The top three kept themselves ticking over nicely in Division One as the Harrogate Squash League returned to ease the January blues.

Harrogate 1 kept top spot with a merciless 12-0 thrashing of winless bottom club Aireborough in Guiseley. Second string Olly Hotchkiss maintained his 100% record for the season while Mark James and Simon Myring also won with minimal fuss.

Four points behind the leaders are Chapel Allerton 1 who won the donkey derby with Chapel Allerton 2; Ross Williamson, Phil Young and Declan Christie all triumphant.

On the next door court was Chapel Allerton 3’s tete-a-tete with third-placed Collingham. Thomas Whiteway took Robin Mannall to five games but otherwise the visitors were in command, with Stephen Kettlewell and Ben Hodgetts taking care of the hosts’ Jason Miller and Cameron Ward respectively.

The night’s mid-table clash saw Harlow 1 make swift work of Otley 1, who only turned up with two players.

In Division Two, leaders Collingham 2 have now won eight of their last nine games although they were given a stern test by Otley 2. No.3 Nick Williams – unbeaten all season – was taken to five by Jim Brogden, while Dan Adams also won in five. James Rollinson won 3/1 at No.1 against Hayden Stewart.

That win put Collingham 2 on 102 points, and Chapel Allerton 5 also raised their bat after hitting three figures. Mike Dale and Tim Manuel won in straight games at bottom side Collingham 3 and Mike Robinson belatedly engaged his brain after going two games down to hit back and beat Brian Manson.

Harrogate 2 and Dunnington – both definitely in the title race – had a cracking encounter. The York club clinched it at the death thanks to Jermaine Manners’ 3/1 triumph over Peter Hotchkiss at No.1 string.

The shock news in Division Three is that the last unbeaten record in the entire Harrogate League has gone! Leaders Adel 3 suffered the indignity of losing to stablemates Adel 4. Max Cawthra began the upset by winning at No.3 and although David Gifford then levelled matters, Chris Wilcox’s 3/2 win over Jonty Hodgson at top string ended the nine-game winning streak.

Second-placed Chapel Allerton 7 won at lowly Harlow 2 but their points have not registered on the website due to an apparent scorecard entry error. The committee will take a look at this promptly!

Ilkley 1 and Otley 3 – in third and fourth place respectively – both notched up away wins to stay on the fringes of the promotion mix.

In Division Four, by a quirk of the fixture computer, there was just one fixture this week. Otley 4 won it to move up into third spot, defeating Aireborough 2 by 10-3, with Ben Johnson and Roger Wilkinson the victors.