YORK retained the Yorkshire Over-55s League Trophy after a close 84-70 victory over Hornsea in a repeat of last season's final.

Barry Walker, Dave McCowan, Tom Ellis and Doug Mitchell were outstanding as they gave York a 22-2 lead after ten ends, and they continued the on-slaught to completely overwhelm their opponents 33-8.

Brian Thomas, Alwyn Johnson, Gordon Walker and Ken Patterson saw the fate of their tie swing one way then the other before it finished level at 20-20.

Peter Littlewood, Alwyn Redhead, Arthur Dunbar and Dudley Williams were having no luck as they trailed 13-1 and 19-5 until the tide turned and saw them pull the scores back to 20-20. However they dropped five in the final end to lose 25-20.

Fred Clayden, Dennis Haw, Alan Storey and Mike Pearce struggled to stay in the game before narrowing the scores to 14-11, only for Hornsea to pick up three from the final two ends to win 17-11.

However, it was not enough to stop York claiming the title for the second time in five years.

Carol Instone and Joan Jackson were made to fight all the way before claiming the Ladies Simpson Pairs title with a 23-17 victory over Brenda Love and Joyce Chelin.

Charlie Bateman and Frank Turner comfortably won the Gents Simpson Pairs title 27-13 against Phil Parsons and Mark Harrison.

The New Earswick IBC Good Friday Novelty Triples was won by Ted Fisher, Ray Bowman and Dave Bowie, while the Easter Monday Drawn Pairs saw Harry Rhodes and Hazel Sigsworth beat Kath Hardcastle and Barry Johnson 12-0 in the final.

The John Smith's Easter Mixed Pairs event produced close semi-finals and final at York and District Indoor Bowls Club.

Pat Wilson and Stuart Smith came back from 10-9 down to win their semi-final against Joyce Gee and Under-15s singles finalist Josh Cahill 12-10.

The other semi-final between Brian and Maureen Thomas against Tex and Trish Stevens was close until the Thomas' pulled away to win 18-11.

The final was tied at 6-6 after nine ends but then Wilson and Smith won the last three, scoring nine shots, to win 15-6.

Teams finishing second in the group matches went through to the plate event which saw Peter Littlewood and Ann Illingworth beat Sheila Turpin and Kevin Harris 12-4 in the final.

Dot Kennelly and Linda Harrison won York & District IBC's Ladies Langford pairs for a record sixth time beating Betty Richardson and Joyce Chelin 24-14.

Updated: 11:48 Thursday, April 04, 2002