2027 European Championships Plans for Carlisle

Jul 2, 2026

The Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Association is hoping to host the European Championships of the International Federation of Celtic Wrestling in Carlisle next year, with teams from Brittany, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, Austria and Sardinia expected to attend.

<strong></strong><br/>Our Cumberland & Westmorland style of Wrestling

<strong><strong></strong><br/>Our Cumberland & Westmorland style of Wrestling</strong><br/>O1ur England team which gained the most points in the Backhold section.

<strong><strong><strong></strong><br/>Our Cumberland & Westmorland style of Wrestling</strong><br/>O1ur England team which gained the most points in the Backhold section.</strong><br/>This was the 2016 Championships in Brest Brittany

<strong><strong><strong><strong></strong><br/>Our Cumberland & Westmorland style of Wrestling</strong><br/>O1ur England team which gained the most points in the Backhold section.</strong><br/>This was the 2016 Championships in Brest Brittany</strong><br/>The wrestling style of Brittany

<strong><strong><strong><strong><strong></strong><br/>Our Cumberland & Westmorland style of Wrestling</strong><br/>O1ur England team which gained the most points in the Backhold section.</strong><br/>This was the 2016 Championships in Brest Brittany</strong><br/>The wrestling style of Brittany</strong><br/>Our team gained the most cumulative points in Backhold and Gouren - justifying us 'Overall Champions'

The CWWA last hosted the European Championships in 2018 when the Under 21s IFCW Championships were held in Penrith. More recently the Mens Senior team emerged Backhold Champions at the European Championships held in Brittany in 2025.

Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling is generally associated with the North of England but this backhold style of wrestling has become increasingly popular in other countries, with CWWA male and female wrestlers regularly competing abroad and overseas wrestlers visiting each summer to improve their skills.

The cost of hosting the European Championships is significant and represents a considerable challenge for the CWWA as it does not have access to the same level of official financial support available to other IFCW members such as Brittany and Iceland.

Exploratory discussions have been held with Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, whose encouraging support for the Championships being held in Carlisle has enabled initial planning for sports facilities, accommodation and transport to begin.

Due to the financial constraints faced by the CWWA, the plan is to hold the Championships on a cost-sharing basis with other IFCW members, and the CWWA will shortly launch a fund raising programme to fill the present funding gap that needs to be met.

During COVID many worried that C&W wrestling would not survive the prolonged lockdown but attendance at the CWWA wrestling academies is greater than ever, particularly among youngsters. As part of the CWWA’s ongoing development programme and outreach activities, weekly coaching and wrestling sessions started this year in Egremont. The cultural importance of C&W wrestling also was recognised recently in the UNESCO Living Heritage project, sponsored by the UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The 2027 European Championships in Carlisle are planned for a 2-3 day period, but the event forms part of the CWWA’s wider objective of providing sporting opportunities in Cumbria and promoting traditional wrestling domestically and internationally. The success of the Under 21s European Championships held in Penrith in 2018 was only possible due to the generous financial support of Cumbrians and Cumbrian businesses, and the CWWA is hoping once more for the same very positive
response.

Contact for more information/ photos:
Howard Tindall, CWWA President
tel. 07904 058041
tindallhoward@btinternet.com