Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling By Roger Robson

Last updated at 20:08, Friday, 22 January 2010

Carlisle Wrestling Club had a hectic training night for the youngsters when the Currock House mats were filled with coaches, young wrestlers and action.

When that session ended, an altogether more focused and serious event began, the Men’s Points Night for January when the club’s champion wrestlers competed with each other and the up-and-coming wrestlers of the next generation.

Two of the champions, John Harrington and Richard Fox were at their more comfortable winter weight so were unable to qualify for the weight categories that they dominated in the summer. Richard Dixon, however, lean and tall, was fit for everything.

In the 11½stones he went through the opposition in the round-robin format without losing a fall, despite Andrew Carlile being on sharp, hiping form.

Carlile helped Dixon to win the 13 stones, too. In the round-robin he felled John Harrington in the first run-through, but went down to Dixon.

As a result there were three wrestlers on equal falls when all the dust had settled. This meant a three way wrestle-off with Harrington, Dixon and Carlile all dropping a single fall. At this point Richard Dixon moved up a gear and won all his falls.

Sadly, Murdo Laurie, who competed so well for Carlisle in the Academy Shield, had to withdraw after a couple of bouts with an old shoulder injury. In the All Weights, too, a wrestler had to pull out half way through the competition. David Bowman, a former Under-18 Years Champion, now returned to the area as an Auctioneer in Wigton, was going well when he pulled his hamstring.

Richard Fox had already felled the pre-injury Bowman and was on great form. His falls included one of those sudden buttocks which turns a man’s world upside-down. At one point his opponent’s head was two feet clear of the ground with the rest of his body perpendicular above that.

Not surprisingly, Richard Fox went through the competition unbeaten.

While the stars blazed shone, others contributed greatly to the entertainment. Watchai Noimai returned to the mats after a long lay-off, and reminded us of how fast and exciting he is as a wrestler.

Lack of practice just dulled his speed fractionally when up against the best, but he was up there with them and just needed some polish from match practice.

Stephen Hodgson, a student at Newton Rigg, a sparring partner of Craig Naylor, proved a handful after only a few training sessions at the club.

And what about Robert Wharton? He may even have thought he was retired from wrestling, but he has been bringing his sons to the training sessions, and found himself firstly refereeing the lighter weights of the Points Night, and then taking part in the All Weights. I bet he was sore the next day.

Results – Carlisle Wrestling Club Senior Points: 11½st 1, R Dixon; 2, A Carlile; 3, W Noimai; 4, J Brown.: 13st 1, R Dixon; 2, John Harrington; 3, A Carlile; 4, S Hodgson; All Weights 1, R Fox; 2, John Harrington; 3, R Dixon; 4, D Bowman.

First published at 14:13, Friday, 22 January 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk