IN-FORM Nicky Horn emphatically lived up to her number one status to be crowned the York & District Ladies Squash League Open champion.

The York Squash Racket Club (York Ladies) player and leading seed beat Natalie Cain, the number two seed, to take the prized title after the final at Dunnington Sports & Social Club.

Horn took the first game convincingly 9-2. In the second game, Cain, who plays out of the David Lloyd Centre where all the other York open matches were staged up until the final, dug in.

The eventual 9-1 defeat she suffered did not reflect the closeness of the game.

Horn though returned to dominance in the third game, where she won 9-3 for a resounding 3-0 conquest.

The Plate final pitted Sarah Smelik from David Lloyd and Helen Marsden from Pocklington, against each other.

Smelik was in command from the outset winning the first game 9-4.

Though Marsden attempted to counter, Smelik prevailed with further 9-3 and 9-2 successes to take the honours.

The Open championship and Plate event had featured 17 women from eight clubs.

Tournament organisers Anne Matwijiszyn, from York Railway Institute and Miranda Stephenson, from David Lloyd, said: “The week went well with players participating from David Lloyd York, Dunnington Squash Club, Malton SC, Pocklington, Stillington, Wigginton, York Railway Institute (RI) and York Squash Racket Club.

“Positive feedback from players has been received throughout the tournament saying that they had all enjoyed the week’s competition.”

Sue Preston, Y&DLSL committee chair, added: “We’ve had a fantastic season so far and it was great to see some new clubs join the 2013-14 league. “Queen Margarets girls joined the league and are holding their own in division four.

“Alongside the four divisions, the committee also runs an individual 20-minute handicap competition, 3-String League and Riley Rose Bowl (team handicap) competition.”

For more details on women’s squash in the York area visit www.yorkladiesquash.co.uk