Three sisters from Dent are heading to London today, to start wrestling bouts in famous tourist areas, in front of unsuspecting visitors.
Tracy, Connie and Rosie Hodgson are doing it to help promote the first ever women’s Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling world championship.
That's taking place this summer at Ambleside Sports at Rydal Park on the 28th of July.
Their day out is supported by the Lake District National Park Authority, which wants traditional sports as a key feature of their bid for World Heritage status.
Tracy (25), Connie (20, pictured below) and Rosie (9) will be accompanied by parent Wendy and Trevor - who's a former double world champion.
Another sister, 21 year old Hannah, has to miss out due to injury.
The traditional sport, at which women were allowed to compete for the first time only ten years ago, will feature the world title event in the “all-weights” division at Ambleside Sports.
“We are very proud to be hosting the first world championship,” said Jak Hirst, the Ambleside Sports chairman and a former professional juggler.
“We have staged women’s events over the last few years but we are thrilled to have the world championship here in our 130th anniversary.”
Virgin Trains are also supporting Ambleside Sports this year, and they have provided tickets for the Hodgson sisters’ visit to London.
They also arranged for the “Cumbrian Spirit” pendolino train (named in the wake of December's floods) to take the party from Oxenholme to London.
John Hodgson, World Heritage Coordinator for the Lake District National Park said: “Traditional sports, such as Cumbrian Wrestling, are a key feature of the World Heritage bid as a rich cultural landscape. Good luck to the women wrestlers taking the sport to London!”
Michelle Ragozzino, Virgin Trains Station Manager at Oxenholme, said: “We’re keen to showcase everything Cumbria has to offer and that it is very much open for business this summer, following the devastating floods earlier in the year.
"We’re proud to play our part in highlighting that the world’s first ever women’s wrestling championships will be taking place in Ambleside. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the world to Oxenholme and hope they have chance to explore this beautiful region.”
