Cumberland News

Boys show the way at Gosforth Show

Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling By Roger Robson

Last updated 05:45, Friday, 22 August 2008

GOSFORTH Show specialises in boys’ wrestling, that's all they have!

So it was especially appropriate that it sponsored the youngest and lightest championship of the wrestling calendar where all the wrestlers have to be under 15 years of age and weigh less than eight stones.

For a few boy wrestlers it gives them a rare opportunity to wrestle on level terms.

The three favourites for the title, Ben Brocklebank, Jack Brown, and the holder, Paul Murray, are all having a lean season despite their manifest skills, simply because they are at a disadvantage in both age and weight.

When Jack Brown and Ben Brocklebank met in the first round it was like two stags locking horns, as they had the rare opportunity of trying to impose their will by power and control rather than by defence and speed.

In the end Brown won by twisting Brocklebank over his right knee.

In the same round the holder of the title, Paul Murray, was doing handstands over Haydon Barnes, but such exuberance was soon quelled when he met Jack Brown in the semi-final, and the serious tactics came into play.

Murray's favourite position is to gain a good hold and then either hipe or rush his opponent.

Hiping was obviously a riskier strategy, so Murray set about disposing of Brown in the semi-final, and Jamie Nicholson in the final with wrenches and pushes off the right hip to retain his title.

Paul Murray will be moving to Wyndham School in September after the closure of the school in Cleator Moor.

At home he has a flock of Jacob Sheep and helps with his father's Belted Galloway herd. He is a good gymnast, and has a room at the farm fitted with wrestling mats to enhance his training. Despite his age and weight disadvantage he has travelled widely to wrestling events, and in winter he is a regular at Carlisle Wrestling Club despite living so far away down West at Arlecdon.

At Penrith in early July he pulled ligaments in his neck, and had not wrestled since, until his triumphant return at Gosforth Show.

At Allendale John Harrington stole the show with three wins. Pity Richard Dixon who was runner up to him in all three finals.

Dixon had his own successes though especially when he splattered the massive Thomas Graham of Alston twice.

That pattern continued later in the afternoon at Skelton Show when Harrington felled Dixon in the final of the 11½ stones.

After that it was Harrington's turn to be the bridesmaid and not the bride as Richard Fox felled him in finals of the 13 stones and All Weights events.

Wrestlers from Rothbury Academy added greatly to the action at Allendale.

Nathan Birdsall won the Under-18s and then travelled back to Whittingham where he won two more events.

Grasmere Sports this Sunday offers a rare chance for girls and women to shine in the wrestling, and gain substantial prize-money.

Instead of being lumped together in a single event, Grasmere provides them with four classes, with prize-money comparable to that of the men.

The annual contingent of Breton wrestlers, ten males and two females, is due to arrive in Cumbria later today.

Their programme has been curtailed this year because of the way the dates fall, and more directly by the cancellation of Keswick Show because of the weather.

RESULTS

Allendale Show

Under-12 Years: 1, Joe Hale; 2, R Palmer; 3, J Crossan.

Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, J Brown; 3, Joe Hale.

Under-18 Years: 1, N Birdsall; 2, Jack Hale; 3, J Wragg.

11½st: 1, John Harrington; 2, R Dixon; 3, J Wragg.

13st: 1, John Harrington; 2, R Dixon; 3, S McKenzie.

All Weights: 1, John Harrington; 2, R Dixon; 3, Jack Hale

Skelton Show

Under-13 Years: 1, W Atkinson; 2, J Hayhurst; 3, Jack Hall.

Under-16 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, W Hayhurst; 3, M Atkinson.

Under-18 Years: 1, G Benson; 2, J Thompson; 3, D Ewart.