Civil Service's incredible 29-year domination of York netball has finally come to an end.

Haxby 1 have overthrown Service's winning tradition that has been in place since the league was formed 30 years ago after twice beating the long-term champions by more than 12 goals on each occasion.

Val Kennedy of Haxby has been waiting for this moment since forming the club in May 1980.

She said: "It's fantastic. It has taken 24 years but all credit to Civil Service - nobody will do that again - their record will never be beaten.

"Haxby have eaten away and eaten away in the past few seasons and have just got better and better.

"But you can't take what Civil Service have achieved away from them."

Briz Mennell, captain of Civil Service 1, said: "The fact that we have four first team players out this season expecting babies has made winning the league virtually impossible. However, even with a full squad I'm not sure we would have taken the title again, it certainly would have been a close run thing.

"Our congratulations to the new champions Haxby, who have had a good youth policy in their club for a while and now have a young side worthy to take away our glory. They play a hard, strong, committed game, with certain Haxby players definitely benefiting through the recent merger of our two clubs which now represents York in the West Yorkshire Super League.

"With these maturing netball skills along with their good organised team play they have produced a good strong team to take over the crown of champions this year.

"That said, we only see this as a temporary blip, and hope, with our team back to full strength next year and a crop of young players coming through, that we will be up there challenging strongly to recapture the first division championship from our own permanent club base."

Haxby's team have an average age of just 23, and include former junior international goal keeper Gemma Gibson, 22, who was converted to goal shooter and with partner in crime Gemma Grant, 20, at goal attack, has shot an incredible 743 goals in 17 games so far - the highest in the league.

Wing attack Lynn Officer, 24, has been playing for Haxby for ten years, and is one of the most senior members of the seven along with wing defence Yvonne Petruso, 31, and goal keeper Donna Cox, 26. Captain Emma Caywood, 22, has led the side from goal defence, while 19-year-old Gemma Shaw was the centre.

Haxby still have one match to play against Osbaldwick 'B' next Thursday but they have built up an unassailable lead and cannot be caught.

Ladybirds, who also defeated Civil Service, will finish second with Civil Service in third.

Haxby have also been celebrating the division four title after Haxby V beat Haxby VI into second place by just a single point.

A full York and District league round up will be printed once the league tables are finalised in the coming weeks with the silverware being presented to all winning teams at the league's annual meeting on May 11.

Updated: 09:02 Saturday, March 20, 2004