President Ken Gardner believes Guisborough will be pressed all the way for this year's championship.

"Last season, they retained the title by the skin of their teeth. Their margin over Marske was three points and Darlington were in with a shout until the last ball was bowled.

"It certainly made for an exciting season and I'm sure there will be plenty of competition this time around," said Gardner who has announced that he is standing down at the end of the season.

After eight years at the helm and 25 years as a member of the management committee, he said: "I believe the time is right for a new face to come in and I have given the league plenty of notice to find my successor.

"The competition is in good health as we begin our 13th successive season sponsored by the Darlington Building Society - it's a great relationship."

Guisborough, aiming to make it a hat-trick of championship wins, have a fresh captain in professional Dave Towse.

He has enjoyed phenomenal success since joining the club and apart from topping the bowling averages last season with 68 wickets at only 12.2 runs apiece, conceded little more than two runs an over.

He has taken over from Johnny May who will continue to play for the club, but Phil Ramage and Steve Brodrick have left. There are four newcomers and Graeme Wrightson will keep wicket following his move from Hartlepool.

Steve Pennock, a left-hand batsman and right-arm medium pacer has joined from Great Ayton, all-rounder James Riley has switched from Marske and William Wyatt (Yarm) is a right-arm leg-spinner and left-handed bat.

Marske were the form side in the second half of last season and just failed to land the championship. They have Fahim Fazal back as professional. He was the League's leading wicket-taker with 87 wickets which cost him 13.9 runs each and he also contributed more than 500 runs.

Had Darlington won their last game against neighbours Darlington RA they would have finished in pole position. Cricket co-ordinator John Edwardson is confident of a successful title push.

"We have a new professional and captain. Yorkshire second team wicket keeper batsman Simon Guy, who is living in the town, is the pro and Mark Jobling is the new skipper following Mark Stainsby's decision to stand down.

"I believe that we have the nucleus of a good side especially as Neil Pratt will double up as coach and player. He scored in excess of 800 runs last summer and we are confident that overall we have a good squad," enthused Edwardson.

Saltburn will be in contention for honours, claiming they have learnt lessons from last season's late demise. "We lost it in the last few games when we were in with a very good chance but we are stronger this time around and are confident of another good season," declared secretary John Bond.

Mauhtashim Rashid continues as professional and captain with his brother Umer coach. Phil Ramage has joined the Seasiders from Guisborough and Richard Storr has come in from Middlesbrough but Fazal Ahmed has switched to Normanby Hall.

Darlington RA are equally optimistic, although their sights are not set so high. They enjoyed their best season for some time when they ended ninth and captain David Eckels sees no reason why the improvement cannot continue.

"The lads really gelled and it was nice not to be involved in a relegation battle. They say success breeds success and this was certainly the case with us.

"We were a lot more confident and we are buoyant for the new season," enthused Eckels who doubles up as captain and groundsman of the excellent Brinkburn Road ground.

Hartlepool look to have greater strength in depth with the signing of paceman Ashley Day as professional. Steve Chapman, who hit 1,167 runs at 55.6 last year, takes over as coach and other newcomers include Chris Harrison from Stockton, Naeem Faroz (Heaton Park) and student Oliver Jones.

Another bonus is the return of Ian Jackson and the left-arm bowler will play a prominent role after having a season off.

Blackhall are hoping for better times after ending a disappointing eighth last season when they failed to live up to expectations. In Imran Jan they had the league's top run-maker with 1,281 at 64.1. He also claimed 28 wickets with his right-arm spinners and has been re-engaged for a third season.

Jan has been entrusted with the captaincy, taking over from Ben Usher who will still be playing for the Collierymen. A noteable signing is all-rounder Steve Hanson from Easington.

It is all change at Acklam Park where Martin Ball comes in as captain in place of Danny Evans. Brenton Parchment, 21, an opening bat from Jamaica is professional and Dan Conway has joined from Marton and Mark Croft from Normanby Hall.

It is not all good news, however, as left-arm spinner Lee Beaumont will be missed following his move into the North-East Regional Premier League with Philadelphia.

His 55 wickets will take some making up and in addition Richard Storr has joined Saltburn and both Alex Roberts and James Lowe have become contracted to Durham County.

There is never much change in personnel at Northallerton who were up and down the table last time before finishing a creditable seventh. The club has Jonathan Barnes back for a ninth successive year - and they don't come any more reliable as 878 runs and 75 wickets testify.

All-rounder Steve McNicholas will lead Normanby Hall who have retained Mohamed Zahid as pro following his impressive 74 wicket haul in 2002. The Hall are stronger with the arrival from Peterlee of David Cross and Chris Vasey who was previously with Marton.

Thornaby, third bottom last time, have a new captain in Mark Bell while left-hand batsman and off-spinner Hrishikesh Kanitkar has arrived after playing 30 one-day internationals and a couple of Tests for India.

Chris Nichols, formerly with Marske and Gateshead Fell is coach and a further boost is the return of all-rounder Ian Still.

There are no changes in personnel at Redcar but Martin Hood has taken over as captain. Neil Russell will continue as coach and the club are hopeful that promising youngsters will come through into the first team. Sri Lankan Dulip Samaraweera is again professional.

Following one season in Division One, Bishop Auckland are confident now that they are back in the top flight. Paul Furby, who captained the side to their last championship, is cricket co-ordinator and Richard Hawthorn has returned to complement his all-round contribution with the role of coach.

Lee Hutton has switched from Darlington to add even more stability to the early order and Haran Marambe will be available in June.