KENDAL Academy wrestler, Joseph Robson of Grayrigg, opened his season with a fine win at Sedbergh Gala when he swung Trevor Hodgson of Dent off his feet in the All Weights final, writes Roger Robson.

Robson, who has been selected for the international team to compete in Sardinia in July, swings anti-clockwise, which is not the normal route, and seems to be able to move big men with little hold.

The Brocklebank family had a good day with brothers Graham and Ben wrestling out the final of the Under-15 Years, and picking up prizemoney in other sections.

In a complete absence of middleweight wrestlers, John Harrington of Bewaldeth, weighing in at 10.5 stones, took advantage to chalk up his first win of the season.

On Thursday, championship wrestling comes to Killington Sports with the 10.5st title,

Judo players are being asked to help the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Fed-eration field a full team for the European Championship of Celtic Wrestling.

Six wrestlers have been selected for the team to travel to Sardinia in July. But nobody can be found to fill the lightweight, 62kg, spot.

In the past youngsters have been drafted in, and the international rules were changed to allow 16-year-old wrestlers to take part when Lee Wall filled the berth in Iceland in 1990, but this year the federation has drawn a blank and is now searching for a wrestler or judo player who could fit the bill.

Team members selected so far are: 68kg, Andrew Carlile, Carlisle; 74kg, David Atkinson, Carlisle; 81kg, Robert Wharton, Carlisle; 90kg, Joseph Robson, Kendal;100kg, Robert Leiper, Northumberland; Over 100kg, Joe Threlfall, Lancashire.

Three of the chosen wrestlers were in good form at the King James Border Games, Berwick-upon-Tweed, the opening event of the 2003 season. Andrew Carlile felled David Atkinson in the final of the 11.5 stones, and Robert Leiper won the 15st.

Rab Clark gave Alan Jones a fright in the 13.5st when he swung him away with a left leg inside-hipe, but he then made the mistake of trying to do it again, twice and Jones was waiting for him.

Apparently, Jones has retired from wrestling, but it didn't seem like that when he won the 13.5st final against old rival, Alan Walton.

Bruised and battered at the end of last season, Jones thought he had had enough, but after a winter's rest, he has changed his mind. Twice he brought Walton over with a right-side wrench buttock.

Robert Leiper felled Jones in the 15st final by using his height, long arms and strength to control him and hipe him.

Results:

King James Border Games, Berwick-upon-Tweed. U-13 years: 1 C. Walton, 2 C. Colquhoun, 3 P. Rattray. U-15 years: 1 Roy Younger, 2 J. Harrington, 3 C. Walton. U-18 years:1 Richard Younger, 2 J. Harrington, 3 C. Walton. 11.5st: 1 A. Carlile, 2 D. Atkinson, 3 K. Ballantyne. 13.5st: 1 A. Jone,s 2 A. Walton, 3 R. Clark. 15st: 1 R. Leiper, 2 A. Walton, 3 A. Jones, All Weights: 1 D. Whitfield, 2 J. Davidson, 3 R. Leiper.

Sedbergh Gala: Under 15 Years: 1 G. Brocklebank, 2 B. Brocklebank, 3 A. Wood. Under 18 Years: 1 R. Housby, 2 T. Brocklebank, 3 G. Brocklebank. 12.5st: 1 John Harrington, 2 G. Brocklebank, 3 B. Brocklebank. All Weights: 1 J. Robson, 2 T. Hodgson, 3 R. Housby.

May 22, 2003 16:30