THE number of athletes matched the number of medals when Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club travelled to Birmingham for the 2018 Slam Wrestling Championships.

None of the young Grizzlies team returned empty-handed with five striking gold, the same number winning silver and one claiming a bronze.

Grace Costello, Tommy Costello, Charlie Meadows, Arin Sekirden and Megan Kipling topped the podium with Mia Kipling, Ruby Leader, Harry Meadows, Alfie Gallagher and Cameron Leader the runners-up and Harvey May finishing third.

BOWC head coach Tony Morris said: “Our young wrestlers did the club proud.

"The performance of Harvey May really stood out for me. His sheer determination deserved more than a bronze medal as he wrestled some very hard matches.

"Overall, I am very happy with these results, particularly from such a young team of wrestlers, and the future is definitely bright for Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club.”

Meanwhile, BOWC athlete Nathan Livesey was runner-up competing for Great Britain in a tournament in Latvia.

The National Talent Squad member beat athletes from the host country and Belarus on his way to the final where he narrowly lost 13-9 to a Finnish opponent to claim a well-deserved second place in the prestigious City of Jelgava Open tournament.

The 17-year-old Thornleigh Salesian Sixth Form College student said: "I loved representing Great Britain in Latvia and to come home to Bolton with a silver medal is a dream come true.

"I hope to be selected to represent Great Britain in other international competitions in the future and I have my sights set firmly on representing England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.