Tadcaster, relegated last season, sprang straight back into the first division of the Fulford Ladies Invitation Tennis League, beating Civil Service and close rivals York II.

MOORE THE BURIER: John Moore buries a volley while playing in the men's doubles quarter-finals

Carol Hall and Lorraine Pearey only dropped two games in the Civil Service match. York were beaten by a team just too strong in all departments.

Champions Wheldrake, winning the second division by one point, get their chance to play for the first time against the top seven clubs in the league. York retain the champions title, losing only three times, and will be trying for three in a row next season.

Selby and Bishopthorpe return to division two after one season at the top.

Rowntree Park and Civil Service will go down to the third division next season.

Champions Bubwith along with Castlegarth will be playing in division two. This is the highest Bubwith have been since joining the league.

Wistow and Copmanthorpe go down to the fourth division after just one season in the third.

Champions Riccall along with runners-up Sheriff Hutton will be meeting stronger opponents in division three next season.

Selby and Dunnington are relegated after one season in division four and will be trying for a quick return next season.

A first season for Knaresborough in the league finished in a three way tie in division five, along with Sutton upon Derwent and Strensall. All three finished with 18 points but games difference gave the title to Knaresborough and second place to Sutton.

Strensall, missing out by a few games, should win the title next season.

There is only one week to closing date in the IT Sports Tournament, in aid of the Hospice, so please get entries in to Terry Haw as soon as possible.

The holders, Julie Reilly and Jackie Heels, will hopefully be defending their title on Saturday, September 11 at 1.30pm around the tennis centres of the York area, Bishopthorpe, Dunnington, Civil Service, Wheldrake, Cawood, Wistow, Fulford, New Earswick, Tollerton.

Dunnington on line for title drive

Top of the table Dunnington stayed on course for the Tyke Petroleum Men's division one title with a 76-32 win over Knaresborough.

They now have just one match to play, as do Poppleton who could just steal the title after beating Wigginton 72-36. Rob Jones and John Moore were back on form with 29. Fourth placed York moved nearer Rowntree Park, only Howard Pallister and Graham

Taylor unbeaten in the close 56-52 match with six rubbers at 7.5.

Castlegarth did well to beat promoted York II 56-52 in division two. York's Paul Gowland and Jamie Moore were unbeaten top scorers on 21.

Sherburn Joined Castlegarth in the struggle to avoid relegation. They beat Bishopthorpe 61-47, Sharp and Espiner scoring 27.

Heworth kept promotion chances alive in division four with a 60-48 victory over Copmanthorpe II. Alan Bradshaw and Mark Winfield were Heworth's unbeaten top scorers on 22.

Knaresborough II again had to concede giving Dunnington the points to stay in second place.

Leaders Castlegarth II proved a more balanced team than Riccall II whom they beat 72-36. Third pair Doug Harrison and Mike Smith top scored with 26.

Wigginton II's position suffered when they lost to Cliffe 74-34, the score being adjusted after they fielded an ineligible player.

Promoted Cawood had a convincing 79-29 win over third place Strensall II in division five. Marc Bashfield and Mike Thurston scored 31.

Appleton Roebuck II improved their chances beating Dunnington III 62-46. Sheriff Hutton lost by 10 games to Sutton upon Derwent II after conceding 12 games and lost closely to Nestl 53-55. Kevin Fairclough and David Minto top scored with 26 for the losers.

New Earswick finished their season with a second consecutive match conceded to Bishopthorpe III who draw level on points at the bottom of division six. Third place Rufforth turned out with only two pairs and lost 64-44 to Cawood II.

Both promoted teams Boston Spa and Selby won but the title is still to be decided. Boston Spa play Rufforth and Selby are at Bishopthorpe III on September 5.

Two Johns shine to dent family pride

A 'J'-force helped to end the brotherly love run of Tom and Gobind Baker in the City of York Tennis Championships last night.

Johnnie Fisher and John Moore prevailed over the Baker boys in the men's doubles quarter-finals 6-3, 6-1.

Also into the semi-finals went number two seeds Pete Goodall and Vic Fielder after a closer 7-5, 6-3 win over John Bush and Peter Moss.

The championships continue tonight at Clifton Park with a full programme, the two other men's quarter-finals getting underway at 6pm, followed by further mens, mixed and veterans' doubles, plus a veterans' singles quarter-fonal.

The veterans' ladies' doubles final between Chris Place-Rosy Cantrell and Ronnie Davison-Jean Jaram will be staged at Clifton Park tomorrow at 6pm.

Results: mens veterans singles: P Sutherland beat J Neary 7-6, 6-4; K Storey beat A Reynolds 6-2, 6-2; A Potter beat D Tree 6-4, 7-5; quarter-finals: H Pallister beat S Langley 6-3, 6-2; K Todd beat D Moore 6-2, 6-0; mens doubles quarter-finals: J Fisher-J Moore beat T Baker-G Baker 6-3, 6-1; P Goodall-V Fielder beat J Bush-P Moss 7-5, 6-3; mixed doubles: R Jones-B Turnbull beat N Pears-C Pawson 10-8.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.