FIELDING a regular side was a key factor in Bedale winning the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash League's first division title for the second successive season.

Although Harrogate Squash II were in the race until the final week of the season, Bedale made no slip-ups, winning all their matches in the second half of the season.

They lost only two all season, the best return in the three divisions, to finish six points ahead of Harrogate and 21 clear of third-placed Wensleydale.

Top performers in the league this season were Bedale's Dave Smiley and Nick Brown of Wensleydale. Each won 14 of their 16 matches, while Bedale's Alan Peirson took 13 victories from 16 matches. Robert Dent and Keith Parlour (Wensleydale), along with Phil Martin (Bedale), each won ten.

But, while Bedale and Wensleydale were able to field regular teams week in, week out, Harrogate used ten players, with Bob Peacock and Steve Ross the only players to compete in ten of the 16 matches.

At the other end of the table, newly-promoted Pateley Bridge found the top flight too hot to handle, winning only two matches to make a swift return to division two.

Youngsters at Harrogate Squash Club took division two by storm with a 32-point lead over second-placed Boroughbridge, becoming the first team to break the 200-point barrier.

The second promotion spot was a three-horse race involving Boroughbridge, Knaresborough II and Wensleydale II. Knaresborough were making all the running with a six-point lead over Boroughbridge going into the last match, but bottom-of-the-table Wensleydale III gave their best performance of the season to win 2-1 and deny Knaresborough promotion by two points.

Wensleydale III and Bedale III were both relegated to division three.

Meanwhile, the most successful player in division two was Peter Bottomley (Knaresborough II), who won 16 of his 19 encounters. The only two players to complete appearances in all 20 matches were John Abbotson and Mike Lumley of Bedale II, for whom Mike Richardson clocked up 12 victories in 19 appearances. Mark Fox (Thirsk II) had 11 victories.

Service teams from RAF Leeming and Catterick Garrison had mixed seasons as they were unable to field settled teams because of military calls.

Harrogate Squash III clinched the division three title after a tight battle against Bedale IV, who were promoted as runners-up. Bedale IV provided three of the top four performers, with Geoff Coles winning 13 out of 15 matches. Andrew Sedgwick took 12 from 16 and Andrea Offord 11 in 16.

The league was again sponsored by Nick Stafford of Hambleton Ales.