Harrogate and District League: Players competing in the League will be given a referendum on planned changes which failed to gain approval at the league's annual meeting.

Several major changes were tabled but member clubs decided instead of introducing them the league's 600 players should be given a say in a questionnaire ahead of any change for next season.

Suggestions for change included:

Dropping from six to four players per team

Include men's, women's and mixed doubles

Playing shorter sets to reduce length of matches

Players involved in 52 teams from Thirsk in the north to the west Yorkshire border in the south were stepping on court this week as the league's new season got under way.

League secretary Ian Hargreaves felt it was important to get the views of players rather than just going ahead with major changes on the vote of some club representatives.

"What we are doing now should not be set in stone, just because we have been doing it for 40 years. It was agreed that we do nothing this year but examine all options for the future," he said.

Hargreaves said that lifestyles had changed dramatically since the league introduced its present format. Working habits had changed dramatically with people travelling long distances to commute and this had led for some to call for shorter matches.

But there were others who were quite happy to continue as it is.

There were no new teams this season and only one resignation - Harrogate-based Spa team pulled out their third team.

l A junior team from Harrogate have won the Yorkshire mini tennis championship for the second successive season.

The under-9 side based at The Academy routed rivals from Ilkley, Hull, Sheffield and Huddersfield to retain the trophy. And they achieved a 3-1 victory in each match.

Proud team manager Jane Donald, who coaches at The Academy, said: "It was a tremendous performance to retain the championship against such opposition from around the county."

Representing the county winners were: Alex Blogg, Jonathan Macaulay, Imogen Gosling, Zoe Ellaby, George Ellaby.

Donald, who plays for Yorkshire's senior team, also steered her under-8 charges to finish third in their county group.

They were represented by: Jonathan Macaulay, Harry Stothard, Will Topham, Imogen Gosling, Maisie Axon, Sophie Sowerby.