Max Bates wins 11-stone men's wrestling crown at Alwinton Show

The final wrestling event of the season was held last weekend at Alwinton Show in Northumberland, which was was the setting for the last championship of the year, the Men’s 11-stone.

The wrestling summer programme started way back in early April at Grizedale Forest, and 51 different venues later, culminated at Alwinton earlier this month.

Competition has been fantastic all year, with many new champions crowned and two new championships in the Under 15 and Under 18 years girls categories. The strength in the sport is certainly in the junior sections with many young wrestlers emerging.

Back in 2018, a young wrestler, Max Bates, was coming through the ranks, winning the Under 15 years/8-stone championship that year and the following. Max’s sister, Alice, also wrestled, and represented England in the European Junior Championships. A few wrestlers, including Max, took a break from the sport during Covid, however.

Over the last two years, Max has been getting back up to speed, and the wins have come accordingly. This summer, though, he has missed out on successes at Grasmere, Ambleside, and Rothbury due to prolific champion, Andrew Carlile. At Alwinton, Andrew was looking to defend his title once more, and win the 11-stone category for a 13th time.

Max and Andrew were on opposite sides of the draw at the show, and it was almost inevitable that they would meet in the final. Previously, it has been Andrew’s swinging hipes that have been a danger to Max, but at Alwinton the challenger was prepared and ready for them.

The first fall saw Max strike with a back heel just as Andrew was looking to launch the hipe. The second fall, with Andrew wary of that move, saw Max go to his favourite chip, the full buttock.

The result was a great win for Max - who is a protégé of the Rothbury wrestling academy - on home soil, and at 21 years old, there will surely be many more championships to come.

Elsewhere on the card, Emily Stott, from Canonbie, racked up another Under 10 years win, and Jack Pringle - another Rothbury wrestler - notched an Under 12 years win. Other Rothbury wrestlers on form were Thomas Crush in the Under 15 years boys, and Aaron Younger, who won the Under 21 years.

The last category of the day saw Jack Hale gain revenge in the Men’s Heavyweights. Zak Singleton came out on top in the championship at Stanhope Show in September, but at Alwinton, it was Jack who took the win.

The Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling end of season presentation is on Friday, November 6th, during which the club will hand out trophies and celebrate a great season.