REGULAR county bowler Lillian Slinger from Blackburn and Rossendale player Ian McNeil won the Wyre Festival Ladies and Men's Open handicaps respectively to clinch a remarkable double triumph for East Lancashire bowling.

Bowlers from East Lancashire have attempted to win these sweeps for many years and although there have been some good efforts, no one until now has scored outright success.

Indeed, Clitheroe man Malcolm Wensley came closest to victory when he became runner-up last year.

Besides their great achievement of winning such coveted trophies, the icing on the cake for both Lillian and Ian is that they now qualify for their respective Champion of Champions tournament in September.

There's no doubt the Blackburn lady who remains undefeated at county level this term, is back to the form she revealed to win the famous Yorkshire Bank competition five years ago.

Indeed, her number one fan, husband Norman said he could see the form of old returning as she began her quest at the beginning of the week to win through nine tough rounds. And when she reached the final day last 16 Lillian was playing better than ever which showed in the results along the way.

The opening round and quarter final games were comfortable victories due to her superb control of line and length.

In the semi-final the champion accounted for previous winner Lillian Hall from Manchester in impressive style, 21-10.

By now there was no stopping Lillian who continued in the same vein against Joyce Foxcroft from Cumbria in the final.

After just six ends, Lillian drew clear and in quick time had the game won 21-9, to clinch a memorable achievement.

Ian McNeil also enjoyed a marvellous run to become the first player from our area to win the festival.

Throughout the week his corner to corner mark play was a feature and his consistency quite outstanding.

In the final against Ian Richards from Pudsey, the Haslingden man again took control at the vital time to run out a deserved winner 21-13.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.