BLACKBURN'S Mick Fielding ended a two-year absence from the sport due to health problems by taking a bronze medal at the European Professional Arm Wresting Championships in Belgium.

Fielding, one of nine people from the Blackburn-based Northern Arm Wrestling Federation in the Great Britain team, turned in an excellent performance to take third in the left-arm under-60 kilo class.

There were also bronze medals for Blackburn brother and sister Neil and Elaine Pickup, who captain the GB men's and ladies' teams.

Elaine moved up a weight to the 70-kilo class to win her medal, while Neil took third with his less fancied left-hand in the 80-kilo competition.

The world number two and former European champion expected another podium finish in his stronger right-arm event, only to tear a bicep muscle in a bout against the reigning world champion. The injury ended Pickup's competition and also makes him doutbful for the British championships being held at Blackburn's County Hotel on Sunday, August 29.

Ian Stones took sixth-place in the 55-kilo class in his first international meeting, while his Blackburn colleague Austin Clarke, at 20 the youngest member of the team, finished as the top Briton in fourth-place in the 75-kilo event.

Alison Cox, also of Blackburn, lost an epic clash with a Belarus competitor to finish fourth in the 50-kilo, while one of the performances of the event came from Darwen's Andy Barker.

The 21-year-old knocked out five national champions in the 70-kilo class to finish fifth in a highly promising first European campaign.

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