SHARPLES Wrestling Club enjoyed a successful trip north of the border, returning from the 19th Tryst Open championships in Motherwell with four golds and a silver.

Thornleigh pupil Malachy O'Rourke and Tottington High School's Ellis Crossley, both aged 14, led the way. They both won all three of their matches without conceding a point, O'Rourke taking the 40kg title and Crossley winning in the 63kg division.

Kelsey Barnes, aged 14, who attends St Catherine's Academy, set an equally punishing standard in the 59kg class, dropping just one point as she cruised to victory over her three opponents.

Sharples WC duo Josh Moore and Malachy O'Neill met in the final of the 36kg category. Moore, aged 12, of Canon Slade, edged the battle, beating his 13-year-old opponent, who attends St James's School.

Connor Whittle, aged 12, of Sharples High School, also made it to the semi-finals of his 63k weight class before eventually finishing fourth.

All six members of the travelling party will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Sharples wrestler George Ramm, who fought at the last Commonwealth Games aged just 18 and is now wrestling professionally in the German Bundesliga.

He won his first two bouts of the season 15-0 for Dutch side KSV Simson Landgraaf and is hoping to recover from an elbow injury in time to compete at the British Senior Championships, which will be held in Bolton next month.

The championships double up as the first qualifier for the British team heading to the next Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018.

Sharples coach Eddy Kavanagh has been chosen as manager of the British Games wrestling team so will be keeping a close eye on his former protege.