Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League: Bedale have retained the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash League's First Division Championship.

The secret of their success has been a regular team of Phil Martin, Dave Smiley and Alan Pierson who were on duty again to clinch the title-winning match 3-0 against Harlow.

Bedale's fortunes were boosted two years ago when Martin returned to the ranks after three years away at university. This season he has lost only two matches in 13 appearances at first string.

Meanwhile, Dave Smiley and Alan Peirson have both appeared in all 16 matches, Smiley losing only two and Peirson three. Praising the team for their success league secretary Chris Lennox said: "The championship triumph has been based on a regular team of reliables turning out week in, week out."

In the victory against Harlow Martin chalked up a surprise win, beating Tom Ellis 9-0 3-9 9-1 9-2. Smiley finished the season with a flourish, taking 9-3 9-3 9-5 scorelines against Rob Cunningham. And Skipper Peirson defeated Steve Thackwray 9-7 6-9 4-9 10-9 9-1.

The team lost just two matches all season, finishing with 167 points, ahead of nearest rivals Harrogate Squash II who ended the campaign with 161 points and four defeats.

Bedale will be aiming for the league and cup double when they face Wensleydale in the cup final at Bedale on Friday, April 2 (7.30pm).

Bedale's five man line up is expected to be chosen from Phil Martin, Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson, Dave Horner, Mick Richardson and Dave Wheatley.

The B final at the same venue is between Catterick Garrison and Harrogate Squash C. League presentations will also be made at this event. The North Yorkshire Individual Championships are being held on Wednesday, March 31 (7.30pm) at Harlow Squash Club, Harrogate, and on Thursday, April 1 (7.30pm) the team plate finals will be at Harrogate Squash Club.

Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League

Division One: Harrogate Squash II 3 (Dave Duncalf, Bob Peacock, Sam Peacock) Thirsk 0; Harlow 0 Bedale 3 (Phil Martin, Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson); Northallerton 2 (Keith Johnson, Trish Kochaniec) Pateley Bridge 1 (Chris Lennox).

Division Two: Bedale II 0 Harrogate Squash III 3 (Adam Hughes, Paul Woodhead, Steve Gibson). Harrogate win Division Two championship. Second promotion spot still undecided between Knaresborough II and Boroughbridge; Boroughbridge 2 (Simon Robinson, Colin Leftly) Wensleydale II 1 (Jim Forbes); Knaresborough II 2 (Peter Bottomley, Gary Hatch) Bedale II 1 (Andy Hawkswell); Thirsk II 2 (Nigel Laws, Mark Fox) Catterick Garrison 1 (Peter Luard).

Division Three: Harrogate Squash V 3 (Tim Welch, Jonathan McGuinness, Christine Downing) Thirsk III 0, walk-over. Harrogate V win championship; Thorpe Perrow 2 (John Hart, Mark Scarlett) Harrogate Squash IV 1 (Dan Patterson).

Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League

Chapel Allerton suffered only their third defeat of the season but are still on course to take the First Division title in the Kall Kwik Harrogate and District Squash League. They were beaten 2-1 by nearest rivals Ilkley, but with three matches remaining Chapel have a 16 point lead over their Wharfedale rivals. Ilkley, who have lost six of their 19 matches, took the victory thanks to wins by Phil Newton and Phil Maunsell.

Newton beat Jim Denmark 9-2 9-3 9-5 while Maunsell secured a 9-2 5-9 9-4 10-9 win over Tony Womersley.

Chapel's only success came when Mike Dickens defeated Gareth Hutchinson 9-3 9-7 9-3 at first string.

Chapel lead the table with 177 points, Ilkley are second on 161 and Adel, one-time championship contenders, are third on 156. All three have played 19 matches.

Division One: Chapel Allerton II 0 Nomads 3 (Andy Hall, Richard Leonard, Toby Marcham); Ilkley 2 (Phil Newton, Phil Maunsell) Chapel Allerton 1 (Mike Dickens); Harrogate Squash II 1 (Steve Whiteley) Adel 2 (Jon Hodgson, Mark Galley); Knaresborough 1 (James Lambley) Harrogate Squash 2 (Adam Nowkowski, Stewart Macdonald); Harlow 3 (Tom Ellis, Steve Smith, Dave McGrath) Ilkley II 0; Moortown 2 (Nick Jezeph, Geoff Mortimer) Collingham 1 (Nick Brown).

Division Two: Knaresborough II 1 (Graham Kilvington) Harlow II 2 (John Graham, James Hannaway);

Bedale 3 (Alan Peirson, Andy Hawkswell, Mike Lumley) Harrogate Squash III 0; Otley 2 (Chris Lawton, Steve Thackwray) Harlow III 1 (Paul Fairhurst); Harrogate Squash IV 0 Ilkley III 3 (Jonty Hawkes, Paul Mancey, Martyn Chapman); Collingham II 2 (Andy Shaw, Dave Rushton) Moortown II 1 (Nigel Lister).

Division Three: Pateley Bridge 2 (Chris Lennox, Bill Hannay) Collingham III 1 (Ed Dabrowski); Collingham IV 3 (Andrew Widdison, Stephen Widdison, John Clark) Knaresborough III 0; Boroughbridge II 2 (Rob Hayhurst, Phil Strong) Ripon 1 (Tony Rennison); Harrogate Squash V 2 (Ian Bexon, John Elsworth) Otley II 1 (Robert Field); Harlow IV 3 (Martyn Hall, Barry Carter, Jim McGuinness) Moortown III 0.

A Harrogate junior side have turned in a championship-winning performance this season by capturing the Kall Kwik Under 11 Squash League title.

Harrogate Squash Club side were competing in the Under lls league for the first time. But they beat off the challenge of sides including big guns Pontefract, Chapel Allerton and York-based Wigginton to take the trophy. Members of the team are all from squash-playing families.

Brothers Peter and Oliver Hotchkiss are the sons of the Harrogate club's Paul Hotchkiss who plays in Division One of the Harrogate and District League.

Ross Macdonald is the son of Stuart Macdonald, also a First Division player for the club. And Lisa Jacob is the daughter of Sophie Jacob, who plays in the Harrogate League for Harlow. The team were coached to success by club professional Paul Hornsby, a member of the Harrogate side bidding to win the Yorkshire Premiership for the first time.

Harrogate's juniors finished the season with just one defeat in their seven matches, gathering 48 points. Their nearest rivals were Ilkley, who finished with 44 points.

Oliver Hotchkiss ended the season unbeaten in six matches while brother Peter lost just one of his seven clashes.