By Roger Robson

John Harrington with two trophies and the Guinness Cup at Ambleside.

The four wrestling events of last week, Ambleside Sports, Langholm Common Riding, Cockermouth Show and Beetham Sports, brought out the diversity of Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling.

Ambleside, the great survival of the traditional Lakeland Sports meetings with hounds, hills, runners, bikes and wrestling, had a great performance by John Harrington who won two weights in great style and gained the Guinness Trophy for the best wrestling performance.

The Brocklebank family, back to full strength with Thomas returned from injury, won the two heaviest weights.

Graham Brocklebank buttocked the buttocker to fell Richard Fox in the final of the 14 stones and Thomas felled Joe Threlfall in the closest of encounters in the All Weights final.

Richard Fox got into top gear and won two weights, though John Harrington did take the first fall in the All Weights final with a 'Peter Hunter'. Roger Robson

Meanwhile Megan Gibson, in a smart wrestling strip, won the first ever girls event at Ambleside.

Then there was Langholm Common Riding.

Featuring its usual skirl of pipes and dancing, horses racing by, professional track-running, much alcohol and wrestling, the events ignored the rain and drew the crowds with local lads taking on the champions.

Richard Fox got into top gear and won two weights, though John Harrington did take the first fall in the All Weights final with a 'Peter Hunter'.

The move entails a sneaky and sudden right leg outside stroke which leaves the victim prostrate and feeling foolish.

The Cockermouth claustrophobic ring had cows watching from a neighbouring tent, and a dense focused crowd.

Local boys had their wins.

Jimmy Hall got back to victorious ways in the under-18s and then was second in the All Weights.

John Harrington (11.5st) and Richard Fox (13st and All Weights) were the winners, but Andrew Carlile and Richard Dixon added greatly to the class and excitement of the bouts.

Beetham, a small country sports meeting on rough grass behind the village, had all the usual suspects in the wrestling - the Atkinsons, Brocklebanks, and Hodgsons, and Joe Threlfall won the All Weights.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version