MARK Schofield has re-written the record books after winning the Lancashire County Tennis Championships for a remarkable seventh time in eight years.

The Blackburn Northern player beat Craig Ingham in three tough sets to set a new post war record -- and now he is aiming to beat the overall total of eight championship wins set back in the 1930s.

Schofield, 27, who beat Tim Henman in 1982 to win the British Indoor Junior Championship, ranks it as one of his greatest feats.

And in winning this year's competition on clay he has now won the title on four different surfaces including carpet, acrylic and grass to confirm his place as one of the finest county players in recent years.

And to top it all, Schofield and Chris Beet of Bury lifted the doubles title for a seventh year.

Schofield, who lives in Whalley, said: "I am absolutely delighted and very proud to have set a new post war record and the overall record is certainly something I have to aim for now."

Schofield, who beat Ingham in a three and a half hour marathon 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 admits it is not getting any easy.

He said: "This year was certainly the hardest competition I have been in. There are some very good youngsters breaking on to the scene and the final was a really tough match."

He added: "Beating Tim Henman was certainly a high point in my career but this has to rank up alongside that."

Schofield doesn't have too long to bask in his glory however as he will be competing in the National Club League finals for Holcombe Brook in Bournemouth this weekend.

This summer, Schofield as also been promoted to Division One of the Summer County Cup with doubles partner John Chesworth of Simonstone after the pair won 14 of their 15 league matches.