THE City of York Tennis Championships will not be held this year - thus ending a spell of 53 successive years.

In recent years younger players in particular have shown a reluctance to enter tournaments all over the country, preferring league tennis.

York has been a prime example of this trend as the York and District Mixed Doubles League is the biggest in Britain and yet only a handful of players are willing to play tournament tennis.

Stuart Robinson, of Wigginton Tennis Club, who had hoped to help to run an event this year said: "We have had a very limited response to our appeal in The Press and now it has been decided not to have the championships. However, we want to form a new committee and hold the championships in July next year when a week's gap will be made in the York League programme."

The championships, originally known as the York Municipal Tournament when the event began in 1927, were organised once more in 1953 in Rowntree Park after an extended break following the Second World War.

Tennis enthusiasts willing to serve on a committee should contact Stuart Robinson on 07778 749066.

* Holders Jill McCreedy and Jill Rounce will be defending their trophy in the 16th annual IT Sports Ladies Doubles Tournament on Saturday (1.30pm).

Round robin matches will be played at the following centres: Dunnington: A Mead & S Burley, J Jaram & J Rossington, B Plummer & L Stacey, A Baker & D Morrissey, S Leak & L Boville.

Bishopthorpe: A Watson & G McKenzie, L Walker & L Appleby, B Gallager & S Robinson, J Rounce & J McCreedy, L Duggleby & R Latham.

Fulford: S Espiner & K Rorrison, K Holmes & J Pemburton, A Jones & R Hill, P Craddock & L Garland, S Jackson & J Walker.

Poppleton: V Williamson & S Smith, D Lang & S Wilson, H Rowe & D Greig, R Cantrell & H Spencer, G Screeton &, M Wilson, J Rowland & J Middleton.

Please ring Terry Haw (01904 627899) for further information.