Children at Cumbrian primary schools are learning the skills of traditional wrestling from a world champion.
Connie Hodgson, the Ladies All Weights world champion at Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, was invited to coach youngsters at Ambleside, Grasmere, Coniston and Langdale Schools.
It was part of the build-up to Ambleside Sports, on Thursday July 28 at Rydal Park, when the Junior Schools Tournament is the first event on the wrestling programme.
“It’s not a haphazard attempt to get youngsters to have a go,” said Ambleside Sports president Jak Hirst. “The children are taking part in training which takes them through the basic holds, moves and etiquette used in traditional wrestling.”
Now mini tournaments will take place in the individual schools and ultimately a team of four will be selected from each school to take part at Ambleside Sports.
Ambleside Primary School teacher Megan Rimmer said: “The children can’t believe they’re allowed to wrestle each other in school! They also like the fact that the smaller children with a good technique can bring the bigger children down. Now they are all looking forward to seeing the experts in action at Ambleside Sports.”
