THE new section of the York and District Schools' Athletic Association - the Orienteering League - starts next Wednesday, April 21, with an event on Knavesmire.

Parking is at the York Sixth Form College, Sim Balk Lane. The grid reference is 584485.

Starts are available from 4.30pm to 6pm and are based on a 40-minute score event with 20 controls.

Competitors visit controls in any order but must punch cards in the correct box. Coaching and shadowing is allowed for novices.

The best four scores from six events are to count with 30 points going to the winners in each year group going down to point for 30th position.

Certificates will be awarded to individual year group winners and trophies to the Primary and Secondary school team champions.Pupils should wear tracksuits and (studded) trainers/boots. They will need to carry whistles for safety, safety pins for their control cards and red pens, if they have not pre-entered, to copy the controls on to their maps.

Schools taking part are: Primary Schools - Acomb, Fishergate, Hambleton, Huntington, Our Lady's, Poppleton Road, St Lawrence's. Secondary Schools - All Saints, Archbishop's, Bootham, Canon Lee, Fulford, Huntington, J Rowntree, Lowfield, Manor, The Mount.

Any other schools that are interested should ring Steve Willis by Friday, April 16 on 01423 323435.

Entry forms that have been sent to schools should be returned to Steve Willis, Denholme, Back Street, Aldborough, Boroughbridge, York YO51 9EX by Friday, April 16 to guarantee pre-marked maps.

The programme of events is:

May 5 - Brayton Barff, Selby. Grid Reference 587307. Parking one mile west of Brayton on the Hambleton road.

May 19 - Clifton Ings, York. Grid Reference 582542. Parking on the A19, half mile south of York Ring Road.

June 9 - Duncombe Park, Helmsley. Grid Reference 603832. Parking at the Visitor Centre in the grounds.

June 23 - Wheldrake, York. Grid Reference 666473. Parking half a mile north of Wheldrake Primary School.

July 7 - Walmgate Stray, York. Grid Reference 618508. Parking on University Road - 500m south of Hull Road.Cricket

THE annual meeting of the Junior Summer Games Section will be held at Haxby Road School on Tuesday, April 20 at 4pm.

Any school representative who cannot attend but who wishes to take part in the season's programme should leave a message with the Haxby Road School secretary on York 653218.

The proposed programme for 1999 is:

1 Six-a-side Tournament (Saturday, June 12 or 19).

2 North v South Representative Match (Saturday, July 3 or July 10 at Dringhouses Cricket Club if the club gives permission).

3 Eight-a-side Cricket League (details already circulated).Rugby League

YORK Schools Under-11s were beaten 50-16 by a more experienced Widnes side despite a brave performance.

Impressive for York were Aussie Hodgson, David Richmond and Liam Gargan, with Richmond scoring a length of the field try and adding a goal. Other York try scorers were Tom Hodgson and Rory McCrea.

The Widnes side are on tour and had previously beaten Dewsbury and Bradford.Tennis

THE State Schools' Tennis programme starts in the week beginning April 26. The fixtures are:

Girls: Sherburn HS v J Rowntree, Tadcaster v Huntington, Manor v All Saints, Millthorpe School has a free week.

Boys: J Rowntree v Sherburn HS, Huntington v Tadcaster, All Saints v Manor. Millthorpe School has a free week.

Results must be sent in, as soon as matches are played to Wayne Isherwood at Sherburn High School (Tel 01977 682442).Rugby Union

THE annual meeting of the North Yorkshire Schools' rugby union will be held at Thirsk School on Monday, April 26 at 5pm.

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