Tuesday Topic, by Christine Rutter

THE TWO women were locked in a battle of wills. The arm of East Lancashire contender Elaine Pickup was close to snapping as she struggled not to buckle under the brawn of her burly 6ft 3in, 14 stone adversary.

Thousands of screaming fans were shouting their support in the arena as 5ft 5in Elaine wrenched her rival's arm to the winning post but the move alerted her brother Neil Pickup.

"I could see her arm was near to breaking point. She was in a very dangerous position. I shouted at her to let it go. I wanted to jump on stage and stop the match," he said.

Welcome to the world of women's arm wrestling where females test biceps, technique, mental agility and sheer guts in a sport that's sweeping East Lancashire.

These iron-arm women willing to risk serious injury are joining the power struggle to reach the top of the arm wrestling pile.

Neil, from Darwen, the most successful right arm wrestler ever to come from the UK and currently ranked second in the world, has groomed Elaine, his girlfriend Alison Cox and Simone Taylor to wrestle.

The girls are part of the British Ladies' Arm Wrestling Squad and are members of Neil's Iron Arm wrestling club. Elaine, of Beech Grove, Darwen, is the British women's arm wrestling champ for her weight category, the European champion and ranked third in the world.

Her performances are delivered with great power and she was unbeaten over three years.

"I'm physically strong and have a strong mental attitude. I don't do it because my brother does it. I want to become the best in the world.".

She admits she is also in the game for the fame.

"I travel the world and people know who I am. It's great but people come to see me win. It makes me more serious."

Elaine, who follows a gruelling training programme, projects a "girlie image" at the table.

The 26-year-old, a former member of the British mounted pony racing team, said: "I go to the table looking like a ballerina and then I whip the contender's arm off at the table."

She admits that some find ladies arm wrestling a bit of a joke.

"People who are ignorant of the sport hold other people back. They expect a big rough guy with tattoos and everyone spitting, swearing and drinking. "When they see pretty girls, some models, it challenges their perception. I don't think it's unfeminine. I feel slimmer and prettier because of my training."

Neil said of his sister: "Elaine is genetically very strong. She is an explosive force in arm wrestling and has become world class in just a year."

Simone, 19, of Abbey Crescent, Darwen, said: "Everybody tells me I'm a tomboy. Some men can get quite nasty. If I wrestle men and win, they say I cheated."

The 5ft 5in wrestler, who can beat her 6ft boyfriend at wrestling, had a bar room challenge with a 12 stone man and won.

"He said he had never been beaten. I don't wrestle in pubs now. I could damage my arm."

Sophie, the fifth in Europe in 1996 in her weight category, even gets grief from people of her own sex. "Bitchy comments such as it's not feminine but they don't know anything about the game. It is a great competitive sport."

Neil says: "She is the most intense female arm wrestler I've ever seen. They call her 'the flame', a fiery redhead. She is a very dangerous lady at the table. She hasn't got the power of Elaine but has a lot of talent and heart."

Alison is the current British champion for her eight stone weight category and has surprised her work colleagues.

The 5ft 5in university graduate said: "They can't believe my hobby. People expect a body builder, someone big but I'm pitched against people of my size and it's about stamina, mental alertness and technique.

"The sport can be complex. You have to seek your opponents weaknesses and exploit them"

Alison, of Oakmere Close, Darwen, came second in two international championships and is flying out to Lithuania on Monday to compete in the European championships. She added: "People don't believe you can cut it as a woman and it's great proving them wrong. In two years, I want to be world champion."

Neil said: "She hasn't got the genetic advantage and it has taken her a while to reach the level she is competing in now. She is not world class at the minute, though I thoroughly think she will be. She has excellent table craft."

The success of the trio is not down to the lack of serious iron-arm women contenders.

"The ladies involved are very powerful. It is far more competitive and advanced than ladies' boxing.

"Many believe women can't beat blokes at the same sport. I have met women who could beat the men in my club hands down," said Neil, who believes nothing compares to the table test: "It's like a primal fear.

"Instinct just takes over and the adrenaline rush is beyond compare. An unbelievable mix of fear, excitement and apprehension - it's better than sex!"

The girls train every Monday from 8pm to 11pm at the Fernhurst pub, Blackburn. For more information contact Elaine on 01254 701784.

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