Cumberland wrestling round-up

By Roger Robson

Jim Bland (right), awards Thomas Brocklebank the heavyweight prize

Patterdale Country Fair had all the Lakeland ingredients.

There were Herdwick sheep, hounds, terriers and ferrets, mountains as backdrop and a nearby hill for scores of youngsters to labour up and then come helter-skeltering down, and the Senior Guide race for people old enough to know better.

There was also rain, of course, and sunshine, lots of visitors marked out by their bright clothing, and to round it off - the wrestling.

After all the other excitements ended the wrestling established a ring in the middle of the outfield of the cricket pitch, and the crowd stayed on to enjoy some excellent competitive wrestling - with virtually every final going to three falls before it was settled.

The Kendal academy coach, John Wilson was out-weighted, out-strengthed, and out-youthed in the All Weights by Thomas Brocklebank, but he still managed to buttock for the middle fall, and nearly did the same in the decider.

John Wilson's boy, Sam, had started the trend in the under-12s, when he wrestled up to Thomas Gibson of Southwaite, and took a fall with his father's chip, the buttock.

No fewer than 16 boys entered the lists, most of them still in their fell-running gear, and the crowd warmed to the honest endeavour on display.

Gibson, who trains at Carlisle, even though he is still young for the category, has started to make a habit of winning. He progressed positively through each round and was mainly in control in the final.

Mathew Atkinson turned out in a smart traditional strip and wrestled smartly, too, twisting and inside-clicking like a veteran to win the under-15s, wrestle up to Milnthorpe Academy's Stuart Mason in the under-18s, and feature prominently in the men's weights.

Thomas Gibson, who trains at Carlisle, even though he is still young for the category, has started to make a habit of winning.

Roger Robson

In the first round of the 13-stones, he met an adult wrestler from a martial arts background and was able to bamboozle him with home-grown ploys.

In the men's weights, the champions took over.

Firstly, the 10.5st champion Andrew Carlile won the decider in the 11.5st final against 11st champion Richard Dixon.

With the bout finely balanced, Carlile struck with a surging inside-hipe and brought his man over.

Dixon then reached the final of the 13-stones, but found Graham Brocklebank, the champion at that weight, was immaculate in defence and suddenly effective in attack.