SUCCESS in the county championship has capped a memorable 12 months for Mike Cornelia as president of Lancashire County Rugby Union.

The 64-year-old from Appleton was at Twickenham to see Lancashire achieve a record 18th win in the County Championship with a 32-26 defeat of Devon.

But history suggests the victory should not have been unexpected as Cornelia said: "Having a Warrington-born president of the county has again proven to lead to a successful championship victory, as four of the last five presidents from Warrington have now been winners."

Those three other successes came during the offices of James Bradley in the 1947/48 season, Ces Burch in 1972/73 and Bryan England in 1992/93.

Cornelia, whose term as president ends on June 21, has revelled in the position, representing the county at games, attending committee meetings and visiting clubs across Lancashire.

The Warrington Rugby Union Club committee man said: "It's been very enjoyable but also one of the quickest years I've had.

"I've had only one Sunday lunch at home since January, and that was only because the game was postponed.

"And I've been to at least one meeting during every week of the year."

The retired ICI engineer will continue his link with the county by accepting a committee position.

He first joined Warrington Rugby Union Club in 1953 and played around 900 games before hanging up his boots 11 years ago.

There will be no time to give his feet a rest as his term as Lancashire president comes to a close because he is also an active member of Warrington Cricket Club.