DON'T tell Joseph Robson's mum that he wrestled and won at the Westmorland Show, writes Roger Robson Six weeks ago he injured his ribs at Ambleside Sports and looked like being out for the season, but he sneaked his wrestling strip out of the house to compete in the 14- stones.

His final opponent, Jesse Bradbury, was the proverbial man from the crowd', an unknown, but it had quickly become apparent that this was no novice wrestler as he also reached the heavyweight final.

Afterwards he explained that he had come up from Warrington with a trade stand to sell hand-carved rocking horses, and was a former eight times National Junior Champion in Olympic freestyle wrestling, and National Senior Champion twice at 74kg.

Ben Brocklebank, one of the smallest wrestlers in the lists, won the award for the best performance of the boys wrestling even though he only came third in the Under-15 Years.

David Atkinson received the men's award, partly because he won the 12 stones, but mainly for a series of spectacular falls, Alan Walton could be doubly pleased with his wrestling performance at Stanhope Show and with the news that his son Chris, in hospital with a ruptured kidney since winning the Under-15 Years Championship at Silloth, is now well enough for school.

How could wrestling compete with the real excitement of Loweswater Show, the collapse of the cattle tent in a blasting wind? Luckily there were enough local young lads daft enough to wrestle in the rain and mud to sustain the boys' classes, and top wrestlers, David Atkinson of Carlisle and John Harrington of Bewaldeth, gave a touch of class in unpromising circumstances.

Harrington won the Under-18 years then felled Atkinson, the double middleweight champion, in the 12-stones. Atkinson reasserted himself in the All Weights final, however.

Borrowdale Shepherds' Meet was a remarkable event for John Harrington who won four different categories .

Dates: Tomorrow (Saturday): 12 noon, Langholm Show (U12/U15/U18/ 12/AW); Eskdale. (U15/U18/10 /12/AW)