[T]he Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Association (CWWA) will host the International Federation of Celtic Wrestling (IFCW) ‘European Espoirs Championships’ in Penrith this April.
Teams of 16-20 year old males and females from Scotland, Brittany, León in Spain, Austria, Hungary and Iceland together with our England team will compete at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith the weekend of 7th-8th April.
The Championships consist of two styles of wrestling; Backhold (our style) and Gouren, a jacket style, practised in Brittany, France.
Penrith Town Council will welcome visiting countries with a civic reception at the George Hotel, Penrith on the evening of Friday 6th April.
Accommodation for visitors will be provided at Newton Rigg Campus.
An opening ceremony will start the programme on Saturday 7th April with teams parading the arena with their flags. Before the Championships begin all competitors will swear the Breton wrestler’s oath:
I swear to wrestle with entire loyalty
Without treachery and brutality
For my honour and that of my country.
In testimony of my sincerity
And to follow the custom of my ancestors
I present to my fellow my hand and my cheek
Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling Association have received grants from:
Cumbria County Council – Allerdale, Carlisle, Eden and South Lakeland districts, Eden District Council (Eden Community Fund), The Hadfield Trust, Lake District National Park and Cumbria Community Foundation to help fund this event. Also, local firms and
individuals have sponsored weight categories/wrestlers or have given donations of money/merchandise.
Entry to the event is FREE TO ALL on both competition days. We hope this will attract those who may already have witnessed our wrestling at Lakeland Sports or Agricultural Shows and anyone who has an interest.
