FIVE minutes before writing this I was making my way through a blizzard, with my eyes full of snow, writes Roger Robson.

Not the best weather for wrestling you might think, and rightly, but there are records of wrestling on ice and in snow over 200 years ago.

In 1785 Windermere froze solid and "a vast concourse from all parts of the country" gathered at Rawlinson's Nab for roast ox, "lots of beer", music from a Kendal band, and wrestling. "The wrestling was in clogs. These primitive coverings, though well adapted for sliding on the ice, were clumsy to wrestle in; nevertheless, the falls were eagerly contested."

A special occasion such as that may be understandable, but the annual wrestling at Langwathby, which was held each New Year's Day, seems like long-term masochism. Langwathby Rounds ended in 1870, In 1820, on New Year's Day, the ground was covered with four inches of snow.

It so happened that Isaac Mason of Croglin was drawn against Isaac Westmorland of Ousby. Mason - well known for his smuggling adventures and numerous eccentricities entered the ring wearing an old home-spun overcoat so thick and patched that Westmorland's could not clasp his arms around it.

Mason refused to strip and his opponent was becoming numb with cold.

At length Mason took off the overcoat. Westmorland's arms were still too short. Off went more clothes Mason stood stripped to his sark' in the snow, with nothing on but his trousers. Mason's tactics worked for he is recorded as the winner.

Kendal Academy's points competitions continued with wins for the usual suspects, Ben and Graham Brocklebank and David Parsons.

Newcomer Alistair Thompson made his mark, however, by felling Jake Hodgson of Dent in the final of the Under-12 Years.

Kendal also had six weight categories from juniors under 6 stones to senior all weights Joseph Robson of Grayrigg, the 14-stones champion, had an easy win in the 14-stones and also won the All Weights.

Milnthorpe Academy focuses on juniors with competitions for Under-12 and Under-14 years. Douglas Parsons has dominated the younger group, but for the first time he was beaten in the final by Stephen Mason, a local farmer's son.

In the other group family honours were reversed with Alex Parsons felling Tom Mason in the final.

Results: Kendal Academy Points: 6-stones -1 B. Brocklebnk, 2 H. Hodgson, 3 C. Hodgson; 8-stones -1 A. Thompson, 2 B. Brocklebank, 3 J. Hodgson; 10-stones - 1 G. Brocklebank, 2 N. Bentham, 3 M. Longworth; 12-stones -1 G. Brocklebank, 2 N. Bentham, 3 J. Longworth; 14-stones - 1 J. Robson, 2 N. Bentham, 3 Tracey Hodgson; All Weights - 1 J. Robson, 2 R. Clement, 3 Trevor Hodgson.

Age Groups: U10 - 1 B. Brocklebank, 2 B. Thompson, 3 H. Hodgson; U12 - 1 A. Thompson, 2 J. Hodgson, 3 D. Bland; U14 - 1 G. Brocklebank, 2 N. Bentham, 3 T. Hodgson; U16 - 1 D. Parsons, 2 N. Bentham, 3 T. Hodgson; U18 - 1 D. Parsons, 2 C. Proctor, 3 T. Hodgson.

Milnthorpe Academy: Under-12 Years - 1 S. Mason, 2 D. Parsons, 3 C. Inman; Under-14 years - 1 A. Parsons, 2 T. Mason, 3 D. Parsons.