THE final meeting of the Yorkshire season, the South Durham at Howe Hills, saw great finishes to both the male and female jockeys' championships.

In the men's, Lee Bates came to the meeting trailing Nigel Tutty by four points. But, after the win of Sarah Duell's Mr McDuck in the opening race, the members, the pair were level.

The 11-year-old odds-on favourite led from the fifth, drew clear from the fourth last and kept on well to the line for a 12-length win. Heather Lad (C Taylor), ridden by David Raw, kept on for second without landing a blow on the winner, while Maria Myco's Romany Move weakened under Trevor Glass to finish a distant third.

Darak's third place in the confined, a race that was significant in the ladies' championship, saw Tutty go two points clear.

Tutty then wrapped up his first title for ten years when Hadaway Lad (K Waters, Braes) took the restricted.

The Tony Walker-trained Gentleman Charles (E Hewitt, Middleton) looked to have this race in the bag for most of the final circuit. He jumped the last in front, but Hadaway Lad was responding to Tutty's urgings.

In a good battle, the 10-1 shot drew level just after the last and forged clear on the run-in to win by five lengths. Gentleman Charles, ridden by Simon Walker, was second, five lengths in front of Hessac (Zetland). Ernie Fenwick's horse stayed on well in the closing stages to take third under T Davidson.

In the ladies' championship, Jo Foster started the day four points behind Tina Jackson, but got off to the best possible start when Quango (Yorks PTP Club, Pendle), whom she trains, took the confined.

Quango led going out on the final circuit and kept on under strong driving to win by two lengths.

Tina Jackson kept a two-point lead with Wynyard Dancer's (Cleveland) second place in the race. Alan Jackson's horse stayed on well from the second last and was still making progress when the line came. The Nigel Tutty-owned and ridden Darak (Hurworth) finished ten lengths back in third.

Foster and Jackson finished level after the ladies' open. Foster won on Silver Groom (Holderness), with Jackson second on Sally Scally (H Thompson, Cleveland), whom she trains.

Silver Groom has been largely responsible for Foster's late-season charge for the title. The David Easterby-trained horse has won four ladies' opens in a row.

Sally Scally pulled level at the final fence, but Silver Groom's superior turn of foot showed on the flat and he quickened away for a ten-length win. Sally Scally was 12 lengths clear of Deputy Leader (K Hunter, Vale of Lune), who stayed on late under Lucy Kendall.

Foster and Jackson failed to pick up any more points at the meeting, leaving them level, but Foster retained her title by virtue of riding more winners.

Silver Groom's win was the first leg of a double for owners Kay Barron and Tim Rose, completed when the Cherry Coward-trained Nordic Crest (Holderness) won the men's open.

David Coates tried to make all on his own Victoria's Boy (Pendle). They led until the third last where Nordic Crest, patiently ridden by Gino Carenza, drew level.

Nordic Crest led two out and looked to be going clear, but Victoria's Boy rallied on the flat. In a good finish, Nordic Crest kept on well under pressure to win by three lengths.

Victoria's Boy finished second, five lengths clear of Erni (Bilsdale), who kept on at one pace for owner Andrew Morris.

The final maiden winner of the season was the Richard Morley-trained Lord Scoop (Derwent), ridden by Michael Morley. He beat John Barker's Sams Way (Hurworth) by three lengths.

Sams Way finished three lengths in front of the favourite Nomadic Blaze (D Atkinson, Bedale), ridden by Peter Atkinson.