The 2007 Wrestling Season....

..... roared into action amongst the old tractors and steam engines at the Hethersgill Vintage Machinery Rally at Carlisle Airport last week-end.

Juniors

Despite taking place in the fiefdom of Carlisle Wrestling Club, it was the Northumbrians of the new Rothbury Academy who dominated the boys’ wrestling. Carlisle’s Kieron Miller won the first competition of the season when he felled Cade Whitfield of Rothbury in the Under 12 Years, and Craig Ridley won the first fall of the Under 15 Years final by inside-clicking the big Rothbury lad, Jack Hale, but after that it was Northumberland all the way. Jack Hale won the next two falls with a backover twist and then a cross-click. And in the Under 18 Years Northumberland and their big lads won all the prizemoney, with Andrew Ord back-heeling Jamie Oliver twice.

Seniors

Once the Carlisle senior wrestlers were introduced into the action, the Northumbrians’ good progress was put into proportion. Often the Carlisle wrestlers were smaller and lighter than their opponents, but they had too much speed and experience to be troubled by the younger wrestlers. The culmination of this period of wrestling was the final of the 12½st between Andrew Carlile and John Harrington. Harrington won the first fall by a short head as they hit the turf together. Carlile struck back with a neat outside-stroke to equalise, and then Harrington won the decider with a back-heel cum outside-stroke.

Highlights

One of the best falls of the day came in the wrestle-off for third place when Richard Dixon felled Andrew Fox with a classic hank

The final of the All Weights pitted the two coaches of Rothbury and Carlisle, Darren Whitfield and Andrew Carlile, against each other. Although giving away around seven stones, Carlile managed to take a surprise first fall with a snappy back-heel. Whitfield regrouped to win safely by lifting Carlile well clear of the ground and flicking his legs side-ways.

Look Ahead

This weekend sees the wonderful mix of strength, skill, experience and innocence which is the wrestling at the North Cumbria YFC Field Day on Saturday. On Sunday there is a special call for wrestlers male and female to attend at Dalemain, near Penrith, where a TV programme with a well-known national celebrity will be filmed. As part of the wrestling there will be a traditional costume competition when he will join Mrs Molloy and Tom Harrington as judges.

Results:

Hethersgill Vintage Rally

Under 12 Years 1, K Miller; 2, C Whitfield.

Under 15 Years 1, J Hale; 2, C Ridley; 3, J Thompson.

Under 18 Years 1, A Ord; 2, J Oliver; 3, J Hale.

12½st 1 John Harrington; 2, A Carlile; 3, R Dixon.

All Weights 1, D Whitfield; 2, A Carlile; 3, J Hale.

Dates:

Sat May 19th Sedbergh Gala

May 16th 2007

(Roger Robson is Author of the book 'Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling' published by Bookcase 1999 )