Adam Ridley of Slaggyford (right) won the under-18 championship

Firstly Rothbury Mart on Friday, with its �500 first prize for the 15.5st and �2,600 overall prize money, need not worry about the weather.

The bouts take place indoors in the old mart ring with its tiered seating.

Some Cumbrian wrestling fans will be taking hotel accommodation for, only six miles up into the hills from Rothbury, Richard Fox will defend his 12st World title at Harbottle on Saturday afternoon.

The action then moves to Weardale for the Wolsingham Show and another important Championship, the 15st, presently held by Joseph Robson of Grayrigg.

Two other events, Lowick and Loweswater, have been cancelled because of the weather.

Last week the action was halved when both Millom and Broughton Show and Bellingham Show were also cancelled.

This left the Holm Show as the focus for wrestlers from North Cumbria and Northumberland to meet on neutral ground in Scotland.

The Hale family from Rothbury set the early pace when Joe won two age groups, and his big brother Jack felled Joe Thompson in the final of the Under-18's with a twist off the chest.

Men's wrestling was dominated by Richard Fox who lives deep in Reiver country on the English side of the border.

He was able to show off his fluent skills in buttocking and swinging young Joe Thompson in the final of the 12.5st, but had to dig much deeper in the All Weights final against his old adversary, John Harrington.

Four holds were needed before Harrington succumbed and the last fall was typical of the strategy used by Fox when the two meet.

He kept Harrington in front of him and attacked with a back-heel, sending him backwards before he followed up swiftly and strongly with a swamping back-heel until his opponent fell.

When many showfields are swamped with rain, Hesket Newmarket was inundated with children, most of whom, both boys and girls, were keen to wrestle.

The main event was Adam Ridley's defence of his Under-18 Years, 10st Championship.

Ridley warmed up by winning the Open Under 18s and then sailed through the rounds of the championship to retain his title.

It was seen that his biggest problem would be probably getting his weight right beforehand.

In the final he faced Craig Naylor of Wasdale. He picked Naylor up and twisted him back for the first fall, and threw Naylor forward off the hank for the second.

The Hayhurst family did well to fight their way through the local hordes for James to win the under-12's and for William to win the under-15's.

Another Kendal wrestler, Hannah Hodgson, had her keenness rewarded when she won the Ladies Open in a big entry, to add to her win at Newcastleton earlier in the day.