JIMMY Harrop became only the fourth player to win both of the Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association’s major singles titles in the same season when he lifted the Guardian Cup on Friday.

The Wharton Cons member resisted the challenge of clubmate Tom Vickers in the final at Davenham to follow a success in the Roberts Bakery Cup last month.

However he is the only double-winner to achieve the feat by winning both competitions for the first time.

“I can’t quite believe it if I’m honest,” he told the Guardian afterwards.

“It’ll probably sink in later, but I’m just over the moon to have won this so soon after the other one.

“Tom is so good that you can never be sure that you’ve beaten him, and that’s how I felt out there until the very last end.”

Harrop prevailed 21-18 in front of an enthralled crowd, and was greeted first by his son Finley who had been marking his card at the far end of the green.

He arguably had the most challenging route to the final after edging out Daniel Nixon – another teammate and one of his closest-friends – in the semi-finals.

Before that Harrop had twice seen big leads reduced by 2013 champion Matt Thurlwell (Comberbach) in an intriguing quarter-finals encounter.

Vickers also passed a testing exam from Andy Hamman, a Castle star who had also emerged as a victor at the end of a previous finals night, in his opening match.

He was pushed too by Matt Hamman (Castle) in the first-half of their last-four encounter before pulling clear.

There was little to choose between the four-time winner and Harrop in a compelling final, and a fifth triumph felt close when Vickers moved clear at 18-16.

However Harrop stayed calm after getting back the jack, and scored chalks at the next four ends to ensure he took home first prize.

Results

Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association

Guardian Cup

Finals night

At Davenham Rec

Last eight

Jimmy Harrop (Wharton Cons) 21-15 Matt Thurlwell (Comberbach)

Simon Jones (Tarporley) 10-21 Daniel Nixon (Wharton Cons)

Andy Hamman (Castle) 16-21 Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons)

Matt Hamman (Castle) 21-14 Phil Scott (Rudheath)

Semi-finals

Jimmy Harrop (Wharton Cons) 21-15 Daniel Nixon (Wharton Cons)

Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons) 21-14 Matt Hamman (Castle)

Final

Jimmy Harrop (Wharton Cons) 21-18 Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons)