The Liverpool event doubled as the European Cross Country Championship trial and the 22-year-old won his race in a time of 29 minutes 26 seconds.

Just five seconds separated the top three in Liverpool, but it was Kilbarchan’s Hawkins who came out on top two seconds ahead of his countryman Andrew Butchart and a further three seconds ahead of Stockport Harriers’ Ross Millington.

Speaking after his win, Hawkins said: “I didn’t have a great race in Leeds a couple of weeks ago but I’m really happy that I returned and changed the score this time around.

“I was thinking he’s tiring (Andrew Butchart) so I’ll get him on the corner and maybe get in his head a little bit and it seemed to work.

“I’m really pleased, that’s been my focus since the Commonwealth Games and hopefully I can sneak a medal at the under-23s in Bulgaria. I’ve got the engine to do it so now I just need to work on speed to have that for the final part of my race.” A 36-strong Great Britian and Northern Ireland team has been announced for the European Cross Country Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria on Sunday, December 14.

The team will be looking to replicate their performance in Belgrade 12 months ago, which seen them top the medal table with nine medals including five gold. Martin Rush, the team leader for the side in Samokov said: “There were a number of promising performances in last weekend’s Liverpool Cross Challenge and I’m sure with the right preparation over the course of the next two weeks, we’ll see a strong showing in Samokov.

“Belgrade was a very successful championships for the team last year and we will be looking to continue Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s recent success at the European Cross Country Championships in Bulgaria.”