Harrington reclaims world champion wrestler status
Last updated 09:14, Friday, 17 October 2008
John Harrington of Bewaldeth reclaimed his status as a world champion wrestler when he won the 12st title at Alwinton Show.
Once the holder of three championships simultaneously, he has had a comparatively lean time in the past year, although continuing to notch up wins wherever he travelled to compete in the normal wrestling calendar.
The outside-hipe was his favoured chip in the early rounds when he controlled the lively wriggling of Watchai Noimai before dispatching him. Harrington beat Scott McKenzie and then faced his friend, relation and fellow Carlisle Club member, Richard Dixon.
Dixon has been steadily growing in confidence as the season has progressed, spending less time thinking what to do and more time going for his chips.
In the first round of the championship he had hiped Andrew Carlile so high that he was able to cross him in mid air so decisively that Carlile was virtually upside down when he landed.
Dixon's attacking policy took him into an early lead in the final when he won the first bout by falling backwards, arching his back and throwing Harrington clockwise over his shoulder.
Dixon attacked again with a hipe in the next hold but Harrington rode it, dropped into an attacking position and twisted to win.
Harrington's main problem was to get his feet disentangled in time to complete the fall. Only in the deciding fall did Harrington take the initiative rather than reacting to attacks. He gained a good hold and then flung Dixon forward and round off the right side.
The wrestling feast did not end there for Harrington figured in a second close final when he wrestled up with Richard Fox in the 14 stones.
He took the lead by borrowing his opponent's favourite chip, the buttock.
Scores levelled when Fox swung Harrington before inside-clicking him in mid-air, a move that Fox has tried without much joy all season, but which was spectacularly successful at Alwinton.
For the decider sheer persistence paid off for Fox he wore down Harrington's defence and caught him sweetly to win.
Another Carlisle wrestler Joe Thompson won the Under-16s.
Only one event remains in the 2008 Grass Season, Buttermere Show on Saturday October 25, so if any wrestlers need points for the CWWA 2008 trophies, that is where he should be.
The News and Star web-site says that the committee is vowing to go ahead with the show, despite nearby Wasdale Head Show having to cancel for the first time in sixty years.
Carlisle Wrestling Club will meet for training each Wednesday in the Gym at Currock House: 7.45pm for youngsters; 8.45pm for seniors.
RESULTS
Alwinton Show
Under-10 Years: 1, Joe Hale; 2,S Browm; 3, C Whitfield. Under-13 Years: 1, I Hammond; 2, C Spence; 3, Joe Hale. Under-16 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, S Mason; 3, T Lakely
Under-21 Years: 1, A Ord; 2, N Birdsall; 3, J Thompson. 12st World Championship: 1, John Harrington; 2, R Dixon; 3, S McKenzie.
14st: 1, R Fox; 2, John Harrington; 3, A Ord. All Weights: 1, R Younger; 2, R Leiper; 3, R Fox.
DATES
Saturday October 25 - Buttermere Show...the last of the season.
Friday November 7 - CWWA Presentation Dinner in the Auctioneer, Rosehill, Carlisle (Tickets from Board Members)
