Landmark honour for sportsman (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Landmark honour for sportsman

8:15am Friday 2nd April 2004 in Sport By Gazette News Desk

WHEN pairs of strapping men in embroidered knickers grasp each other in a crowded field this summer, their actions will celebrate the vital input of one man in helping keep Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling and a rural sports day alive.

Michael Berry has for 25 years championed the sport in his position as president of Ambleside Sports Committee and chairman of English Lakes Hotels, and this year's wrestling programme will be named after him.

His years of work to secure a future for Ambleside Sports has seen him bring the event safely back from the brink through crucial fundraising, a fact which will be recognised in the newly-named Michael Berry Wrestling Programme'.

The decision was made at the ASC annual meeting, and chairman Mike Blackburn said: "He was very, very pleased and quite touched. He was instrumental in saving the Sports a few years ago."

Ambleside Sports features not only wrestling, but hound trailing, fell running, and grass track cycling.

Mr Blackburn said the 25-year landmark prompted much pleasurable nostalgia among members.

"I looked at the old programme (from 25 years ago) and just about everything has remained the same, apart from the high leap and the pole vault."

Mr Blackburn said the programme for this year would continue the tradition and remain exactly the same as the last.

Ambleside Sports this year takes place on Thursday, July 29.