Inter County Men's Grass Court Championship

After a week's play the side pipped Kent by a single rubber to win the championship they last held two years ago. Keen, 34, who comes from New Mexico and is now a pastor in Harrogate, appeared in the side's 7-2 win over Cheshire, the 6-3 victory against Surrey and a 7-2 triumph over Buckinghamshire.

Keen's contribution of six rubbers during the week helped Yorkshire remain undefeated until they lost the final match to Kent 4-5, but took the title on capturing 30 rubbers during the week against Kent's 29.

Although the oldest member of the team Keen's all-round play impressed team boss Steve McLoughlin and it is unlikely to be his last appearance for the county.

Keen, who plays at The Academy in Harrogate and is the Harrogate Open Champion, was described by one observer at Eastbourne as Yorkshire's sharp-shooting evangelist.

The Yorkshire success was also boosted by the appearance of Scarborough's Ben Riby, who recently won the Yorkshire Championships, beating Keen in the final.

It was Keen's tenacity in the Yorkshire Championships which impressed McLoughlin who decided on the spot to put the American in his side for County Week.

And there was no let up this week for Keen. He was seeded second favourite in the Hastings Direct British Tour, being held as part of the Ilkley Open Championships.

Keen is seeded to meet Ian Flanagan (Notts) in Saturday's final (2pm).

Meanwhile, at Birmingham Yorkshire women confounded their critics who had predicted relegation from Group Two.

The side finished third and team boss Karen Mitchell, sister of McLoughlin, predicts they can clinch promotion next season.

The Yorkshire side were aided by Harrogate Academy-based coach Jane Donald who achieved some vital victories to ensure the side did not slip into the relegatin zone.

Slazenger Harrogate and District League

Harrogate Racquets have deposed Boroughbridge as Division One leaders in a helter skelter finale to the Slazenger Harrogate and District Tennis League Championship.

Thirsk and The Academy are also involved in the dash for glory.

Two easy victories for Racquets - by 8-1 against relegation haunted Bedale and 7.5-1.5 against their second teamers - put them on top with 18 points - two more than Boroughbridge. But Boroughbridge have two matches in hand.

The two sides are due to meet next week in a pivotal clash. Thirsk and The Academy also face each other in a four pointer.

Racquets' first strings Jonathan Smail and Cath Varley won all three rubbers against Bedale. And there was a hat-trick return from Jonathan Tindall and Frederique Brown. The partnership of Oliver Scaife and Pauline Edwards won two matches.

The 7.5-1.5 Racquets' victory over their second team was taken by the following scorelines: Jonathan Smail and Gillian Smail beat Graham Penkett and Pauline Edwards 6-4, 6-2; beat Nick Atkinson and Yvonne Richards 6-2, 6-1; beat Dominic Crowther and Jackie McBurney 6-4.

Oliver Scaife and Cath Varley beat Penkett and Edwards 6-1; beat Atkinson and Richards 6-4, 6-2; beat Crowther and McBurney 6-1, 6-0.

John Hargreaves and Frederique Brown halved with Penkett and Edwards 6-4, 3-6; lost to Atkinson and Richards 5-7; beat Crowther and McBurney 6-3, 6-3.

But the close situation in the top flight is nothing compared with the one in Division Two.

The Academy A team lead the way on 16 points. Second from bottom Knaresborough are on ten points, which would normally signal safety at this stage of the season. Yet they still fear relegation and could mathematically still take the second promotion spot.

The Academy are likely championship candidates with Ben Rhydding, Harlow A, Dacre, Harlow B, Raskelf and Knaresborough all with a chance of elevation.

But with the campaign so close Harlow B, Raskelf and Knaresborough are all potential relegation candidates.

Thirsk B became the first side to clinch a championship this season. They took the Division Five crown, easily beating nearest challengers Ripon B 8.5-0.5.

Sealing championship success for the Thirsk side were Jonathan Charge and Pippa Bailey (two and a half rubbers); Lawrence Ireland and Gabriella Ireland (three) and Howard Brown and Pauline Brown (three).

On the relegation front there was double gloom for the Harlow club. Their C team were relegated from Division Three. The side are without a win in 11 matches, having lost 10 and drawn one.

And in Division Four Harlow D were also relegated with one victory, one draw and nine defeats.

Division One: Harrogate Racquets 8 Bedale 1; The Academy 7.5 Bedale 1.5; Harrogate Racquets A 1.5 Harrogate Racquets 7.5.

Division Two: Knaresborough 2.5 The Academy A 6.5; Harrogate Racquets B 2.5 Ben Rhydding 6.5; Dacre 4 Raskelf 5; Harlow B 6 Harlow A 3.

Division Three: Harlow C 3 Masham 6; West Tanfield 4.5 Starbeck 4.5; Northallerton 7 Wetherby 2; Ripon 5 Thirsk A 4.

Division Four: Ripon A 4.5 Dacre A 1.5; Harrogate Racquets C 4.5 Boroughbridge A 4.5; Wetherby A 6.5 Northallerton A 2.5; Harlow D 2 Knaresborough A 7.

Division Five: Bedale A 4 Birstwith 5; Thirsk B 8.5 Ripon B 0.5; West Tanfield A 2 Spa A 1; Wetherby B 5 Thirsk B 4.

Division Six: Burton Leonard 4 West Tanfield B 2; Raskelf A 8 Knaresborough B 1; Spa B 2 Dacre B 7; Thirsk C 5 Ripon C 4.

Norton Squash Club

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Inter-County Cup

Durham and Cleveland ladies finished third in division five of the Grasscourts Championships in Cheltenham to give themselves a narrow edge in the domestic rivalry over their male counterparts who were fourth in Southsea, also in group five with both teams retaining their status.

Promotion had been a realistic prospect for each. The ladies, for whom Joanne Cunliffe and Libby Fletcher, and Lynsey Davison and Claire Smith, performed very well, capturing ten and nine rubbers respectively, from the four matches they played as couples, were one of four sides fighting for two promotion spots.

D and C chalked up three wins, over West Scotland, Hampshire and Isle of Wight and Avon, all by 6-3, but lost to Shropshire and Northants, for an aggregate of 25 points. Second placed Shropshire finished with three wins and 26 rubbers, whilst the champions Hants/IOW lost only once - ironically to D and C.

On the last day Ms Davison was unavailable. One her way to Ireland, and despite the valuable effort be veteran third pair Anne Clayton and Christine Hellpeel who took one rubber, the 4-5 loss to Northants was a disappointing end to the week. Ms Fletcher had missed the opening day defeat.

The countrymen recovered from two early defeats, by Notts and outstanding champions Norfolk to win against East Scotland, Avon and Suffolk, to register a total of 25 rubbers. That was one short of Notts, and three behind second placed Avon; such was the tightness of competition in the group, all three winning group times.

Partnerships were frequently altered so that no one couple was a solid basis for the team. Even so, world ranked Daniel Kiernan chalked up twelve rubbers out of 15, with four different partners. Considerable contributions were also made by Phil Fowler, Nigel Beavers and Adam Barratclough.

There had been danger of relegation, but hope of a promotion, in second spot, as champions Norfolk included four highly rated national standard players.

Women Group Five (Cheltenham)

P W L F P

Hants and IOWight 5 4 1 27 8

Shropshire 5 3 2 26 6

DURHAM & CLEVELAND 5 3 2 25 6

West Scotland 5 3 2 21 6 *

Northants 5 2 3 21 4

Avon 5 0 5 12 0

Men Group Five (Southsea)

P W L F P

Norfolk 5 5 0 34 10

Avon 5 3 2 28 6

Notts 5 3 2 26 6

DURHAM AND CLEVELAND 5 3 2 25 6

East Scotland 5 1 4 9 2

County Results

Women v Shropshire 3-6, v West Scotland 6-3, v Hants/IOW 6-3, v Avon 6-3, v Northants 4-5.

Men v Notts 3-6, v Norfolk 4-5, v E Scotland 7-2, v Avon 5-4, v Suffolk 6-3.

County Squads

(with club appearances and wins)

Women: Laura Bailey, T World, five, 4; Anne Clayton, Yarm, two, 1; Joanne Cunliffe TW, five , 11; Lynsey Davison, TW, four, 9; Libby Fletcher, TW, four, 10; Christine Heppell, S&B, one, 1; Vicky Jones, Boldon, four, 4; Claire Smith, TW, five, 10; Mark Franklin TW, four, 4; Guy Galpin SHRC, three, 2; Daniel Kiernan S and B five, 12; Nick Osborne TW, two, 3; Brent Parker one, 1.

Women Group Five *

D and C 6 West Scotland 3

J Cunliffe and L Fletcher bt N Burns and R Owen 2-6 6-1 6-4; bt H Lockhart and E Stevenson 6-0 6-4 bt N Allan and H Graham 6-2 6-4.

L Davidson and C Smith bt Burns and Owen 4-6 6-3 6-3; bt Lockhart and Stevenson 3-6 2-6 lost to Allan and Graham 4-6 3-6.

D and C 6 Hants/IOW 3

J Cunliffe and L Fletcher lost to C Gunn and H Piercy 1-6 2-6 bt C Aldridge and D Hale 6-4 6-2, bt S Korving and L Radford 6-4 6-3.

L Davison and C Smith lost to Gunn and Piercy 2-6 0-6, bt Aldridge and Hale 6-2 6-1 bt Korving and Radford 6-2 7-5.

L Bailey and V Jones lost to Gunn and Piercy 2-6 0-6, bt Aldridge and Hale 1-6 6-3 7-6; bt Korving and Radford 6-2 6-3.

D and C 6Avon 3.

J Conliffe and I Fletcher bt K Hiscott and K Leach 6-4 6-4; bt A Blackett and R Henley 6-0 6-3 bt R Ford and B Thompson 6-1 6-0.

I Davison and C Smith lost to Hiscott and Leach 4-6 4-6 bt Blackett and Henley 6-3 4-6 6-4; bt Ford and Thompson 6-1 6-3. **

D and C 4, Northants 5.

J Cunliffe and L Fletcher lost to I Butcher and V Wild 7-5 4-6 1-6 bt H Green and H Richardson 6-0 6-2; bt R Everson-Watts and C Gibbons 6-2 6-4.

L Bailey and C Smith lost to Butcher and Wild 3-6 4-6 lost to Green and Richardson 2-6 2-6 bt E Watts and Gubbins 6-2 6-3.

A Clayton and C Heppell lost to Butcher and Wild 2-6 4-6 lost to Green and Richardson 1-6 6-3 2-6 bt E Watts and Gubbins 6-3 3-6 6-4.

Men Group Five

D and C 4 Norfolk 5

A Barratclough and D Kiernan lost to N Crawley and R Bloomfield 6-7 4-6 bt J Auckland and B Fulcher 6-4 6-4 bt B Jenner and R Reeve 6-4 6-3.

P Fowler and M Franklin lost to Crawley and Bloomfield 1-6 3-6 lost to Auckland and Fulcher 3-6 4-6 bt Jenner and Reeve 6-1 7-5.

N Beavers and G Galpin lost to Crawley and Bloomfield 6-7 3-6 lost to Auckland and Fulcher 4-6 5-7 bt Jenner and Reeve 6-3 6-7 6-1.

D and C 3, Notts 6.

N Beavers and D Kiernan lost to J Drummons and A Wakefield 6-4 6-7 3-6 bt E MacShane and M Powell 6-3 6-1 bt A Maskill and M Wisner 6-7 6-4 7-6.

A Barratclough and P Fowler lost to Drummond and Wakefield 3-6 6-7 bt MacShane and Powell 6-2 6-4; lost to Maskill and Wisner 6-7 7-6 4-6.

M Franklin and G Galpin lost to Drummond and Wakefield 3-6 3-6 lost to MacShane and Powell 4-6 3-6 lost to Maskill and Wisner 2-6 3-6. D and C 7 East Scotland 2

n Beavers and D Kiernan bt B Barnett and R Murdoch 6-7 6-2 6-3; bt J Barr and S McGuchin 6-4 6-2; bt J Brown and K Duffy 6-2 6-4. A Barratclough and P Fowler bt Barnett and Murdoch 6-1 6-4; bt Barr and McGuchin 3-6 6-3 6-1 bt Brown and Duffy 6-4 6-3.

M Franklin and G Galpin bt Barnett and Murdoch 7-6 6-4; lost to Barr and McGauchin 6-3 3-6 3-6, lost to Brown and Duffy 6-7 3-6.

D and C 5, Avon 4.

P Fowler and D Kiernan bt D Della and P Martin 6-3 6-1; bt E Cooper and J Frost 6-4 2-6 6-3; bt M Bray and M Edwards 6-2 6-3.

A Barratclough and N Beavers lost to Fella and Martin 3-6 7-6 4-6 lost to Cooper and Frost 3-6 5-7 bt Bray and Edwards 3-6 6-3 6-4.

N Osborne and B Parker bt Fella and Martin 1-6 6-1 7-6; lost to Cooper and Frost 2-6 2-6; lost to Bray and Edwards 3-6 4-6.

D and C 6 Suffolk 3.

A Barratclough and O Fowler lost to J Corley and O Haldenby 6-7 5-7 bt O Hough and A Sutton 7-6 6-4; bt B Cooper and K Mee 6-2 6-2. D Kiernan and n Osborne lost to Cowley and Haldenby 6-7 6-7 bt Hough and Sutton 6-4 6-3; bt Cooper and Mee 6-3 6-3.

N Beavers and M Franklin lost to Cowley and Haldenby 6-4 3-6 0-1 bt Hough and Sutton 6-2 6-2; bt Cooper and Mee 6-2 6-2.

Hastings Direct Tour

Tennis World's Lynsey Davison, the county number two, will have Durham and Cleveland colleagues Claire Smith and Vicky Jones as rivals, amongst others, in this week's Hastings Direct Tournament in Ilkley. The Nunthorpe woman should be seeded, with the highest national standard of rating, behind three world ranked players, headed by top seed Rebecca Llewellyn of Wales, who has beaten Lynsey twice in recent weeks in Frinton and Nottingham.

In the mens singles D and C's Adam Barratclough also a 1.4 rated player, will have Ian Flanagan (Notts) as the favourite in his event. Also competing is the American Doug Keen, a Harrogate Academy and Yorkshire County player.

Batchelors Ripon City Open Junior Tournament

Peter Murray and Caroline Mount captured the 18 and under singles titles in last week's popular tournament at the Ripon Tennis Centre. These were two of many teenagers from West Yorkshire who dominated the ten events, although Andrew Gill from Bedale won the boys 14 and under singles and gave North Yorkshire a place in the roll of honour.

This local player had caused an upset in the semifinals in ousting andrew Denny, who later won the 16s by 3-6 7-5 1-0. Gill made a fighting comeback after losing the first set to draw level, and kept his nerve to win the deciding tiebreak sudden death game and make the final. He then accounted for Sam Horrix quite comfortably.

The tournament was sponsored for the first time by Batchelors, the Vauxhall dealers in Ripon and Pickering. They had already at the beginning of the season backed the complete junior coaching programme at the centre whose manager Dennis Thompson expressed his appreciation at the very considerable help given by the business. The sponsorship was initiated in 2002 with the support for local girl Laura Gilbert, from Boroughbridge, who now at age 13, is a national squad player and on occasions travels to the LTA's base at La Manga in Spain. She is still looked after by her original coach Brent Parker in Middlesbrough, and now also by David Drake and Will Brannan at Ripon.

Peugeot Inter Club Challenge

Top seeds Yarm have reached the North East area quarterfinals without yet contesting a fixture, by virtue of a first round bye and a second round warlkover from local rivals Tennis World. They will play Norton, conquerors of the Newcastle club Gosforth. A Tyne/Derwent battle sees frequent winter league adversaries Jesmond and Shotley/Benfieldside meeting in the second quarter of the draw.

North East Round Two: Yarm wo Tennis World, Norton 2, Gosforth 1; Jesmond 2, David Lloyd Stockton A 0; Esporta Sunderland 1, Shotley/Benfieldside 2; Hallamshire Sheffield 2, Hallam Grange Sheffield 0; Cottingham wo Harrogate Racquets; Rawdon Leeds 2, York 0; Heaton Bradford conc David Lloyd Leeds.