TWO of the region's minnows - as far as rink space goes - have won much-deserved recognition in the Domnick Hunter Durham County Inter-County Club Leagues.

The Division A title was won by Hebburn, which has only three rinks at its Tyneside base, while the four-rink Great Aycliffe club carried off the Division B championship, both with something to spare.

The final placings in Division A were: 1 Hebburn 591/2 pts; 2 Darlington 52; 3 City of Sunderland 48; 4 Hartlepool 47; 5 The Parks 42; 6 Stanley 35; 7 Gateshead 31; 8 Spennymoor 20.

Division B: 1 Great Aycliffe 77; 2 South Shields 70; 3 Shildon 65; 4 Ferryhill 57; 5 Durham 45; 6 Houghton 38; 7 Boldon 33; 8 Park View 28; 9 Consett 17.

In the County Veterans Leagues, Division One winners were Darlington A, Stanley took the Division Two title, Division Three was won by Hebburn and Hartlepool B topped Division Four.

The final placings after a four-way play-off between the respective dividional winners was: 1 Hartlepool 13pts; 2 Hebburn 8; 3 Darlington 6; 4 Stanley 2.

The Durham County Ladies Inter Club league went to the strong Darlington team, which finished the season with a comfortable winning margin.

The final league placings were: 1 Darlington 46pts; 2 South Shields 40; 3 Hartlepool 29; 4 Durham 21; 5 City of Sunderland 15; 6 Houghton 13.

The winners of the Hartlepool Indoor Club nine evening leagues in the Men's Fours competed in the inaugural Premier League.

When the last matches began Cliff Simpson, with all games played, was level with Glenn Skipp, whose last opponent was the John Wells quartet, who were two points behind both leaders.

But a convincing victory for Wells brought him level on points, and his vastly superior shots difference made him the first winner of the event.

With the outdoor season now under way, Durham County (EBA), under the presidency of Les Parnell, of Stockton Bowling Club, will be trying to emulate the heroics of their indoor brethren by bringing the National Inter-County Trophy back to Durham for only the second time.

Their opponents in the Middleton Cup are Northumberland, at Summerhill, Yorkshire at Middlesbrough and Cumbria at Spennymoor.