THE new wrestling season got under way at the Hethersgill Vintage Rally at Carlisle Airport with Natland’s James Hayhurst emerging triumphant.

Up for competition on the first day of the season was the boys under 18 years championship, which brought together the best young wrestlers to compete for the title.

Hayhurst came up against very stiff opposition in the semi final where he met Jack Brown of Haydn Bridge. He lost the first fall but fought back to take the next two with an inside click and a cross buttock.

This put him into the final against William Atkinson from Selside, who took the first fall with a buttock.

In the second fall hayhurst equalised with an outside stroke then in the decider he attempted a cross buttock before twisting his opponent back to take the fall.

The Natland wrestler can now add this trophy to the senior 13 stone championship which he won last year at the Crab Fair at Egremont.

Kendal wrestling academy also held their finals night at Grayrigg Village Hall when wrestlers competed from Milnthorpe, Waberthwaite and Carlisle clubs. The event had been rearranged after being postponed because of the bad weather at the end of March.

The next wrestling will be at Sedbergh Gala on Saturday, May 18 followed by Killington Sports on Thursday, May 30.