The Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League has a new president and chairman following last night's annual general meeting at the College of Ripon and St John.

Tony Frith, who has been chairman for a record 16 years, takes over as president in a three-year term and also becomes a life vice-president, while dinner secretary Bernard Stevens becomes the new chairman.

Out-going president Denzil Webster has become the league's first immediate past president, a new post which keeps him on the committee.

There are also two new vice-presidents, Mike Oldfield and David Worsnop being appointed following more than 20 years on the committee.

As expected, Sewerby and Studley Royal cricket clubs have been overwhelmingly voted into the league.

The duo will compete from 2002 onwards, having got the thumbs up from the league at its annual general meeting last night, the necessary 18 months before the season in question.

Clubs who successfully applied last year and who will compete in the league in 2001 are Hull Zingari (division two), Hornsea, Malton and Old Malton 1sts (division three), Malton and Old Malton 2nds, Pickering 2nds, Wilberfoss 2nds and Heslington 2nds (division five).

All the clubs who applied for re-election last night, namely Goole Town, Civil Service, Thorp Arch and New Earswick, were overwhelmingly voted back in, while the proposals to change the eligibility of players were also agreed to.

In other changes, clubs may now register either one overseas player (who is not eligible for England) or one first class player (who has appeared in more than seven first class games within the past five years and is aged under 50) as well as a player contracted to a county or minor county club.