YORK Indoor Bowls Club lifted the Vivienne Trophy for the first time in ten years as they beat Dorset side Dolphin 95-61 in the final at Northampton.

The Thanet Road club's Irene Paylor, Pat Bracken, Maureen Robinson, Doreen Arnett and Brenda Martin were looking to repeat their success from the 2003/4 season, the last time they reached the final.

York got off a good start, leading 30-12 after the first quarter, and with 50 of the 84 ends gone they had extended their advantage to 28 shots as the they led 65-37.

Dolphin had the better of the following ten ends as they reduced the arrears to 21 shots (70-49) but York were not going to let the game slip away.

Over the next eight ends they increased their advantage back to 29 shots, with Pauline Armitage's team leading 23-12 with two to play.

With four ends to play, Paylor's rink were 24-14 ahead, and Barbara Dawson’s led 22-13. Bracken’s were 12-11 down with six to play.

Paylor's side won 30-15, Armitage's side were 25-12 victors and Dawson’s finished 26-18.

Bracken’s game remained close and but they decided to call a halt with two ends to play and Dolphin leading 16-14.

York were trailing on aggregate for much of their Mason Trophy semi-final against Norwich's County Arts.

They were 9-5 down after ten ends, then 22-13 after 20, but the next ten ends saw them come back to 29-25 and they drew level at 38-38 with both rinks having two ends to play.

Carol Instone's side won four of their last five ends to make the final score 28-13, while Linda Harrison’s side led 26-6 with two ends to play when the scores were level.

Harrison’s side tired and dropped a six for York to lose the game 42-39, while County Arts won the trophy by beating Egham 44-34.

York went into the Yorkshire League division three Challenge Cup full of optimism.

They proved to be too strong for Leeds as they won three rinks and drew one to finish 66-43 victors, picking up 13 of the 14 points at stake.

John Birch’s team only lost two ends as they won easily 18-3, while Jim Robertson’s side finished 19-13 after being 19-2 in front, and Chris Bishop’s dropped a three on their last end but won 15-13. Eric Hodgson's side dropped a four on the last end to draw 14-14.

New Earswick lost all four rinks to Selby and their opening game 56-37, but in their second game they beat Leeds 54-35, winning all but one rink, to collect 12 points.

Brian Birch’s side won 17-6, while Gordon Storey’s team went from 9-7 down to win 17-9. Gary Jones moved from 11-5 down to win 12-11. Dave Elcock's side lost 9-8.

York beat title favourites Selby 58-43, winning all but one rink. Eric Hodgson's side won 17-8, while John Birch’s came out on top 17-14. Jim Robertson’s team triumphed 14-10 and Chris Bishop’s team dropped a single on the last end to lose 11-10.

York went into their last round of matches with a nine-point cushion over Selby, needing to pick up six points to secure the title.

They finished in style, winning all four rinks to beat New Earswick 73-36.

Chris Bishop’s team led Gary Jones' side 16-2 on their way to a 23-7 victory. Jim Robertson’s team led Dave Elcock's side 17-3 on their way to a final score of 19-5.

Eric Hodgson's team scored a five on the penultimate end in beating Brian Birch’s side 16-11, while John Birch trailed Gordon Storey’s side 10-2 but won 15-13 thanks to a six on the last end.

Selby finished as runners-up after beating Leeds 84-40, picking up 12 points.

On Monday, York hold their singles finals day with Graham Brooke looking to become the first player to win both the men's and vets finals where he will play Dave Dale or Alan Vowles in the vets competition at 2pm, then Phil Herridge in the men's final at 6.30pm.

Also at 2pm, the ladies over-55s final takes place between Pauline Cooper and Pam Richardson, the same time as the vets singles plate between David Pearson and either Graham Instone or Bob Elliot.

Other games at 6.30pm include the ladies singles between Zoe Eagles and either Emily Clarke or Hayley Macdonald and the men's plate between John Jennison against Jack Woodworth.

Following last August’s success, York IBC have been invited to host the televised English Indoor Bowling Association’s Premier 3s tournament next Wednesday featuring some of the country’s top players.

The games start at 10.30am and admission is free.

The event will be shown live on British Eurosport.