A personal view of the sport By Roger Robson

Richard Dixon was in fine form in the 11.5 stones

On Sunday at Dalemain, amongst the shining tractors and vintage cars of the Eden Valley Vintage Rally, he was given a Cumberland accolade by a spectator: "What a lish lad thon is."

After some years of training at Carlisle Wrestling Club, Noimai knows his hanks from his hipes, but in winning the under-18 years, he went for basics.

Unleashing survival twists which turned certain defeat into improbable victory.

As he was swung or pushed into the ground, he would somehow emerge at the other side without touching down.

His 'Houdini' style only ended in the senior wrestling when he met one of the Carlisle coaches, Andrew Carlile.

Carlile has made a perfect start to the season, hiping when he has to, but mainly winning with neat twists and turns which are the hallmarks of wrestling efficiency and experience.

His main challenge came in the All Weights when his friend and rival of many years, David Atkinson, put in a holiday appearance up north from his work in Bristol.

As usual, the wrestling at the North Cumbria YFC field day, this year held near Gosforth, was a wonderful mixture of innocence and experience. Roger Robson

Atkinson reminded the crowd of his wrestling pedigree when he so neatly hiped and crossed Joe Thompson in mid-air.

The final was close, but it was appropriate that the wrestler who has trained all winter was just too sharp for the holiday maker.

As usual, the wrestling at the North Cumbria YFC field day, this year held near Gosforth, was a wonderful mixture of innocence and experience.

The innocents are the fall guys 'volunteered' by others so that a point for entering can be added to the club's total.

The experienced are those who have spent many years training and competing at home and abroad.

Paul Murray representing Greysouthern showed how to neutralise bigger and stronger lads with his well honed skills.

Richard Dixon of Wigton and John Harrington of Caldbeck cut a swathe through the 11.5 st men before Harrington won a close final.

Meanwhile Joe Lowery of Drigg and Richard Fox of Longtown did the same in the All Weights.

There is, however, a third category of YFC wrestler lying between naivety and professionalism.

These are naturally strong and athletic individuals whose main wrestling experience is their annual participation in the Field Day.

Especially so in the women's sections where Katie Wigham of Kirklinton felled a real battler Mica Graham of Carlisle in the All Weights.

In the 10 stones Ellyn Groat of Egremont fought the toughest of campaigns before she felled Fiona Reed of Brampton in the final.

Reed last year, in the dialect competition, wrote about "Bin med t'diu Cummelan' wrustlin'".

This is her last year of YFC competition and she can look back with pride on her career limited though it has been to an annual outing at the Field Day.