WRESTLING coach Eddy Kavanagh believes George Ramm's first senior gold medal at the English Open Championships could provide an important inspiration for a whole new generation of emerging talent.

The Harwood 18-year-old, who trains under Kavanagh at Sharples Wrestling Club in Bolton, won the 61k title in front of a home crowd at Smithills Leisure Centre.

It was the highlight of a successful tournament, organised by Bolton wrestling development group, which combined the senior and junior championships together for the first time.

The group includes Sharples and Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club, along with Sharples.

Young wrestlers from the two clubs combined to claim a total of 21 medals, including 11 gold.

Ramm was the only senior winner, while 17-year-old Daniel Panczyszyn, of Bolton Olympic WC, took senior bronze at 86k.

Kavanagh believes their inspirational performances, as well as the chance to see senior wrestlers competing up close, will stand the town's talented youngsters in good stead.

"I think the event will have given some of our youngsters an important insight into what it will take to make the leap from junior to senior wrestling," said Kavanagh.

"A lot of people might not realise that George is still a junior, because he has been competing on the international circuit and been to the Commonwealth Games.

"So this first gold at senior level was an important milestone for him.

"He has shown our younger wrestlers what is possible, but also what level they need to be at to follow in his footsteps."

There was no time for Kavanagh's star pupil to stop to enjoy his success, jetting off to Poland this week to prepare for the European Under-23s Championships.

The focus of the Sharples coach, however, has now reverted back to the youngsters coming through.

"We have only been going for eight years so we are still a young club," he added.

"Our big link is with local schools, so most of our wrestlers are still very young, but we do have a few coming through now in the 15 to 17 age group who I think could follow in George into the seniors, so I would say the future is very bright for the town's young talent."

Kavanagh worked hand-in-hand with Tony Morris, head coach at Bolton Olympic WC, with the pair putting in months of planning to organise the event.

They also teamed up with British Wrestling Association and Bolton Council, especially Neil Hart, senior sport development officer for the council's sport and active learning services department.

The end result saw more than 225 entrants from across the UK and further afield contest almost 280 bouts on three mats over an exhausting day's competition.

"I feel like everyone combined to really do the town proud," added Morris.

"It was the biggest event the group has ever organised and I feel it was a big success.

"From all our young wrestlers to the many volunteers from both clubs, the council, the sports centre and medical students from the University of Bolton, as well as the spectators who filled the hall on the day, I feel everybody played their part."

Local results: Bolton Olympic WC: gold – 37k Freya Johnson, 50k Lucy McGrath, 64k Bethany Scott, 27k Charlie Meadows, 66k Declan Fisher, 75k Mark Johnson. Silver – 39k Jack Costello, 64k Nathan Livesey, 90k Abdullah Hussain. Bronze – 86k (Snr) Daniel Panczyszyn.

Sharples WC: gold – 53k Kelsey Barnes, 36k Malachi O’Rourke, 50k Connor Whittle, 62k Lewis McGrath, 61k (Snr) George Ramm. Silver – 22k Brogan Sutcliffe, 36k Harvey Ridings, 54k Ellis Crossley, 62k Zach Brown, 55k Saffron Clegg, 24k Isaac O’Neil, 60k (Jnr) Ryan Kay. Bronze – 30k Joshua Moore.