Andy Cairns was delighted to land the Griffin Bowling Club Champion of Champions title for the first time.

The Greater Manchester county bowler capped a tremendous competition by winning the final 21-19 against Dave Scott to take the trophy and £120 first prize.

Bringing the curtain down on the Griffin winter season, the competition had a quality field and lived up to expectations – with lots of close games and excellent bowling.

In the final, by the eighth end, Cairns was 7-4 in front, but by the 13th it was 10 across.

At the 17th end, Scott had gone 13-12 in front and he then added a six break to take him within two of victory at 19-12.

Cairns, however, was far from done and, having got in, made an eight break playing to the button and back to the corner.

At the last end, Cairns led a foot wood but Scott rested on the jack and just moved it a few inches to the side, leaving Cairns a really difficult opportunity.

Cairns then played the perfect wood which rested on the block and Scott had no choice but to play up, but he just missed the end for Cairns to record his first win in this competition.

Club president Alan Hirst thanked supporters, the kitchen staff and Mark Richardson and Peter Kain for keeping the green in tip-top condition.

Secretary Frank Greenwood was praised for his organisation of the event, while sponsors Mark Wood and family were singled out for sincere thanks before Wendy present the prizes.

Cairns endorsed all the comments, expressed his appreciation of the green surface and how well it had stood up to the adverse weather over this winter and finished by saying he was obviously delighted with his success, thanking Scott for his part in a challenging final.

First round: Ronnie Wormald 20 Dave Scott 21, Ashley Daykin 19 Duncan Reeves 21, Mark Wood 16 Mark Bramall 21, Jack Dyson 21 Ray Whitwam 13, Gary Siswick 19 Mick Higgins 21, Roy Sutton 21 Michael Sweeney 19, Andy Cairns 21 Craig Gant 20, Steven Hirst 21 Terry Brook 17.

Quarter-finals: Scott 21 Reeves 8, Bramall 14 Dyson 21, Higgins 21 Sutton 17, Cairns 21 Hirst 8.

Semi-finals: Scott 21 Dyson 12, Higgins 18 Cairns 21.

Final: Scott 19 Cairns 21.

Meltham bowler Paul Ingleby retains Colne Valley Vic Sugden Handicap

Paul Ingleby of Meltham BC won the Vic Sugden Handicap for the second successive year – after staging two remarkable comebacks in the competition.

Sponsored by the Sugden Family and Longwood Bowling Club, the event produced some top bowling and, in the final, Ingleby overcame Netherton Con’s Craig Gant 21-8.

En route to the final, Ingleby was 17-10 adrift against Gary Siswick of Crosland Moor in the first round before winning 21-18.

And in the semi-finals, he was 16-10 down against homester Ian Briggs before progressing by the same 21-18 scoreline.

Gant also had a scare in the second round, overcoming Peter Kain of Lockwood Con 21-19 after being behind 15-6 down.

Unfortunately in the final, Gant started slowly, found himself 12-1 down and was unable to recover.

First round: R Walsh Jnr (3) (Lockwood Con) 21 M Armitage (3) (Broad Oak BC) 18, C Wood (5) (Moldgreen Con) 20 T Chatfield (4) (Golcar Lib) 21, C Gant (Scr) (Netherton Con) 21 B Shaw (3) (Crosland Moor) 12, P Kain (3) (Lockwood Con) 21 T Brook (3) (Crosland Moor) 12, R Mudd (3) (Waterloo BC) 21 L Fallas (3) (Crosland Moor) 18, P Ingleby (2) (Meltham) 21 G Siswick (3) Crosland Moor) 18, I Briggs (3) (Longwood BC) 21 J Greenhalgh (3) (Crosland Moor) 13, M Bramall (2) (Netherton Con) 21 R Walsh Snr (4) (Lockwood Con) 13.

Quarter-finals: R Walsh Jnr 21 T Chatfield 19, C Gant 21 P Kain 19, R Mudd 10 P Ingleby 21, I Briggs 21 M Bramall 15.

Semi-finals: R Walsh Jnr 8 C Gant 21, P Ingleby 21 I Briggs 18.

Final: C Gant 8 P Ingleby 21.