A Celebration of 40 Years of Wrestling in Cumbernauld took place at Cumbernauld Bowling Club on Friday 27th November 2009.

Over 80 past and present wrestlers and family members were in attendance and numerous pictures and pieces of club memorabilia were brought along, which brought back many fine memories of the amazing history of wrestling in Cumbernauld and inspired many stories of the past 40 years.

Cumbernauld’s first Scottish Champion in 1970, Michael Cavanagh, and now the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, spoke on behalf of all and thanked the late founder member of Cumbernauld Amateur Wrestling Club coach Mike Roles and his wife Evelyn, for their outstanding contribution to sport in Cumbernauld from 1969 to 1988, when Mike and Evelyn retired from coaching.

In 1988 the club was reconstituted to reflect the name it now has, Tryst Lions Wrestling Club, Cumbernauld and after 21 years is still being coached by Steven McKeown, coach to the GB National Talent squad.

Club sponsor, Computer Visionaries, presented Fiona Roles and Steven McKeown with special mementos to mark the occasion, and assistant Tryst coach, David Connelly, presented Brendan Murphy with the most improved wrestler award for 2008/2009.

Many thanks are due to Fred Wallace, Ronnie McCambridge and David Connelly for putting this 40th anniversary reunion together, and to those who attended and helped swell the club’s funds on the night.