JOHN Heathcote is the Leigh and District Bowling Champion of Champions for a second year running.

The Leigh Miners player proved too good for the rest of the field to take the trophy for a third time in four years.

He opened by beating St Joseph's Brian Davies 21-7 before seeing off Leigh BC's Colin Grimshaw 21-15. In the quarter-final he accounted for Alan Mason of Pennington Park by 21-15 before edging out Leigh CC's Dennis Thorpe 21-19 in the semi after they had been locked at 19-across.

In the other half of the draw Colin Marshalll, Heathcote's Miners team-mate beat Jack Eccleston (Westleigh Village) 21-10; Harold Peake (Bot Gardens) 21-13 and Neil Crooke (Tamar) 21-8.

In the final Marshall raced into a 7-3 lead but a 14 break from Heathcote saw him go in front 17-7. Marshall was allowed only three more scores as Heathcote took the match 21-10.

John's consistent form has now seen him selected for Lancashire.

The South Lancs AGM will be held at Leigh Catholic Club on November 7 at 8pm.