Paul Murray of Arlecdon travels from near Whitehaven to Carlisle Wrestling Club each week. At home he has a gym set out in a barn complete with wrestling mats. At school in Egremont he takes part in Alex Price's submission wrestling classes and is an accomplished gymnast. All this keenness, fitness and dedication came together in Carlisle Wrestling Club's Junior Points Night when he won two weights and the cup for the best performance of the night. All was not plain sailing, however, as Jack Brown of Haydon Bridge pushed him all the way in the final of the 8.5 stones and Craig Naylor did the same in the final of the 10 stones. Jack Brown did get a consolation middle fall with a slick inside hipe but their bout was mainly characterised by tough positional play terminated with sudden fury. In the 10st final Naylor over-reached himself with an attempted cross-buttock and was flung down by Murray's quick reactions. In the second hold Naylor gained a heavy grip and Murray responded by applying the hank. A prolonged bout ensued with Naylor trying to kick out the hank but failing. In the end, as both wrestlers tired, Naylor twisted hard for the ground but the hanking foot was still in place and Murray won by an inch. James Hall of King's Meaburn also won twice. He is a big lad by any standard but he is also not yet 15. Size is obviously a significant advantage but Hall also wrestles well with sharp and varied chips.  | Their final in the seven stones was a treat for the spectators. David won with an outside hipe and cross for the first and with a perfect right leg hank for the second. |
In the final of the under-18 years against Craig Naylor, he took the first fall with an outside-stroke and the second with an outside-hipe and a dive. The Miller brothers Kieron and David dominated the lightest weights as usual. Their final in the seven stones was a treat for the spectators. David won with an outside hipe and cross for the first and with a perfect right leg hank for the second. Joe Coates arrived too late to compete in his weight but once more proved his skill in winning the under-12 Years. The three girls competing, Katie Brown, Dawn and Megan Gibson, are all of differing physique and age, so Katie Brown had little difficulty in winning the girls' section. But all shone when wrestling at their own weights amongst the lads. The Gibson family from High Hesket revealed a secret weapon. John Gibson has attended the wrestling club regularly but has never had a go before. He certainly looked the part and did all the right moves. Perhaps when he weighs more than 3st 2lbs he will have more impact. One of the keenest wrestling fans has died at the age of 92. Bill Richardson used to wrestle for the Gosforth Academy before moving to farm at Armathwaite. In recent years, confined to a wheelchair, he was a fixture at many ringsides. Recently his eyesight had failed but he loved to be parked at the edge of the ring at the likes of Grasmere to soak up the atmosphere and excitement. His grandfather had been so successful in wrestling that eight of his nine grandchildren were given a belt that he had won. The ninth had to make do with a cup. Regular training sessions for the IFCW European Championships will take place each Sunday in the Currock House gym. If the Rothbury Middle School becomes available, there may be sessions there, too. The wrestlers who turned up for the first session last Sunday were given 30 minutes of hectic exercise before the Gouren jackets and the crash mat came into play.
Results: Carlisle Wrestling Club Junior Points Night 6st: 1. K Miller; 2. H Stoddart; 3. J Gibson 7st: 1. D Miller; 2. K Miller; 3. T Gibson; 4. M Gibson 8.5st: 1. P Murray; 2. J Brown; 3. J Stoddart; 4. D Miller 10st 1: P Murray; 2. C Naylor; 3. J Brown; 4. R Coates Girls: 1. K Brown; 2. D Gibson; 3. M Gibson Under-12 years: 1. J Coates; 2. M Gibson; 3. P Potts; 4. T Gibson Under-15 years: 1. J Hall; 2. J Brown; 3. D Miller; 4. M Fisher Under-18 years: 1. J Hall; 2. C Naylor; 3. D Miller; 4. J Ewart
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