CHAMPIONS Burnmoor are bidding to make it a hat-trick of title wins.

They haven’t finished outside the top three since the dawn of the Millennium, and with a settled squad in place they will once again be the team to beat. The only absentee from last year is likely to be Alex Ludlow due to family commitments.

Burnmoor spent most of the 2008 season fending off the attentions of Hetton Lyons, and they will be front runners again. Sri Lankan Surappulige Malinga returns to a club bolstered by the signings of Michael Walker and Adam McGuire.

Whitburn have kept a settled squad, to which they have added young Western Australian Chris Woods.

Jonny Wightman has returned to Boldon from South Shields to add to their attack.

Lee Jackson will be a miss due to work commitments, but the recovery of Andrew Robson from injury and the return of Grant Foster is a bonus.

There has been significant activity at Philadelphia – Dave Rutherford, Adam McGuire, Graham Hoban and Marc Hopkinson have left, while the arrival of Bobby Steel has been complemented by the signings of Sean and Ian Hauxwell from Seaham Park, Mitch Phillips from Sunderland and Anthony Brown, a Durham student.

Eppleton have a new skipper in John Leslie, and other new faces in Neil Mulvaney, Hoban and Paul Davidson from South Hetton, although David Tate may be missing due to business commitments.

Jeff Laws is another new captain as he takes over at Seaham Harbour. He expects the club to continue its strong youth policy, backed up by the signings of 18-year-olds Craig Scurr and Anthony Watson.

Mark Woodhead will lead a Durham City side that flirted with the wooden spoon for much of 2008. Two new arrivals suggest they may not be troubled this time – Marc Hopkinson joining Gareth Knight (Holme and St Andrews Uni).

Nick Howe’s return after injury is welcomed.

A new name to test scorers is that of Mpho Sekhoto, an opening bat/off-spinner from South Africa, and with quality batsman Michael Gandy returning after a two-year absence Marsden are aiming for a top five finish.

Another exciting addition is West Indian Kelbert Walters.

The 18-year-old is reputed to bowl at 90mph plus and will be here to start the season with his new Horden colleagues.

The only loss is that of David Mole who has moved back to Blackhall.

The loss of Sean Bradbury (Shildon BR) and Davidson has to be overcome if South Hetton are to avoid another season of struggle. Craig Stephenson (Dawdon) is the only newcomer.