It was a trifecta of Bendigo clubs in the top three in the battle for the Margaret Saunders Country Cup as the leading team in the championships at the Bendigo Athletics Complex.

The Hawks won the cup for the fifth year in a row with 1402 points over the three days of competition.

Bendigo Harriers finished second with 965 points, while South Bendigo was third on 948 points.

READ MORE - Hawks retain No.1 status for fifth year at Victoria Country titles

A squad of 55 represented Eaglehawk at the championships, including president Terry Hicks, who was proud of his club's accomplishment to again reign supreme.

"We're a similar size to a couple of the other Bendigo clubs and quite a bit smaller than a lot of the others that come," Hicks said on Monday.

"It's just about getting everybody involved from 11 year-olds up to 76-year-olds.

"Athletics is a fairly individual sport, but we've been able to get our guys to work as a team and do a few extra events to help get some more points for the team and enjoy the result at the finish.

"Athletics is really pushing on in Bendigo and as a centre we're happy with how the weekend went. It was a great effort for Bendigo clubs to finish 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd."

Chilwell on 716 points and Geelong Guild on 632 rounded out the top five.

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