Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling By Roger Robson

Last updated 05:34, Friday, 18 July 2008

THE TINY village of Bampton, lying between Haweswater and Shap hosted wrestling at its sports day for a second year.

Get a grip: Alston’s Thomas Graham, right, winner of the All Weights, wrestles Westward’s Jack Ewart in the semi-finals

While the runners made their way up to the top of the nearby limestone outcrop, Carlisle trained wrestlers took most of the glory in the wrestling ring.

Best of all was Watchai Noimai, the Thai lad now settled in Carlisle. He has been producing spectacular falls all season, but recently he has also got into the habit of winning outright.

In the Under-18s he had a massive challenge in the form of Jack Ewart of Westward who had wrestled so well at Haltwhistle the previous week. Noimai managed to escape all the power and catch Ewart with a low back-heel. In the final he repeated the back-heel strike against Joe Thompson for the first fall, then won the second with a flying inside-hipe.

He carried that spectacular form into the final of the 12½ stones when he dispatched William Atkinson from Kendal with another hipe. Then he showed his subtler skills by taking the second fall with an outside stroke.

Two big men sat watching all afternoon before joining the action for the All Weights.

Joe Harrington made a welcome return to the ring after returning from University at Newcastle. He is a big lad, but was made small by the massive Thomas Graham of Alston. Graham, is virtually untutored, but has been travelling with the Thompsons to several events and is fast catching on. He caught Harrington with a big twist for the first fall in the final, and took the second with an even bigger twist for his first win.

Just before the All Weights we were treated to a challenge match. "Can we borrow the ring, please. They're determined to wrestle."

Two tiny children with serious faces marched into the centre and took hold. After a skirmish sister fell on top of brother, only for him to squirm out and launch a furious and illegal attack on his sister. To cheers Tom Harrington, the referee, calmed things down and returned the combatants to mum.

Great Eccleston Show, near Blackpool had a shortage of senior wrestlers but that gave opportunities to a group of locals who gave a good account of themselves.

With Harry Brocklebank's lads in the crowd round the ring you would have thought that Graham and Tom would have had it all sewn up, but they were injured and did not compete.

The youngest of the brothers, Ben, took his chance, won the Under-15s and wrestled up in two more finals. His performance brought him the trophy for the best wrestler of the day.

RESULTS

BAMPTON SPORTS

Under-12 Years: 1, C Paulson; 2, T Fraser; 3, J Wilson.

Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, C Paulson; 3, W Atkinson.

Under-18 Years 1, W Noimai; 2, J Thompson; 3, B Thompson.

Girls: 1, S Hindmarch; 2, E Wilson; 3, C Paulson.

12½st: 1, W Noimai; 2, W Atkinson; 3, J Thompson.

All Weights: 1, T Graham; 2, Joe Harrington; 3, J Ewart.

GREAT ECCLESTON SHOW

Under-12 Years: 1, Olly; 2, J Fond; 3, D Molly.

Under-15 Years: 1, B Brocklebank; 2, I Hammond; 3, S Lashley

Under-18 Years: 1, B McLaughlin; 2, B Brocklebank; 3, P Bowle.

Girls: 1, C Hodgson; 2, A Rawcliffe; 3, L Kilpatrick.

11st: 1, B McLaughlin; 2, B Brocklebank; 3, Tony Brocklebank.

13st: 1, L Derbyshire; 2, Tony Brocklebank; 3, S Lashley.

All Weights: 1, L Derbyshire; 2, B Rawcliffe; 3, Tony Brocklebank.

DATES

Saturday July 19 - 4pm Cumberland Show U12/U15(7st)/U15/U18/12/14st Ch'ship/AW

Sunday July 20 - 2.30pm Coniston U12/U15/U18/11½/13/AW

Friday July 25 - 2.30pm Langholm Common Riding U12/U16/11/13/AW

Saturday July 26 - Penrith Show includes 13st Championship

Sunday July 27 - 12.30pm Flookburgh U12/U15/U18/11½/13/AW

Thursday July 31 - Ambleside Sports

Wrestlers should note that all competitors in senior championships must wear a traditional wrestling strip. The centrepiece must be elasticated around the top of the legs. No shorts will be allowed as centrepieces.