LOWE: IF ONLY MY OLD RIVAL - AND FRIEND ERIC WAS HERE TO HELP ME CELEBRATE

DARTS legend John Lowe raised a toast to his old rival Eric Bristow after getting an MBE – 25 years after winning his last world title.

Lowe (above) was devastated when the Crafty Cockney died suddenly, aged 60, last April – but not before Bristow had championed his old sparring partner’s case for recognition in the Honours system. And 73-year-old Lowe, whose triple crown spanned three decades between 1979-93, said: “We had a great rivalry and it’s the foundation of what we’ve got today. That’s the twinge of sadness – that Eric is not here to share the moment. I know he supported my nomination, which means a lot, and it would have been fitting if he was here to celebrate but sadly he’s left us.”

Lowe, who hit the first-ever televised nine-darter at the World Matchplay back in 1984, added: “It’s such an honour for me and a wonderful thing to receive. Someone said to me that all past champions should receive an invitation to the

World Championship like they do in the Masters golf.

“But if invited, I would probably decline

– I watched the game between Gary Anderson and Chris Dobey and the standard was incredible.”

Lowe (with Bristow, left) becomes the first darts player to be awarded a gong since 10-times ladies world champion Trina Gulliver earned the MBE five years ago.