Graham won't lose his grip in the seniors

Wrestling By Roger Robson

Last updated 10:00, Friday, 04 July 2008

AT Ullswater Country Fair, Graham Brocklebank won his last Under-18 Years wrestling, only hours away from his personal deadline.

Heading for a fall: Richard Dixon lifts John Harrington at the Ullswater Country Fair

Unfortunately for him that excludes him from this Sunday's under-18 world championship at Haltwhistle Carnival, where Luke Benn is due to defend his title.

There is big prize-money with special sponsorship from the Chris Walton Memorial Fund. Local lad Chris, the Under-18s Grasmere Champion, would have been a main contender for the World Championship but for his untimely death.

Fortunately, Graham Brocklebank is not one of those wrestlers who will fade away when he moves into the seniors. He demonstrated that by winning the 13 stones in style when he felled John Harrington in straight falls in the final. First he took him away with a powerful twist off the chest, and then in the second hold smothered Harrington's attempt to hank.

Last week at Silloth John Harrington looked to be boss of Richard Dixon, but at Patterdale Dixon had other ideas.

When he met Harrington in the final of the 11½ stones he dispatched him with a throw which has no name in Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, but is called a salto in the Graeco-Roman style.

Dixon had a strong hold of Harrington, and had him up in the air, but there was still the problem of throwing him down cleanly without being caught by a buttock or a hank. The dictionary definition of "salto" is "a daring jump" and that was what Dixon did. He flung himself backwards and sideways with an arched back so that Harrington had to hit the ground first.

The second throw was just as spectacular but this time Dixon was the hanker, flinging himself back again whilst pulling his opponent under and himself up by straightening his entwined leg.

The all weights was a keenly anticipated event, as two special heavyweights who rarely meet were entered.

Russell Housby is the present all weights champion and is a formidable size, has quick feet and good technique; Thomas Brocklebank, who competes mainly in the South of the county, is lighter, but has the power and shoulders endemic to the Brocklebank family. The two met in the semi-final where Brocklebank's upper body strength proved decisive as he gained a good hold and twice drove Housby round, forward and down.

In the All Weights final, all John Harrington's finesse came to nothing as Thomas Brocklebank contolled and felled him with twists.

In the boys events Paul Murray and Jack Brown had a closely fought final with Murray clinching the win with a hank.

The Under-12 Years was kept back in the programme so that the new wrestlers could observe how it was done. In the event four well matched lads pleased the crowd with their natural skills, with James Lithgoe of Carlisle winning the day, and keen to try it again this coming weekend.

Under-15 Years: 1, P Murray; 2, J Brown; 3, B Brocklebank.

Under-18 Years: 1, G Brocklebank; 2, S Wilkinson; 3, J Ewart. 11½st: 1, R Dixon; 2, John Harrington; 3, W Noimai.

13st: 1, G Brocklebank; 2, John Harrington; 3, R Dixon.

All Weights: 1, T Brocklebank; 2, Jophn Harrington; 3, R Housby.

FIXTURES

Saturday July 5, 2.30pm - Alston Gala U12/U15/U18/Ladies/111/2/13/AW

Saturday July 5, 7.30pm - Plumbland Sports U9/U12/U15/U15girls/U18/13/AW

Sunday July 6, 11.30am - Distington U12/U15/U18/121/2/AW

Sunday July 6, 3pm - Haltwhistle U12/U15/U18Ch'ship/111/2/13/AW/Novice(£500)

Sunday July 6, 2pm - Great Langdale U12/U15/U18/111/2/13/AW

Sunday July 13, 2pm - Bampton U12/U15/U18/121/2/AW