty Krushka (Scottsdale); GRADE 10 GIRLS:  Sarah Giles (Riverside), BOYS:  Jesse Stafford (Deloraine).