Norwich Union will be going for a hat-trick of Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale Cricket League titles next season.

However, they could be stepping into the York Senior Cricket League in 2005.

They have asked Vale League secretary Shane Hargrave about the procedure to move leagues. Clubs wishing to move leagues need to give 12 months notice.

They comfortably retained the championship this summer with Askham Bryan finishing second and Westow third.

Skipper Simon Cook received the league championship Trophy from Richard Wolley, of sponsors Horwath Pulleyn Heselton at Saturday's 70th annual dinner dance and awards night at York Racecourse, attended by more than 200 people.

Tollerton Outlaws, who continued their rapid rise through the Vale League ranks, comfortably won the second division, and could prove a threat to Norwich Union's dominance nest season.

Burton Salmon won a tight division three race and were chased all the way home by Stillingfleet and Wistow.

Drax won the division four pennant by 26 points from York and Acomb.

Tadcaster pipped Malton and Old Malton for division five honours with Copmanthorpe II filling third place.

The winners of the new Conference League, which was introduced to help fill up the fixtures in division five, were Wheldrake.

The Horwath Pulleyn Heselton Cup was won by giantkillers Fulfordgate, who beat holders Stockton and Hopgrove in the final at Tadcaster where Paul Fairburn was Fulford's man of the match with 78no.

The Mitchell Cup was presented to Drax, who beat Tollerton with a run off the last ball on a good Copmanthorpe wicket, by sponsor Guy Mitchell.

There was another tight finish in the Scothern Construction Cup with Woodhouse Grange defeating Acomb by one wicket. The trophy was presented by Ian Scothern.

The Prendergast Memorial Cup at Tollerton was won by Malton and Old Malton, whose Neil Tildsley bowled Clifton out for 42 with figures if 6-2.

Ovington won the Evening League Trophy which was presented by Evening Press sports editor Martin Jarred.

The individual awards were:

Div 1: Batting - David Bielby (North Duffield) 59.56, Bowling - Gawaine Hogg (Norwich Union) 51 wickets 11.39average

Div 2: Batting - Keith Pepper (Fulfordgate) 56.75; Bowling - Bill Chambers (Tollerton) 29 wickets, 7.83av

Div 3: Batting - Rob Murray (Stillingfleet) 62.64; Bowling - Mick Bell (Wistow) 36 wickets, 12.86av

Div 4: Richard Cunsley (Drax) 44.90; Bowling - Dave Murray (York) 47 wickets, 8.32 av

Div 5: Batting - Charles Mitton (Copmanthorpe) 37.57; Bowling - Russell Madin (Tadcaster) 19 wickets, 11.05av

Harry Smith Memorial Trophy (wicketkeeping): Kevin Thomas (Drax)

BYB Young Player of the Year award: Ben Wallace (Acomb III) He scored 493 runs at an average of 30.8 and took 24 wickets for an average of 9.7.

Scothern ground awards: 1 Copmanthorpe £250, 2 Bishopthorpe £150, 3 Melbourne £50.

The guest speaker was Mike Cowan, the former Yorkshire cricketer who used to open the bowling for the county with Freddie Trueman.

A raffle for the McMillan Nurses Cancer fund raised £270.

Updated: 11:09 Monday, September 22, 2003