Knowles-Jones on song as Great Britain top European cross country medal table

Knowles-Jones sped home to claim the under-20 women's crown, while Butchart and Judd won respective bronzes in the senior men's and under-23 women's contests in Samorin, Slovakia.

In her final race as a junior, Knowles-Jones' gold completed the set of under-20 individual medals, having won silver in 2015 and bronze a year later.

And she admitted she was emotional as she crossed the finish line, watched on by proud family and friends.

"It's been such a mad season, and I have been really nervous about this as it's my last chance to get that gold as a junior so I can't believe I did it," said 19-year-old Knowles-Jones, from Warrington.

"It means so much to me and it's brilliant for the whole team to win the team gold too. It just makes for the perfect day."

Butchart went one better than this time last year, ending the day on the podium after a courageous run. He also helped the senior men's men to overall bronze.

"It was very different to last year," he said. "With the weather being so cold this year, training had to be different but out on the racecourse it went perfectly.

"It went exactly how I wanted it to go and I was confident from the start knowing I was in reasonable shape.

"The last lap was frustrating, once they were gone they were gone and on this sort of course there is no way of catching them.

"I wish I could have stayed with them but I lost a bit of concentration and that's all it takes. I'm happy with the bronze medal and hopefully there will be many more to come."

Judd claimed her first individual under-23 bronze medal at the championships, finishing behind German duo Alina Reh and Konstanze Klosterhalfen.

"It was a lonely race out there, I was alone from the start and I wanted to catch the girls ahead but despite closing on every lap I couldn't quite get to them," said Judd. "But I held on for third which was my main aim towards the end."

Great Britain ended the day on five golds – with the senior women, under-23 women, under-20 women and senior mixed relay outfits all topping the podium.

The men's under-23 side also took bronze, with Britain claiming nine medals in total.

Sportsbeat 2017