RAWTENSTALL bowler Andrew Cairns today reflected on his famous Greenalls Waterloo Crown Green Bowling victory - and immediately dedicted his success to his parents Allen and Anita, writes TONY DEWHURST.

Under-dog Cairns - a member of Edgeside Bowling Club - defeated highly-fancied Yorkshire County player Bob Hitchen 21-20 in a thrilling final at Blackpool to lift the £25,000 first prize.

"I just can't believe it, it really hasn't sunk in yet," said Andy, a 24-year-old process engineer with Gaskell Textiles at Oswaldtwistle.

"The Waterloo is the biggest prize in Crown Green bowling, but all this would not have not been possible without my dad and mum.

"My dad encouraged me when I was young to keep playing. My parents used to pay for me to enter tournaments and my dad would ferry me about the country to different tournaments.

"I just want to dedicate this win to my dad and mum. To be honest if it wasn't for my dad I wouldn't be playing bowls. It made it sweeter still, because this was a Lancashire win over Yorkshire! I feel like retiring now because I've nothing else to win," he joked. But I suppose I will carry on."

It was no easy triumph for the Edgeside star who had a tough task hauling himself back into contention after trailing 15-10 to a man he had never beaten in four attempts.

But then battling Cairns reduced the deficit and, for a short time, edged in front 16-15.

Three ends later it was 18-18 and after both players produced touches in consecutive ends, the scores peeled at 20-20.

Cairns then led a six inch bowl which was not beaten by a loose reply. Then, making a brace, he left no room for the Yorkshireman to prevent a sensational triumph.

Cairns added: "I knew there was a chance of victory when I played my last bowl at the last end. It was really tense then but I came through it. It was an unbelievable feeling to win."

The newly-crowned champion was in fighting spirit in the semi-final, defeating Darren Chatwin from Birmingham, after going behind 15-11, but eventually romped home.

Before that he overcame a big test in the quarter-final when he defeated Elland favourite Graham Wilson 21-15.

Two Edgeside bowlers - Keith Scaise and Ian McNeill - reached the last 64 of the senior tournament.

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