Fielding a regular side was a key factor in Bedale winning the 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.

Bedale lost only two matches all season, the best return in the league's three divisions.

And they finished six points ahead of nearest rivals Harrogate - and 21 in front of third placed Wensleydale.

Top performers in the league this season have been Bedale's Dave Smiley and Nick Brown (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 matches.

But while Bedale and Wensleydale were able to field regular teams week in, week out Harrogate fielded ten players with Bob Peacock and Steve Ross being the only players to have competed in ten matches of the 16 fixture season.

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

Youngsters at Harrogate Squash Club, however, walked off with their second successive league title in Division Two, having been promoted only last season.

They took Division Two by storm with a 32 point gab over second placed Boroughbridge, becoming the first team to break the 200 points barrier.

Although they will find it tougher in Division One experts are predicting a top half of the table finish.

The second promotion spot was a three-horse race involving Boroughbridge, newly elevated from Division Three, Knaresborough II and Wensleydale II.

Knaresborough were making all the running with a six point lead over Boroughbridge going into the last match.

Unfortunately for Knaresborough their opponents, bottom of the table Wensleydale III, gave their best performance of the season winning 2-1 and denied Knaresborough promotion by two points with Boroughbridge finishing runners-up.

Wensleydale III and Bedale III are both relegated to Division Three.

Meanwhile the most successful player in Division Two was Peter Bottomley (Knaresborough) who won 16 of his 19 encounters. Next with 15 wins from 17 matches was 18-year-old Ian Woodhead (Harrogate Squash), closely followed by 16-year-old team mate Adam Hughes with 14 wins in 17 outings.

The other team members were Ian's 16-year-old brother Paul, 21-year-old David Duncalf, brother of world ranked England international Jenny Duncalf and Steve Gibson. At 26 Gibson was the elder statesman of the side.

The team's successful manager was Martin Woodhead, father of Ian and Paul who spent the season ferrying the side around the county.

The only two players to complete appearances in all 20 matches were John Abbotson and Mike Lumley (Bedale II).

Nineteen appearances were clocked up by Mike Richardson (Bedale II) who clocked up 12 victories; Mark Fox (Thirsk II) with 11 victories and Peter Bottomley (Knaresborugh II) who secured 16 successes.

Service teams from RAF Leeming and Catterick Garrison had mixed seasons because 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 win in 16 appearances.

Once again the league was sponsored by squash-playing Nick Stafford of Hambleton Ales, the Thirsk-based brewery.

A Knaresborough side fluffed a golden opportunity to secure promotion to Division One of the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash League in their last match of the season.

Knaresborough II needed to beat already relegated Wensleydale III team, but lost 2-1.

That defeat paved the way for Boroughbridge to take the second promotion spot behind Division Two Champions Harrogate Squash III.

Match details - Wensleydale III 2 Knaresborough II 1 (Wensleydale names first): Dave Booth beat Gary Hatch 9-1 4-9 9-6 3-9 9-7; Ian Brogan beat Martyn Gibson 9-6 9-7 10-8; Fergus MacLeod lost to Peter Bottomley 9-2 9-1 4-9 7-9 0-9.

Thirsk II 0 Boroughbridge 3 (Boroughbridge names first): Joe Royle beat Derek Jenkinson 4-9 9-2 9-2 9-3; Colin Leftly beat Mark Fox 9-4 1-9 5-9 9-0 9-5; Phil Strong beat Jonathan Harrison 9-6 10-8 9-5.