After a 15 year absence from the Senior English County Championships, Durham bounced back in amazing style by taking the second Division title. Durham's had decided to enter a senior team to give the growing number of talented youngsters the chance to gain valuable experience.

Sunderland's vastly experienced Dave Robson led the team comprising of five Darlington youngsters. Ex junior stars Michael Marsden and Kate Vickers, joined current junior county regulars Kevin Wilson, Joanne Meads and Claire Wilson, with all five making their senior debuts.

The whole division was played at the Auto Quest Stadium in Widnes and Durham's young side raised their standards superbly to win all six matches. Victories over Cleveland 7-3, Cheshire 6-4, Warwicks 7-3, Warwicks 2nd 10-0, Leicestershire 8-2 and Cumbria 8-2 gave Durham their first senior title for 20 years. Cleveland finished in second place and even here the Darlington influence was evident with Stephanie Donnelly and Tony Wilson in their five strong team.

Robson was full of praise for the young Durham team, "The team spirit was excellent and every time we needed a special performance the kids provided it. They were all brilliant" he said.

More evidence of Darlington's growing stature came in the East Midlands English Select Open at Grantham. Chris Close (12) was among many reaching the later stages, eventually losing out to eventual finalist Louis Rosenthal (Lancs). David Meads and Simon Donnelly were only stopped by current top five U14's Paul Drinkall (Cleve) and Niv Bogen (Middlesex), and Jonathan de Wind took the opening sat from national number five Dominic Hall (Kent) before losing in four sets. Joanne Meads and Claire Wilson came closest to tasting title success, reaching the U17 Girls Doubles final. The 15 year olds ended the hopes of England's number seven and nine ranked girls, Kelly Sibley (Warwicks) and Nicola White (Yorks) in a superb five set semi final victory, eventually finding England's number two and four, Natallie Bawden (Middlesex) and Georgina Walker (Notts) too strong.

This weekend Darlington's juniors play in the first weekend of County Junior team matches at Greencroft School in Annfield Plain. Durham's two teams play against Northumberland, Conwy and Conwy 2nd's where Jonathan de Wind, Simon Donnelly, Samantha McCormick and Rachel Greener, join Sunderland's Chris Dixon and Greencroft's Jessica Panting in making their first county appearances. Kevin Wilson, David Meads, Andrew Leighton, Mark Simpson, Claire Wilson and Joanne Meads form the main squad with Philip Robinson the only second team player with county team experience.