by Roger Robson

Richard Fox and Richard Dixon compete for an advantage

A large audience gathered around the wrestling ring at this year's Westmorland Show as the partisan crowd cheered local wrestlers into first places.

Best of all was Graham Brocklebank who cut through two big entry fields to win at 13 and 14 stones, although he wobbled in both finals before coming out on top.

In the 13 stones he took the first fall against David Parsons with an inside-click and a twist off the breast.

Parsons had been bustling and shaking up his opponents throughout the rounds, and he did the same in the final by bringing Brocklebank over on a full buttock.

No slack was given by Brocklebank in the decider and he rushed his man off the right hip.

John Harrington took an early lead in the 14 stones final when he went for a leg-up buttock, the chip that won so many bouts for his father, Joe.

In the second hold Brocklebank played it more safely, gaining a good hold and then twisting.

The winner was a classy throw from Brocklebank when he swung Harrington and then inside clicked him on landing, an unstoppable throw when properly done.

Just to make the Brocklebank family's day even better, big brother Thomas won the All Weights, despite Richard Fox's wriggling and bustling in the final.

The boys' wrestling provided plenty to talk about with Scott Brocklebank and Joe Thompson in the final of the Under-15's taking forever to take hold.

It was the sole hiatus in a continuous stream of high quality single-fall wrestling, "sudden death" all the way.

One particular highlight was the success of Luke Benn in a highly competitive Under-18's.

The Under-18 champion, from Silecroft in the far west of Cumbria, was in his usual excellent form, countering anything thrown at him.

In the final he attacked Sam Wilkinson with a back-heel for the first and an outside-hip for the second fall.

Carlisle Wrestling Club's John Harrington and Richard Dixon both enjoyed wins at the Kendal Show and contributed to the entertainment both there and elsewhere.

Harrington had four wins at three events, and looked certain to claim a fifth at Whitfield when he felled the massive Thomas Graham of Alston in the semi-final of the All Weights.

All that remained was to defeat Ross Wilkinson of Rothbury in the final.

Wilkinson had struggled to make his mark earlier in the day at Stanhope Show with young Joe Thompson bossing him into submission.

As the day wore on he showed signs of waking up, although John Harrington did gain all the hold and throw him off the hank for the first fall.

In the second hold Wilkinson surprised Harrington with an inside-click and gained the equaliser.

Wilkinson then struck again with the inside-click and won the day.

A regular theme in recent weeks has been the success of James Hayhurst in the Under-12's category and last week was no exception when he won three out of three events.