MAJOR changes to the City of York Tennis Championships, in an effort to attract more entries, were made at a public meeting at Clifton Park last night.

The championships, first held in 1928, regularly attracted large entries, but numbers have fallen in recent years.

Now, the event has been switched to different venues, and will be played on a different surface, at a different time of the year and with an increased eligibility.

Rowntree Park has been the main venue over the years, but the unpopular Tarmac courts there have been forsaken, with competitors now being invited to play on the carpet courts of Dunnington, Wigginton and York in this year's championships.

A further change sees the date altered from July to September 6-13, And in another bid to popularise the event, the radius for eligible competitors has been increased. Players who compete in any of the three York and district men's doubles, mixed doubles and women's doubles leagues will be able to enter.

It is planned to have men's singles and women's singles starting on the morning of Saturday, September 6, with men's and women's doubles on the following morning. The mixed doubles are scheduled to begin on the afternoon of Sunday, September 7, with veterans' events during the following week.

Entry forms will be sent to all clubs in due course, with Sunday, August 24 the closing date.

The annual meeting of IT Sports York and District Tennis League has been switched to the new Next Generation Club, Hull Road, on Wednesday, March 19 (7.30pm). The club is scheduled to open on Saturday, February 1.

The Nestl Family Tournament is to be held in Rowntree Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4.

Updated: 12:29 Thursday, January 16, 2003