Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League: Victories in their final two matches secured Bedale championship status in the First Division.

Bedale needed 20 points from their clashes against Northallerton and Harlow. But they went two better, pipping Harrogate for the title by three points.

Bedale last won the title in 1989 and had won it twice before.

Their 2-1 win over Northallerton was clinched when first string Phil Martin defeated Steve Hodgson 9-4, 6-9, 9-5, 9-3. Alan Peirson posted a 9-7, 8-10, 9-6, 9-7 win over Peter Pinkney for Bedale's other success.

Bedale's only reverse came when Dave Smiley went down to Keith Johnson 3-9, 9-7, 2-9, 4-9.

Bedale then rounded off their season in style, defeating Harlow 3-0.

Match scores (Bedale names first): Phil Martin beat Tom Ellis 0-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-3; Dave Smiley beat James Hannaway 9-3, 3-9, 0-9, 9-0, 9-1; Alan Peirson beat Rob Cunningham 3-9, 9-0, 9-3, 9-4.

Phil Martin played a key role for Bedale in their season's success after returning to the team following a spell away from the area at university. But a question mark hangs over his appearance for the team next season with future plans still undecided.

Bedale's other homespun heroes have been Alan Peirson and Dave Smiley, both making valuable contributions to the team's sucess in beating off the challenge from a club with far more players to choose from.

Otley finished third after beating Northallerton 2-1 but there was a significant gap between themselves and runners-up Harrogate.

How the top three finished in Division One: Bedale played 18, won 15, lost 3, 185 points; Harrogate played 18, won 16, lost 2, 182 points; Otley played 18 won 12, lost 6, 151 points.

This was Otley's first season in Division One after taking over from Ripon.

Wensleydale III and Bedale II are both relegated to Division Two. Both had gained promotion last season.

Promoted to the top flight as champions are Thirsk.

Skippered by Paul Goacher their regulars have included Steve Lacey and Derrick Jenkinson.

Pateley Bridge are also promoted. Wins by Steve Terry and James Gaston ensured promotion for Pateley with their 2-1 win over RAF Leeming.

Relegated from Division Two are Bedale III and Thorp Perrow.

In Division Three Harrogate Squash III are promoted as champions. Boroughbridge are also promoted in their first season in the league.

Harrogate have been skippered to success by Andy Winspeare. Their ranks have included Bruce Ramsey along with 15-year-olds Adam Hughes and Ian Woodhead.

Boroughbridge have been captained by Nigel Wick. Their key players have included Stuart Rennison, Tony Rennison, Dave Flintoft, Colin Leftly and Joe Royle.

Division One: Bedale 2 (Phil Martin, Alan Peirson) Northallerton 1 (Steve Hodgson); Harlow 0 Bedale 3 (Phil Martin, Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson); Harrogate Squash 3 (Paul Hotchkiss, Mark Harding, Dave Townsend) Wensleydale 0; Otley 2 (Matthew Wood, Mark Drury) Northallerton 1 (Steve Hodgson).

Division Two: Thirsk 1 (Steve Whiteley) Harlow II 2 (Martyn Hall, Dan Lupton); Pateley Bridge 2 (Steve Terry, James Gaston) RAF Leeming 1 (Steve Grant); Bedale IV 1 (Andy Hawkswell) Wensleydale III 2 (Ian Garth, Paul Holmes).

Division Three: Wensleydale IV 0 Harrogate Squash III 3 (Adam Hughes, Ian Woodhead, Bruce Ramsey); Harlow III 1 (Stuart Anderson) Catterick Garrison 2 (Rob Hammond, Rob Greaves); Harrogate Squash V 3 (James Styrin, Jamie Bartle, Christine Downing) Pateley Bridge II 0; Knaresborough II 2 (Phil Smelt, Peter Bottomley) Thirsk III 1 (Mark Fox).

Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League: Harrogate and Ilkley have been left to battle it out for the First Division title after fellow challengers Adel fell by the wayside.

Everything went to the final wire after Harrogate Squash chalked up a 3-0 win over Harlow and Ilkley repeated the dose for Collingham.

But Adel's 2-1 home defeat by one-time title holders Moortown meant the title race was a two-horse affair on the final lap.

Harrogate went into the final stage six points ahead of Ilkley, leaving the championship in doubt until the final furlong.

Adel had to play their key clash against Moortown without captain Mark Ambler.

And while his deputy Jon Hodgson took a victory there were defeats for Steve Glynn and Sean Fleming to seal the north Leeds side's championship fate.

Key match scores: Adel 1 Moortown 2 (Adel names first): Steve Glynn lost to Robin Mannell 1-9, 6-9, 7-9; Sean Fleming lost to Simon Evans 2-9, 6-9, 2-9; Jon Hodgson beat Graham Snowden 9-6, 9-4, 7-9, 9-6.

Harrogate Squash 3 Harlow 0 (Harrogate names first): Tony Nowakowski beat Steve Smith 4-9, 9-0, 9-2, 9-0; Martin Wickenden beat Nigel Chambers 9-7, 9-7, 9-4; Nicola Pratt beat Ben Dover 9-1, 9-0, 9-2.

Collingham 0 Ilkley 3 (Ilkley names first): Gareth Hutchinson beat Paul Roberts 9-6, 9-3, 2-9, 9-7; Andrew Hutchinson beat Anthony Kettlewell 9-5, 9-4, 10-8; one walk-over.

Meanwhile Otley and Collingham III are both relegated from Division One.

Ilkley II have clinched promotion to Division One while Knaresborough II and Harlow III are both going down to Division Three.