'Wrestling helps us stand up to boys'

4 hours ago

Ollie Rawlinsonin Carlisle

News image — Arianna (right) said wrestling was helping her "stand up to boys"

Ollie Rawlinson/BBC Arianna smiling into the camera sitting to the right of Eleanor who is also smiling. Arianna has ginger hair which is tied back and is wearing a yellow and red sports top with a collar. Eleanor has long mousey hair and is wearing a blue jumper. They are sitting indoors in front of a beige wall. — Arianna (right) said wrestling was helping her "stand up to boys"

A traditional sport which has been part of rural village life for centuries is becoming increasingly popular with young girls.

Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling remains a regular feature of agricultural shows and local fairs in Cumbria and Northumberland with multiple generations taking part.

Carlisle Wrestling Club chair Linda Scott said about 70 young people were now registered at the club and the most noticeable change in recent years was the number of young girls wanting to get involved.

Arianna, 13, said the sport was helping her "stand up to boys" and prove girls could wrestle too.

"Everyone likes a bit of rough and tumble, but it's also controlled," Scott said.

She said she believed the girls found it "exciting because it's challenging and they're pushing themselves to the limits".

Getty Images Two young girls with blond hair, facing each other and leaning forwards, with their upper bodies in a wrestling hold. Each has their chin on the other's shoulder, with arms around the other's upper back, hands gripped together. One girl is wearing traditional white long johns and white top, with turquoise velvet trunks. The other has a green top and black jogging bottoms, with triple red strips down the sides. They're on a grassy field with out-of-focus spectators and bunting in the distance. Near them is an older man, acting as referee and leaning forward to see clearly, who's wearing a moss green tweed suit and tie. — Clothing now ranges from traditional long johns and velvet trunks, with district colours and motifs, to more modern sports kit

Arianna said she first discovered wrestling after her dad saw the club on social media, and had taken to the sport naturally because of her enjoyment of rugby.

"I'm not saying that it's to make the boys scared of us, but it's making us stand up to boys and saying we can do sports as well," she said.

It is a sentiment shared by Eleanor, 13, who added: "Everybody says boys are way stronger than girls, but they're really not.

"Girls can do the same things boys can."

Getty Images Three men standing facing away. Two have hands on hips and one has hands behind his back. They are all wearing white long johns and white vest tops. The tops of two have birds embroidered on them - one is a hummingbird and one is peacock. All three are wearing velvet trunks - blue with embroidered flowers, turquoise with an unclear pattern, and black with embroidered flowers. In front of them, and slightly out of focus, is a grassy field, trees, fells and some spectators. — Traditionally young people and adults wear velvet trunks in district colours decorated with district motifs

The club is exploring opening a new branch in Egremont so more young people in west Cumbria could take part, thanks to some Sport England funding.

Due to the growing popularity, the club is discussing the introduction of new championship categories for girls under 15 and under 19, alongside existing women's competitions.

Ollie Rawlinson/BBC Linda Scott smiling into the camera. She has short, blonde hair and is wearing blue round glasses. She is standing in a village hall with a stage behind her, covered by a red curtain. She is wearing a dark padded coat with a blue hood. There is a man behind her slightly out of focus and leaning on the stage. — Linda Scott said there had been a rise in the number of girls getting involved in the sport

At a recent taster sessions, Scott said more than 60 children came along to try wrestling and more than 20 decided to take it up regularly.

Earlier this year, 18 competitors aged between 11 and 16 travelled to Brittany, France, to take part in an international Celtic wrestling competition, returning with seven gold medals, four silver and three bronze.

"It's just such an amazing experience for the kids, they come back and their confidence is massive," Scott said.

She said she hoped interest would continue to grow and more young people would take the opportunity to get involved in the sport.