Taking full advantage of fielding first on a dampish pitch which continued to give a little help to all types of bowler, they dismissed Loughborough for 119 in 51 overs with a display of efficiency worthy of a side with 11 contracted professionals.

Tim Hodgson, the left-handed opener about to embark on a professional career with Essex, took them calmly to their seventh success since 1987, the winning runs coming in the 32nd of the available 60 overs.

Mark Chilton, who bowled his medium pace intelligently and made a stylish 30, heard as soon as he was out that Lancashire have selected him for his first championship match tomorrow.

This was a good start to Graeme Fowler's efforts as coach and founder of a centre of excellence at Durham. Grenville Holland, architect of all the recent success, will be watching Durham's second XI in their final against Exeter tomorrow.

This year's championship, co-sponsored by The Telegraph and the Halifax, was the first to be graded. The top 24 universities, including the Oxford Authentics and the Cambridge Crusaders, played initially in groups. The bottom team in each group will be replaced next year by the top eight from this season's second division.

BUSA CH'SHIP.- Final (Luton): Loughborough 119 (P Davies 45; N Armstrong 3-18, M Chilton 2-22), Durham 122-2 (T Hodgson 70not). Durham won by 8 wkts.