Ted Dunglinson (left) with some of his many wrestling trophies, and Robert McNamara - Big Mac (right), after winning the 1997 All Weights Championship at Grasmere by defeating Alf Harrison.
The mighty Robert McNamara, “Big Mac”, is set to break Ted Dunglinson's record of nine wins in the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling All Weights World Championship this year at Powburn Show. Last Year at rainy Ambleside Sports McNamara equalled that record, and this year he goes for that tenth win.
Dunglison's championship wins took nearly two decades to accrue for he seemed only to be nervous for those events and proved fallible. In 1954 he had 52 heavyweight wins, a record, and yet failed to win the championship.
McNamara, on the other hand, won his first title in 1997, and no-one has beaten him since. The nearest to an upset came at Alwinton Show in 2000 when Carlisle's Mark Lowry, ten stones lighter than McNamara, took the middle fall of the final with a buttock and nearly did the same in the decider. Usually, though, McNamara's wins are more straightforward, and my report of Killington 2004 could be replicated most years: Weighing in at over 23 stones, mostly bone and muscle, and quick on his feet, Big Mac waded easily through the opposition. He allowed any attacks to bounce off him and then picked his man up like a bairn, gave a quick sideways flick off the chest, and dumped him flat on the grass.
The Governing Board was keen to allocate a championship to the ancient Egremont Crab Fair where the wrestling has been in the doldrums in recent years. Nearby Waberthwaite Academy has been bringing on some good youngsters recently so there could be some local excitement there. Two championships, the 15 stones and the Under 18 Years, take place in the same field at Langholm, but on different dates and under different organisers.
The four boys events are well spread about in Lancashire, Cumbria, Scotland and Northumberland. The Academies at Kendal and Milnthorpe have a plethora of good youngsters so the Under 15 Years/8st Championship down the Blackpool road at Great Eccleston should be a good draw.
Northumberland has a good range of championships, and already Jimmy Pringle has some hefty prize-money in place
Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Association
World Championship Venues 200612st................................................Morpeth Fair, Northumberland.............June 11th
11st. ..............................................Patterdale Country Fair........................ June 25th
10½ st............................................Penrith Show......................................... July 22nd
15st................................................Langholm Common Riding....................July 28th
All Weights....................................Powburn Show, Northumberland........August 5th
Under 15 Years..............................Dalston Show, Carlisle......................August 12th
Under 18 Years/10st......................Forestburngate, Northumberland.....August 13th
Under 15 Years/8st .......................Great Eccleston Show, Lancashire.....August 13th
Under 18 Years...............................Langholm Show..........................September 30th
14st.................................................Westmorland County Show..........September 14th
13st..................................................Egremont Crab Fair.....................September 16th
(Roger Robson is Author of the book 'Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling' published by Bookcase 1999 )
