Times & Star

Andrew wins world title

Wrestling By Roger Robson

Last updated 08:39, Friday, 25 July 2008

Morpeth's Andrew Ord he is the new 14st world champion after he dethroned Hallbankgate’s Alan Jones.

Up for the cups: Andrew Ord

For Ord it was mainly plain sailing at the Cumbnerland Show.In the first round, when young Graham Brocklebank clattered Jones forward onto the grass with a right side buttock by the ears, the writing seemed on the wall for the veteran.

But instead, he pitched into the next bout with a swinging inside-hipe which was a winner all the way, and then took a hard fought third bout.

Life was no easier for Jones in the second round, when he met Richard Fox. The hipe won the first fall again, but a long dour tussle ensued for the second fall. Eventually, Jones won with a back-over twist.

By the semi-final stage Jones was taking longer and longer to pull his socks up and charge into the ring where a fresh John Harrington was waiting. Nevertheless, Jones was within a whisker of felling Harrington with the swinging inside-hipe. All seemed over bar the landing, when Harrington somehow touched with a toe and found enough purchase to put in the latest of twists to win. Surely, Jones would go quietly now. No chance. Back he came with a counter to Harrington's outside-hipe to equalise, before a desperate decider which went Harrington's way.

In the meantime, Andrew Ord had been making steady progress through the rounds. Against Robert Wharton he twisted and back-heeled. Andrew Carlile found Ord's long legs cancelled out so many options. Ord got his man on the move and then ran him down to the ground.

For the second he used the tried and tested Northumbrian system of a big hold and a strong back-heel.

A bye took Ord to the final against John Harrington and in their first fall he went near to winning with another back-heel, but he broke early when the bout was still in the balance, so he lost the fall. John Harrington tried manfully to bring Ord over with the leg-up buttock, but power and inordinately long legs kept the Northumbrian afloat.

Ord's trusty back-heel then came into play, and took him over the finishing line for the championship.

Andrew Ord was the first of the young Rothbury Academy wrestlers to show real promise. He is now just turned eighteen and faced the prospect of competing only in senior All Weights events. Drastic and prolonged slimming allowed him to compete in this championship, and his excellent defence and some good basic throws gave him the ammunition to win.

David Miller put younger brother Kieron in his place in a rare weight event for boys. Joe Thompson was at his best against the Under 15 Champion, Scott Brocklebank, winning their first bout with an inside-click which cut through Brocklebank's weight advantage. When he tried it again, Brocklebank countered in the classic way and twisted Thompson to the right and down. The decider went exactly the same route, except that when all seemed lost, Thompson found a toe-hold to counter the counter. Amongst some big lads Jack Ewart continued his excellent recent form in the Under 18s.

Two heavyweight giants, David Bowman and Russell Housby contested the All Weights final.

A decider was needed, and Housby finished off the day with a half-buttock that would have graced the lightweights.

At Coniston Country Fayre Stuart Fleming once more kicked off his usual mini season by winning the All Weights against high class opposition in the form of Thomas Brocklebank. Graham Benson had a successful time on his second outing of the year, winning the Under 18s and wrestling second to Graham Brocklebank in the 13 stones. And, of course, the ubiquitous Joe Thompson added another Under 15 win to his growing list for the year.

Results:

Cumberland Show

Under 12 Years 1, J Hall; 2, S Kyle; 3, T Gibson.

Under 15/7st1, D Miller; 2, K Miller; 3, M McBratney

Under 15 Years 1, J Thompson; 2, S Brocklebank; 3, J Hall.

Under 18 Years 1, J Ewart; 2, A Hird; 3, J Hall.

12st 1 John Harrington; 2, J Thompson; 3, R Dixon.

14st World Championship 1, A Ord; 2, John Harrington; 3, R Fox.

All Weights 1, R Housby; 2, D Bowman; 3, R Fox.

Guinness Trophy: Andrew Ord

Coniston Country Fayre

Under 12 Years 1, H Barnes; 2, J Cross.