ONE of Bolton’s top sporting clubs opened its doors last week to showcase their facilities and some of the talent coming off their conveyor belt.

Sharples Wrestling Club on Deansgate brought together their partners, who, since their inception in 2007, have played a key role in their success.

Head coach Eddy Kavanagh explained that outside of their success on the mat, club officials are also putting in a lot of work off it to ensure the club keeps developing, by going into schools in and around Bolton to teach youngsters.

He said: “This event is more of the grassroots stuff and partnerships where we work together in the community.

“We visit a lot of schools doing coaching programmes and we have delivered sessions to more than 7,000 kids.

“Our continued success would not be possible without the backing of our sponsors, such as Network Rail with the ‘Rail Lives’ campaign, and the Bank Top Brewery, who support us.

“The Kids of Bolton have been good too in helping some of our wrestlers reach their potential.

“We are going from strength to strength and we want our wrestlers to be able to perform on the biggest stage.”

One of the highlights of the showcase was a wrestling masterclass between two of their members.

Ryan Kay and Zach Brown showed off some of their skills before Isaac Davies, son of Bolton Wanderers legend Kevin Davies, took on GB starlet Kay in a tag bout.

Kevin Davies and his charity, Kids of Bolton, have helped Kay to achieve his personal goals with an apprenticeship.

The former Premier league star, now playing for Preston, praised the club and their work in the community.

He said: “I think people should be aware of the time people give up for the benefit of the area.

“They try to get them involved in a sport which is growing in England.

“I am always happy to come down to help and support them.”

Meanwhile, headteacher at SS Osmunds and Andrews school, John Thorpe, said: “We have had children of all ages involved in this club.

“We offer a wide range of sports, and this just fits in with what we want to give to the kids with a full-time PE teacher.

“We give both boys and girls opportunities to learn diverse sports.

“Malachi O’Rourke, who has been a national champion, was one of our former pupils.”

n If you would like to find out any more information about the Sharples club, contact 07596 354121.