Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Championship: Bedale's foundations for success in winning the First Division Championship over Harrogate Squash were built on their regulars.

The return of Phil Martin from university provided just the boost needed to improve from runners-up spot last season to title holders this time around.

For most of their matches the club were able to turn out the same players.

Martin won 12 of his 17 matches, ever-present Dave Smiley won 15 out of 18 and skipper Alan Peirson took 13 successes in 16 appearances.

Runners-up Harrogate had a regular squad of six players, their best performers being Paul Hochkiss, winning 13 of his 15 matches while captain Mark Harding won 10 out of 12 encounters.

Thirsk, who dominated Division Two winning the title by six clear points, took their foot off the gas towards the end of the season. But they still kept Pateley Bridge in second place. RAF Leeming finished third after losing to Pateley Bridge in a showdown finale.

Once again a regular side proved highly successful for Thirsk where Paul Goacher was undefeated in 14 matches. Derrick Jenkinson won 12 from 16 and Stave Lacy secured eight victories but lost the same number.

But when there was an absentee Thirsk were able to call up Steve Whiteley from their second team who added three victories for the first squad to his 13 wins for the seconds. It provided an undefeated season for Whiteley in 16 matches.

Pateley Bridge suffered from their loss earlier in the season of Ben Bolton. His replacement Chris Lennox was sidelined for eight weeks because of injury. But these setbacks aside Steve Ball (nine wins in 13 matches) and Steve Terry (nine from 15) served the side well.

Despite the vagaries of service postings RAF Leeming fielded a fairly consistent team. Steve Grant clocked up 12 victories in 15 fixtures, Phil Hopkins winning 12 from 14 and Andy Huggett (eight from 16).

Wensleydale III team lost their top player Iain Garth for half the season. But he remained unbeaten in the nine matches he played.

In Division Three Harrogate Squash III used their team as an important grooming ground for two of their promising juniors. Adam Hughes, 14 and Ian Woodhead, 15, were backed up by seasoned campaigner Andy Winspeare.

Ian's father Martin and newcomer Bruce Ramsey also made important contributions. Ian won 13 of his 15 matches while Adam took victories in 11 of his 13 outings.

Adam underlined his promise by defeating Joe Royle of Boroughbridge 3-0 in the divisional individual championship.

Boroughbridge rejoined the league this season having previously taken part in the early Nineties. Despite using eight players they have performed with consistency and along with Harrogate Squash III dominated the division.

Joe Royle was the Boroughbridge side's most consistent performer winning nine of 10 matches. Simon Robinson and Tony Rennison were undefeated in their infrequent appearances. The team is run by Nigel Wick and has secured sponsorshi8p from AV Styan builders of Minskip.

Catterick Garrison were another new team this season. The Army side were one of the founders of the league in the Seventies and at one stage ran three sides.

They have made a successful return but just missed promotion behind Harrogate III and Boroughbridge.

Being a service team they inevitably have to use a large number of players. Fifteen were used during the season with Jason Hughes winning 11 of 12 matches.

Kall Kwik Harrogate League

Newcomers Bedale secured a notable double, capturing the Third Division Cup Final with a 4-1 win over Ripon at Harrogate Squash Club on Tuesday.

Earlier, Bedale had clinched promotion from Division Three, but it is not yet clear whether the club will accept elevation and may decide to stay down.

Bedale were led to cup success against Ripon by newly-crowned North Yorkshire champion Phil Martin.

Match scores - Bedale 4 Ripon 1 (Bedale names first): Phil Martin beat John Bailey 9-4, 9-7, 3-9, 9-4; Keith Parlour beat Tony Rennison 10-8, 9-5, 4-9, 8-9, 9-6; John Abbotson beat Sue Bailey 9-1, 9-4, 9-5; Mike Lumley beat Val Gears 9-1, 9-4, 9-5.

Trophies were presented by league co-founder Peter Leigh who along with a group of enthusiasts established the competition 30 years ago with a handful of teams in one divsion.

Now there are 35 teams in three divisions, plus 39 junior league teams competing from under-11s to under-17s.

Meanwhile, Holders Harrogate Squash Club were beaten in a grandstand finish by Leeds side Chapel Allerton in the Kall Kwik Harrogate Squash League's First Division knock-out cup final.

Chapel Allerton took the match 3-2, victory being achieved with the final match on court.

Leeds University student Nick Murrills tipped the match in Chapel Allerton's favour when he defeated Simon Myring in a final match punctuated by lengthy rallies with both players displaying a range of shots.

Murrills took the match 9-0, 5-9, 9-7, 4-9, 9-0. In the final game Myring's winners, which had extended the match earlier, failed to materialise.

Match scores - Chapel Allerton 3 Harrogate Squash 2 (Chapel Allerton names first): Nick Murrills beat Simon Myring 9-0, 5-9, 9-7, 4-9, 9-0; Nick King lost to Adam Nowakowski 0-9, 4-9, 5-9; Peter Edwards lost to Tony Nowakowski 9-4, 4-9, 8-9, 0-9; Peter Ball beat Martin Wickenden 9-5, 4-9, 7-9, 9-2, 9-7; Mark Pinkertona beat Nicola Pratt 9-6, 9-3, 10-8.