We traveled about 500 miles on Friday the 27th June an amazingly long 11 hour long car journey to compete at the British Junior Championships on Saturday 28th at Worthing leisure centre, West Sussex. The competition was hosted by the Southern region of the BWA.

I will be 13 in October of this year and I have wrestled competitively for the past 3 years. In 2006 I wrestled at 34Kg and on Saturday I weighed-in at 50Kg and was placed in the 52Kg group.

The Competition was regulated by international rules which means its knock out rounds. I'm not sure how the first rounds were drawn but I suppose it can work for or against you! You must win your bout to reach the next round.

It's fair to say I felt under pressure from the start of the competition as I was defending my British Junior title which I had held for the previous 2 years.

"I love the whole experience of wrestling, I have made loads of friends all over Britain through wrestling. We show respect for each other on the mat and our friendship is shown when the final whistle is blown! I feel excited when I weigh in and wait to see if I know who I will wrestle or I try to judge the ability of unknown opponents. I get a rush of adrenalin and a nervous flutter in my tummy for a few seconds just as I step onto the mat to meet the referee and my opponent. The excitement that I feel when I win could not be measured, even in defeat the determination that I feel drives me to perform better. It's terrific to feel all these emotions in one day!"

At the Championship I competed in 3 bouts with wrestlers who were technically experienced and physically strong. I finished 4th just outside the medal position. Although disappointing I returned home and watched the DVD footage of my bouts that my parents had recorded. I was critical of myself but I feel satisfied that I have made technical and technique improvements from previous competitions. I see where I can improve my performance and some of that will come with physical maturity. I'm sure with the weekend experience, help and support I get from my coaches and Network Rail this will drive me to improve my personal strength and help me reach my goal.

Lewis Waddell