MARGARET Melia turned on the style to win the coveted Florrie Hargreaves Memorial Trophy.

Melia beat Janet Burke 21-10 in an all-Blackburn final at Roe Lee Bowling Club in an event that attracted 40 bowlers from across the county.

The competition, organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council's community and sports events team, is the premier event in the Ladies Open Bowling Festival.

And Melia lived up to the competiton's reputation with some fine bowls throughout the day.

The Blackburn bowler beat P Riley 21-13 in the first round before booking her place in the quarter finals with a convincing 21-10 win over D Bickerstaffe.

It was there that she faced her toughest test on the way to the final when Samlesbury bowler Marjorie Fryer pushed her all the way before narrowly winning 21-18.

But normal service was soon resumed and a 21-12 win over Lisa Harrison from Burnley booked a place in the final where she overcame Burke.

Burke, president of the Blackburn Ladies TURN TO PAGE 16 FROM PAGE 15 Bowling League, did quite have it all her own way on the way to the final which started with a 21-12 preliminary round victory over W Fish.

Jean Pimrick offered sterner resistance in the first round proper before Burke clinched a narrow 21-17 win. And it was even closer in the second round against W Entwistle in a match that went right to the wire, Burke winning 21-18.

But boosted by two tough wins, Burke was on top of her came in the quarter finals and beat the talented Margaret Curren from Blackburn 21-13.

However, the semi final was another nail-biter with Burke showing great resilience to see off Maureen Gavaghan from Blackburn 21-17.

The final itself proved to be one fight too far for the league president who was finally beaten by the unstoppable Melia.

Results - Preliminary Round: W Fish 12 j Burke 21, S Moss 19 J Pimrick 21, W Entwistle 21 M Kendall 6, M Smith 5 K Cottam 21, P Hardman 12 S Bolton 21, M Curren 21 J Fry 15, C Schofield 17 E Burns 21.

First Round: J Burke 21 J Pimrick 17, W Entwistle 21 K Cottam 10, S Bolton 11 M Curren 21, H Graham 21 E Burns 15, S Ansbro 21 M Booth 16, N Proos 21 E Whittaker 13, M Gavaghan 21 M Pye 8, P Edwards 17 J Boardman 21, D Heyes 8 J Moxham 21, M Keelty 11 N Helmn 21, L McEvoy 8 L Harrison 21, A Fox 10 E Ainsworth 21, P Turner 6 J Lever 21, B Entwistle 18 M Fryer 21, R Riley 13 M Melia 21, D Machell 15 D Bickerstaffe 21.

Second Round: J Burke 21 W Entwistle 18, M Curren 21 H Graham 12, S Ansbro 8 N Proos 21, M Gavaghan 21 J Boardman 10, J Moxham 21 N Helmn 9, L Harrison 21 E Ainsworth 16, J Leaver 17 M Fryer 21, M Melia 21 D Bickerstaffe 10.

Quarter Finals: Janet Burke 21 Margaret Curren 13, Nora Proos 9 Maureen Gavaghan 21, Janet Moxham 15 Lisa Harrison 21, Marjorie Fryer 18 Margaret Melia 21.

Semi Finals: Janet Burke 21 Maureen Gavaghan 17, Lisa Harrison 12 Margaret Melia 21.

Final: Margaret Melia 21 Janet Burke 10.