Brittany’s Léa Quillien made a triumphant return to Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling this weekend, travelling via Paris to capture the Ladies’ 10st World Championship at the Eskdale Show.
The 24-year-old wasted no time stamping her authority. She opened with a decisive victory over the athletic Darcy Southward, first rushing her forward off the buttock, then finishing with a clean fall off the right hip.
In the semi-final, Quillien faced defending champion Elizabeth Wilson. After conceding the opening fall to Wilson’s clever back heel, she roared back. Wilson struck again with a left-leg inside click, but Quillien stepped clear and countered with a forward throw off the right hip. Wilson then launched a long-reaching back heel, but Quillien twisted out, moved into a right-side buttock, and – after both wrestlers spun and crashed down – Wilson touched first.
That set up a final against Grace Hodgson, of the renowned Hodgson wrestling family. Quillien made no mistake, sealing the championship with two straight falls: a twist followed by a left-side buttock. In recognition of her outstanding display, she also received the inaugural Bob Pitts Memorial Trophy, presented by a proud Jake Pitts, son of the late Bob.
Quillien’s journey with Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling began as a 16-year-old in 2017, when she joined Christian Salaün’s Breton tour. She has since returned in 2018, 2024, and again this August, steadily building her reputation. Outside the ring, she is an industrial engineer, educated in Rouen, Normandy, and soon to begin her career near Nantes.
With her blend of skill, grit, and international experience, Léa Quillien has confirmed her status as one of the bright stars in Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling – an impressive feat considering it is only the second wrestling style she has taken up, alongside her native Gouren.
Results
Eskdale Show
U10yrs: 1, G McCartney; 2, A Hague; 3, E Kirkbride
U12yrs: 1, W Wilson; 2, I Batty; 3, H Robertson
U15yrs: 1, J L Stainton; 2, J Potter; 3, R Lowery
U18yrs: 1, J Pitts; 2, S Fawcett; 3, M Fawcett
Girls U17yrs: 1, Dy Southward; 2, K Birkett; 3, Dn Southward
Ladies 10st Championship: 1, L Quillien; 2, G Hodgson; 3, E Wilson; 4, H Hodgson
Ladies AW: 1, R Hodgson; 2, Dy Southward; 3, H Hodgson
10.5st: 1, J L Stainton; 2, J Pitts; 3, R Lowery
12.5st: 1, J L Stainton; 2, M Fawcett; 3, J Pitts
AW: 1, J Ewart; 2, C Bland; 3, G Fisher
Langholm Show
U10yrs: 1, J Pringle; 2, C Norman; 3, K Pedley
U12yrs: 1, J Norman; 2, J Ackerley; 3, J Pedley
U15yrs: 1, J Potter; 2, J L Stainton; 3, J Norman
U18yrs: 1, J Potter; 2, J L Stainton
Girls U15yrs: 1, L Coulston; 2, H Timperon; 3, L Ackerley
Ladies AW: 1, R Hodgson; 2, L Coulston; 3, H Timperon
U18rs & 12.5st: 1, C Armstrong; 2, J L Stainton; 3, J Potter
Diary
Sat 11 Oct 12.30pm Alwinton Show
U8/U10/U12/U16/GirlsU17/Ladies/U21/11.5st/14st/AW
Sat 11 Oct 4pm Wasdale Head Show
U10/U12/U15/U18/Girls U17/Ladies/10.5st/AW
PHOTOGRAPHER Stephen Leece
