Luke stays on top of the world

Last updated 19:15, Friday, 11 July 2008

Luke Benn, a wrestler rarely seen outside his own area, proved again that he is the best of his age, when he retained the Under 18 Years World Championship at Haltwhistle Carnival.

Last year he had even further to travel from Millom when he felled Graham Brocklebank in the Championship final at Rothbury Mart. With 19 wrestlers contending for the title at Haltwhistle, Benn had to fell a series of big strong and skilful wrestlers to keep his title.

He set the tone in the first round encounter with Jack Hale of Rothbury. After a scrappy first hold won by the last twist, he went on to cut through Hale's hyper-activity with a perfectly timed outside-hipe.

In the second round Benn met the James Oliver of Jedburgh, gained all the hold and wrenched him forward off his right shoulder and hip. The second fall was won with a counter to Oliver's attempt to lift.

An even bigger opponent awaited in the third round. The lofty Fin Healy of Tynemouth was cut down to size by the stockier Benn with a right leg back-heel finished off with a twist over the knee. In their second bout, Benn lifted Healy up in the air and twisted back.

In the semi-finals Benn had a rest in the form of a bye, and watched Sam Wilkinson of Milnthorpe use his usual tactics of gaining hold and twisting to fell Jack Ewart of Westward.

Benn's winning falls in the final echoed those in the first round against Jack Hale.

The first hold was a twisting-all-action-anyone-could-win bout with Benn putting in the final twist. In the second his outside-hipe cut through all the action to leave him a worthy champion for another year.

The Under 18 Years Championship had a special poignancy this year when Michelle and Alan Walton, the parents of the late Chris Walton, presented Luke Benn with the trophy.

Last year Chris won both the Under 18s and the Novice wrestling at his local Haltwhistle event. In his memory, the Waltons provided a beautiful challenge cup for the Novices.

Many of his friends entered their names and gave a good account of themselves, but in the end the three prizewinners were all trained wrestlers. After a slowish start to the season, Jack Ewart is now in full flow, beating Nathan Birdsall of Rothbury in the final.

Results

Alston Gala

Under-12 Years: 1, J Watson; 2, J Holt; 3, J Goodfellow. Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, J Brown; 3, C Humphry. Under-18 Years: 1, J Ewart; 2, J Thompson; 3, J Oliver. 11½st: 1 R Dixon; 2, W Noimai; 3, J Brown. 13st: 1, R Dixon; 2, F Healy; 3, W Noimai. All Weights: 1, R Dixon; 2, T Graham; 3, F Healy. Ladies: 1, D Thompson; 2, C Hodgson; 3, A Ridley.

Plumbland

Under-9 Years: 1, R Miller 2, B Breeze; 3, B Hunt. Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, G Winder. Under-18 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, W Noimai. 13st: 1, R Dixon; 2, W Noimai; 3, J Thompson. All Weights: 1, W Noimai; 2, R Dixon; 3, J Thompson. Girls Under 15 Years: 1, H Hodgson 2, S Miller; 3, C Hodgson.

Distington

Under-12 Years: 1, G Crane; 2, A Armstrong. Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, P Murray; 3, G Crane. Under-18 Years: 1, N Birdsall; 2, J Wragg; 3, J Hale. 12½st: 1, John Harrington; 2, J Wragg; 3, R Dixon. All Weights: 1, John Harrington; 2, N Birdsall; 3, J Davidson.

Great Langdale

Under-12 Years: 1, J Hayhurst; 2, A Dent; 3, S Wilson. Under-15 Years: 1, S Brocklebank; 2, W Hayhurst; 3, M Atkinson. Under-18 Years: 1, S Brocklebank; 2, J Hall; 3, W Hayhurst. Girls: 1, H Hodgson; 2, C Hodgson; 3, E Hayhurst. 11½st: 1, M Atkinson; 2, B Brocklebank; 3, B Thompson. 13st 1, T Brocklebank; 2, F Davis; 3, G Brocklebank.

Haltwhistle Carnival

Under-12 Years: 1, Joe Hale; 2, J Coates; 3, J Lithgoe. Under-15 Years: 1, J Thompson; 2, J Brown; 3, G Crane. Under-18 Years World Championship: 1, L Benn; 2, S Wilkinson; 3, J Ewart. Novices: 1, J Ewart; 2, N Birdsall; 3, J Oliver. 11½st: 1, R Dixon; 2, C Ridley; 3, D Parsons. 13st: 1, R Fox; 2, John Harrington; 3, W Noimai. All Weights: 1, John Harrington; 2, D Whitfield; 3, R Fox.

Dates

Sunday July 13 - 2pm Bampton U12/U15/U18/12½/AW; 2.15pm Great Eccleston U12/U15/U18/11½/13/AW.

Saturday July 19 - 4pm Cumberland Show U12/U15(7st)/U15/U18/12/14st Ch'ship/AW.

Sunday July 20 - Coniston

Friday July 25 - Langholm Common Riding