Wrestling by Roger Robson

Last updated 09:00, Friday, 27 June 2008

On a constantly wet weekend there were still wrestlers daft enough to travel many miles to compete in the rain and spectators to watch them get wet.

Hale the hero: Kirkheaton under-12 winner Joe Hale

Silloth Vintage Rally usually crowds the Green between the town and the sea, but this year only a small knot of die-hards squinted through the squalls to see the wrestling and the sheep show. Every wrestler on display was a product of Carlisle Wrestling Club, but some had travelled far.

Only two wrestlers entered for the Under 15 Years, so Joe Thompson of Alston and Paul Murray of Arlecdon were straight into the final, with the bigger lad, Thompson hiping twice to win. Jack Ewart of Westward has been a keen contestant this year, with mixed success, but at Silloth he kept Joe Thompson under control for a welcome win.

In the seniors, two wrestlers stood out: cousins John Harrington of Bewaldeth and Richard Dixon of Lessonhall. Harrington kept Dixon's dangerous buttocking under control to win both the 111/2 and 13 stones.

The All Weights saw the Heavyweight Champion Russell Housby in action for the first time this season. John Harrington wrestles well above his weight, but Housby was too big and too aware to succumb to the trickery of the lesser man. He kept a good hold and when the chance came, screwed his opponent into the ground.

Kirkheaton is a dead-end village lost in the rolling Northumbrian stock-breeding countryside. On Saturday it was the centre of the world for the Rothbury wrestlers and, of course, Joe Thompson. He inevitably won the Under 15 Years, outside-hiping Jack Brown twice in the final.

Two brothers had success in the other junior events: Joe Hale is one to watch as he cut through the opposition in the Under 12 Years with skill and confidence.

When in a corner he could win with a leg-up, but if in control he used the Northumbrian route: "a gud haad o' the short rib" and then a rush forward. Big brother Jack won the Under 18s with a final against Jacob Wragg.

Hale is all action and twists and was unstoppable. Wragg had some consolation when he later gained one of the falls of the day as he hanked Joe Thompson in a manner which was a credit to his coaches at Rothbury Academy.

After Simon Hamilton, a good local wrestler who rarely travels far, won the 12 stones, the Northumbrian Heavy Brigade took over.

Jason Davidson, newly recovered from a shoulder injury contested both the 15st and All Weights finals. In the 15 Stones he was hiped and back-heeled by Robert Leiper, and in the All Weights Darren Whitfield hiped and twisted him.

Results

Kirkheaton

Under-12 Years: 1, Joe Hale; 2, L Cragg; 3, J Nicholson. Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, J Brown; 3, L Cragg. Under-18 Years: 1, Jack hale; 2, J Wragg; 3, J Thompson. 12st: 1, S Hamilton; 2, S Cuthbert; 3, J Thompson. 15st: 1, R Leiper; 2, J Davidson; 3, Jack Hale. All Weights: 1, D Whitfield; 2, J Davidson; 3, R Leiper.

Silloth Vintage Rally

Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, P Murray. Under-18 Years: 1, J Ewart; 2, J Thompson; 3, P Murray. 11½st: 1, John Harrington; 2, R Dixon; 3, P Murray. 13st: 1, John Harrington; 2, J Thompson; 3, R Dixon. All Weights: 1, R Housby; 2, John Harrington; 3, R Dixon.

Dates:

Sunday June 29: 2pm Patterdale; U12/U15/U18/111/2/13/AW

Saturday July 5: 2.30pm Alston Gala; U12/U15/U18/Ladies/111/2/13/AW; 7.30pm Plumbland Sports, U9/U12/U15/U15girls/U18/13/AW

Sunday July 6: 11.30am Distington; U12/U15/U18/121/2/AW; 3pm Haltwhistle U12/U15/U18/111/2/13/AW/Novice; Great Langdale