The start of the new season in the IT Sport Sports sponsored York and District Mixed Tennis League brought the first conceded match, the first draw, and a huge win all mixed in with sun, wind and rain.

Fulford I started their defence of the title with a comfortable win at home against York seconds 66-42. Neil Haw and Julie Reilly were Fulford's top scorers with 25 games and were well supported by Steve Collins and Jill McCreedy and Spring Cup winners Nigel Skelton and Jackie Heels.

York I, who are trying to regain the title, were disappointed when they were handed the points when Poppleton had to concede.

York's third team started their campaign with a win against Dunnington seconds, the team that secured promotion with them last year, by 69 games to 39. All three York couples won 23 games.

Newly promoted Civil Service made a good start to tennis in division two after they narrowly lost to Appleton Roebuck 55-53. Appleton's John Giles and Marilyn Almgill rescued the points for their side by winning their last rubber 11-1 in a nail-biting finish.

League sponsor Ian Tooms started with an unbeaten record in helping his side, Wigginton, to beat Stillington 70-38 along with partner Denise Crane with 24 games which was matched by Philip Langley and Judi Grabham.

Tollerton lost their first match after being unbeaten in 1998 and winning promotion to division three by 58 games to 50 at Bishopthorpe. Bishopthorpe's Sam Watson and Fran Critchley led the way winning 21 games with Sue Howard and Ken Hall giving good support and vitally winning their last rubber 9-3 to edge home the winners. Tollerton's Nick Thompson and Wendy Stirk were unbeaten winning all three games 7-5.

Fulford, who narrowly missed out on promotion last year, started off with a win against Cawood in division four 73-35. Mother and son Anne and Govind Baker were the top scorers, with Jo Reddick and Dominique Morissey winning 26 games.

Last year's division five winners Wilberfoss, started their division four matches with a win at Cliffe 66-42. All Wilberfoss's couples played well and a strong final round winning 26 games saw them clinch the points.

Stillington, another team promoted last season, entertained Dunnington in their division five clash and won 79-29. Stillington had three good couples on court with John Dougherty and Betty Bainton taking the top honours winning 28 games.

Appleton Roebuck reversed last year's finishing positions with a win at home to Rowntree Park 78-30. Malcolm Blackwell and Anthea Brogden top scoring for Appleton with 29 games just ahead of Paul Harrison and Sue Fish.

New pairing Graham Cook and Barbara Leopard started in winning ways helping Civil Service to win in their opening fixture against Bishopthorpe in division six, with 26 games with Adrian McClaren and Brenda Sorby just behind with 23 games.

Martin Eason and Chris Smith provided tough opposition as Bishopthorpe's first pair winning 22 games. The first draw of the year was fought out by Poppleton and Heworth.

After a close first round Poppleton took the initiative in the second rubbers winning 24-12, but Heworth staged a big fight back winning all three to earn a point.

Last year's two promoted teams met in their first fixture and Bubwith took revenge after losing on both occasions last year with a 61-47 win at Wheldrake.

Giles Constant and Margaret Stevenson were Bubwith's top scorers but they could find no answer to Wheldrake's unbeaten David McDermott and Helen Hadfield.

Strensall proved that yet another newly promoted team can compete happily in a higher division as they took on Wistow in division seven and came away with the points after winning 64-44.

Paul Arnold and Diane Hardy were their top scorers and were well backed by Trevor Leeming and Alison Tattersall.

Cawood stopped Fulford from having all their teams winning with a very close 56-52 win with Terry and Lesley Savage being unbeaten for Cawood.

The biggest win of the week was in division nine when York travelled to Bishopthorpe and won 98-10. All three of York's couples won over 30 games.

Newly promoted and last year's division ten champions Cliffe also started with a win at Wigginton 61-47 with their first pair of Bruce Parker and Shirley Leak leading the way with 26 games.

Castlegarth also started in winning ways in the higher division when they entertained Civil Service and won 61-47.

Scorecards for all the tennis leagues should be with the league match secretaries within 72 hours of the matches being played. Fines will be strictly imposed.

It's the last chance to enter the Tyke Junior tennis Tournament which is taking place at various centres throughout York on Saturday. There are events for boys and girls at under 10, 12,14, 16 and 18 level with the finals being held at Archbishop Holgate's School at 2pm.

Players who wish to enter should contact John Linfoot on 01904 470754.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.