LADY Anne Middleton are the York and District League champions for 2003-03.

In a season where the division one title race was expected to go down to the wire, Lady Anne simply ran away with proceedings to finish the season unbeaten with nine wins and three draws.

The crucial fixture turned out to be their return match with University, who were the only other team in the hunt at the half-way point of the season, but a narrow 3-2 win with wins from Laurence Cornhill and John Knowles, backed up with draws from Tim Turner, Tony Slinger and Sean O'Neill meant that the title was LAM's for the taking.

After that they only conceded draws to Cavaliers and Whippersnappers on their way to the title.

York's teams had mixed fortunes in the latest round of Yorkshire Chess Association matches.

York RI 'A' were expected to field another strong team against table-toppers Bradford Central.

However, two of York's players failed to turn up and the handicap proved to great to overturn.

Eventually the team went down 5-2 with the only win from David Adams and draws from Tony Slinger, Paul Hopwood and John Hart.

York RI 'B" were involved in a crucial relegation clash with Wakefield and lost 5-3. York's wins came courtesy of Barry Marshall and Laurence Cornhill with draws from Patrick Gower and Aaron Barker.

York RI 'C' stretched away at the top of the Silver Rook table with a 5-3 win over Wakefield 'B'.

The secret of their success has been the heavy scoring of the top boards and once again they did the heavy damage with wins for Richard Hardy, David Findlay and Norman Andrews, with draws from Martin Carpenter, Eric Winn, Steve Webster and Mike Beavers.

York RI 'D' narrowly lost 4-3 to a strong St Vincent's side. Wins for York were obtained by Peter Cloudsdale, Herbert Lockwood and Rodney Mitchinson with the draw coming from Graham Marshall.

Updated: 10:10 Thursday, April 10, 2003