Invincipble Northallerton have won promotion for the third successive season - and they have yet to suffer their first defeat.

Their 6-5-2.5 victory over Birstwith means they have now gone a remarkable 36 matches without defeat since joining the league three seasons ago.

They won the Division Six title at their first attempt, followed that by taking the Fifth Division championship and are now promoted from Division Four.

Paying tribute to Northallerton's unbeaten run league secretary Ian Hargreaves the team had been able to put out a largely settled and provide good reserves when needed. He also praised the club's efficient off-court organisation.

"At the moment no one knows just how far Northallerton will rise up the league until they find their level after joining us from the Cleveland League," said Hargreaves.

But the feeling is that if they do reach Division One they could well boost their side with additional players.

Northallerton's promotion clinching victory against Birstwith was achieved by the following scorelines (Northallerton names first): Chris Brown and Margaret Fenwick beat Mike Wood and Di Burton 6-2, 6-3; beat Paul Stephenson and Janet Hutsby 6-3; beat James Aykroyd and Carolyn Bury 6-0, 6-0.

Paul Collier and Sue Pratt lost to Wood and Burton 2-6, 3-6; beat Stephenson and Hutsby 6-4, 6-1; beat Aykroyd and Bury 6-1.

Graham Iveson and Jackie Wonders (captain) lost to Wood and Burton 5-7; halved with Stephenson and Hutsby 6-2, 5-6; beat Aykroyd and Bury 6-4, 6-1.

Meanwhile, in Division One Harlow are on the brink of taking the championship with only Thirsk and The Academy able to catch them.

But Knaresborough's gloomy season, without a win in 11 matches, means they are relegated to Division Two following their 6.5-2.5 home defeat by Boroughbridge.

Division One: Spa 8 Knaresborough 1; Thirsk 6.5 Harlow A 2.5; Knaresborough 2.5 Boroughbridge 6.5.

Division Two: Masham 3 Harrogate Racquets A 6; Harlow B 3 West Tanfield 6.

Division Three: Wetherby 4 Harrogate Racquets B 5; Ripon 6.5 Knaresborough A 2.5; Thirsk A 9 Harlow C 0.

Division Four: Harrogate Racquets C 2.5 Wetherby A 6.5; Northallerton 6.5 Birstwith 2.5; Harrogate Racquets C 7.5 Thirsk B 1.5; Boroughbridge A 2 Starbeck 7; Ripon A 3 Wetherby A 6.

Division Five: Starbeck A 2 Bedale A 7; Birstwith A 2 Northallerton A 7; Spa A 4.5 Masham A 4.5.

Division Six: Dacre B 2.5 West Tanfield B 0.5; Knaresborough B 3 Spa B 6; Bedale B 2 Wetherby B 7; West Tanfield B 4.5 Knaresborough B 4.5; Burton Leonard 6 Ripon C 3; Spa B 5 Harrogate Racquets D 4.

Fearless Hetty Alton is making a big impression on the Yorkshire tennis scene.

The ten-year-old from Spofforth, near Harrogate, with battling qualities far beyond her years, has already been dubbed a junior version of Britain's Elena Baltacha, who brought a ray of hope for the country's women's fortunes at Wimbledon recently.

Hetty's daredevil policy is now putting opponents to flight far beyond the county boundaries.

Just like 19-year-old Baltacha Hetty is rarely prepared to camp on the baseline and simply return the ball.

Keen observers have already noticed there's more than a dash of fizz about her "let's got for it" approach.

Hetty has been playing since she was five, encouraged by her mother Louise, who plays social tennis at Harrogate's Academy.

"Hetty came into the game quite by fluke. I had just gone to play a casual game and she became involved in playing with a group of youngsters after school. We're not a tennis playing family, but someone obviously spotted her potential," said mum.

Hettty's progress has been guided by Yorkshire county player and coach at Harrogate's Academey Jane Donald from Armley, Leeds.

Donald, who progressed from the obscurity of park courts in Leeds via Armley Tennis Club to county status, has been encouraged by Hetty's tenacity on court.

Already a member of the National Futures squad Hetty helped Yorkshire reach the finals of the under 10s inter county championships this season.

Her father Mark, who farms 1,500 acres at Spofforth, was a keen rugby union player while his wife made her mark at showjumping. But there is no pedigree in the family for tennis.

Dad agrees Hetty is in the braveheart brigade once she gets a racket in her hand and won't pull back from bids for outright winners.

The youngster is a pupil at Queen Ethelburga's College, Ouseburn, and seems destined to continue climbing the rankings.

Harrogate tennis coach Jane Donald teamed up with former Arthington player Claire Sewell to win the Yorkshire Women's Doubles Championship at Chapel Allerton, Leeds.

It was the first time Donald had won the event while Sewell was the holder along with Sarah Gregg from Hull.

The Donald-Sewell partnership took the title by defeating Nicola Mooney (Selby) and Victoria Wing (Leeds) 6-2, 6-4.

Donald coaches at The Academy in Harrogate and this week is representing Yorkshire in Group One of County Week at Eastbourne where the White Rose brigade is aiming to retain its newly-promoted status.

Sewell, now a physiotherapist working in London, started her tennis career via a family court at Arthington, and previously played at Chapel Allerton.

But there was no glory for Sewell in the Yorkshire women's singles' final where Gregg took the championship 6-4, 6-2.

In the men's event Harrogate-based American pastor Doug Keen, the Harrogate and District title holder, reached the final of the men's doubles with newly-crowned Yorkshire champion Andrew Banks (Wakefield).

The pair were beaten 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 in a match which reached a thrilling finish against Gary Henderson (Heaton) and Jason Torpey (Sheffield).

In the men's singles Keen went out in the quarter finals, beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Scarborough's Ben Riby, who successfully partnered Banks to the Junior Wimbledon final two years ago.

Yarm Club

Yarm Club has appointed Anne Clayton as Head Coach. Anne is an experienced tennis player and coach, who over the years has worked tirelessly to promote and develop local tennis. She first represented Durham & Cleveland in 1976 and has continued to represent the county at all age levels, and still does to this day. In the year 2000 Anne celebrated her tenth year as Ladies County Captain - the longest serving ladies captain in the recorded history of Durham & Cleveland and in the same year recorded her 21st County Week appearance. Anne won many County singles and doubles titles and was awarded her County colours in 1980. In 1996 she was elected a member of the County LTA Executive Committee and the following year made an Hon. Life Vice-President for services to tennis.

At the moment Anne is still Ladies County Captain, County Executive member, Chairperson of County Competitions & Tournaments Committee, Captain of County Ladies Over 35 team, Manager of County U18 girls team, Captain of Ladies Nat.West (Now RBS) team, Captain of Yarm ladies & a Yarm Committee member.