Front runners Bedale have been knocked off their perch at the head of Division One.

Their 3-0 defeat by Harrogate Squash means they drop to second spot, with Harrogate taking over at the top.

Squash clinch the leading position thanks to a better rubbers' average. Both sides on 80 points from eight matches. Bedale have now lost twice this season, Squash only once.

Harrogate Squash 3, Bedale 0 (Harrogate names first): Smon Myring beat Phil Martin 9-1, 9-2, 4-9, 9-6; Phil Hopkins beat Dave Smiley 10-8, 9-4, 9-5; Mark Harding beat Alan Peirson 9-6, 6-9, 9-0, 10-9.

Meanwhile, current title holders Harrogate Squash II suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Otley, although Squash remain third in the table.

Wins by former Ripon player John Bailey and Matt Wood sealed victory for Otley. Bailey beat Sam Peacock 9-4, 9-4, 9-3 while Sam's father Bob went down 4-9, 1-9, 9-3, 9-5, 9-4 to Wood.

Thirsk clubs tightened their grip on the top places in Division Two. Thirsk first team stay top with 77 points, but Thirsk II are just five points behind in second place after beating Pateley Bridge 2-1. Steve Whiteley and Steve Snodgrass won for Thirsk, Chris Lennox for Pateley.

Rapid progress made by two 14-year-olds - Ian Woodhead and Adam Hughes - has helped transform the fortunes of Harrogate Squash III. Last season the side were in the doldrums but this term they have bounched back to take second place in Division Two. Hughes was missing from the latest line-up but his side won the battle of the unbeaten rivals, edging home 2-1 against Boroughbridge.

Despite the setback Boroughbridge remain top on 90 points, three more than Squash III.

Boroughbridge 1, Harrogate Squash III 2 (Boroughbridge names first): Colin Leftly lost to Andy Winspeare 4-9, 3-9, 7-9; Dave Flintoft lost to Ian Woodhead 9-5, 6-9, 4-9, 6-9; Nigel Wick beat Martin Woodhead 9-5, 3-9, 2-9, 10-8, 9-0.

Division One: Harrogate Squash 3 (Simon Myring, Paul Hotchkiss, Mark Harding) Bedale 0; Otley 2 (Matt Wood, John Bailey) Harrogate Squash II 1 (Martin Wickenden); Knaresborough 3 (James Lambley, Tim Russell, John Evans) Wensleydale 0.

Division Two: Knaresborough II 1 (Peter Bottomley) Wensleydale III 2 (Ian Garth, Paul Holmes); Thorpe Perrow 0 RAF Leeming 3 (Phil Hopkins, Andy Huggett, Mark Mallinson); Bedale IV 1 (Mike Lumley) Harlow II 2 (Dan Lupton, Dave Allenby).

Division Three: Boroughbridge 1 (Nigel Wick) Harrogate Squash III 2 (Andy Winspeare, Ian Woodhead); Harrogate Squash IV 2 (Ian Simmons, Graeme Kilvington) Catterick Garrison 1 (Jason Hughes); Harrogate Squash V 1 (Brian Williamson) Knaresborough III 2 (Phil Smelt, Chris Robinson); Harlow III 3 (Jim McGuinness, Stuart Anderson, John Lovell) Pateley Bridge II 0.

Harrogate and District First Division Championship

Holder Ian Cawthorne cruised through to the semi-finals, beating Harrogate Squash Club junior Adam Nowakowski 9-2, 9-0, 9-2.

Cawthorne (Scott Hall) unable to hit peak form recently made his experience tell despite the enthusiasm of his young rival.

Cawthorne's task in trying to retain the title may have been eased by the surprise withdrawal of top seed Simon Myring (Harrogate Squash). His pull out meant that Chapel Allerton's Nick King went through to the semi-finals on a walk-over.

In an all-Harrogate Squash Club quarter-final unseeded Nicola Pratt

was unable to maintain her early promise in the clash against Tony Nowakowski, father of Adam. Tony Nowakowski won his quarter final 6-9, 9-4, 9-1, 9-2.

In the remaining quarter final clash Nick Murrills (Chapel Allerton) beat Robin Mannell (Moortown) 9-2, 9-3, 5-9, 9-4.

Other quarter finals, Division Two: Jonty Hawkes (Ilkley) beat Mark Armitage (Ilkley) 9-7, 10-9, 9-7; Tom Songhurst (Ilkley) beat John Evans (Knaresborough) 9-6, 6-9, 9-5, 9-7; James Hannaway (Harlow) beat Peter Bottomley (Knaresborough) 9-7, 3-9, 4-9, 9-3, 9-1; Simon Robinson (Boroughbridge) beat Paul Duncalf (Harrogate Squash) 9-5, 9-2, 9-4.

Division Three: Chris Lennox (Pateley Bridge) beat Steve Holroyd (Moortown) 9-5, 9-3, 9-3; Ben Bolton (Pateley Bridge) beat Dan Lupton (Harlow) 9-5, 9-0, 9-3.

The semi-finals are being held at Knaresborough tonight starting at 7.30pm.

The finals are scheduled for Harrogate Squash Club on Monday, 7.30pm.

Kall Kwik Harrogate

and District

Ithe Under-17 League, Chapel Allerton are out in front with 30 points from four wins on the bounce. Collingham, who have lost just once, are second five points behind.

Harrogate are third just one point behind Collingham.

Chapel Allerton are also leading in the Under 15 and Under 13 sections. But in the under-13s Harrogate are in third place, two points behind second placed York side Wigginton and seven less than leaders Chapel Allerton.

Wigginton are in control at the top of the under-11 league with 22 points. Chapel Allerton have 18 and third placed Harrogate 13, but Harrogate have a match in hand on their better placed rivals.