Ref. 29445-39BEING picked up and dropped from 6ft may not be everyone's cup of tea. But for the growing number of Swindonians taking up wrestling, there's no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Martyn Pearce or "Rampage" as he prefers to be known in the ring, runs the Swindon Training Centre wrestling school from the unusual venue of St Barnabas Church Hall in Gorse Hill.

"Wrestling is definitely getting more popular," said Martyn, 30, who took up the sport six years ago. "We started last February with just one member. Now we have 20 on our books. It's a great escape from reality. The idea is that you completely change your character when you step into the ring."

He said a lot of the youngsters want to be the next Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Apart from being a huge name in wrestling, The Rock turned his attentions to the silver screen, starring as the Scorpion King in the Mummy Returns.

"He's a huge name," said Martyn of the World Wrestling Entertainment champion. "I suppose Hulk Hogan of the 1980s was the one who really got people into the sport. It's all about showmanship and he did it well."

In 2002, the parent company of the Swindon school, Trowbridge-based Ultimate Champion-ship Wrestling,took part in five shows across the South West. This year 15 are planned.

"It's a sign of how far wrestling can come," he said. "More and more people want to get involved. There's no better feeling than stepping into the ring with 500 people all shouting your name."

And it seems the sport is fast attracting female fans too.

Susie Robert, 16, aka "Bubbles" is a newcomer to the sport, having only taken it up three months ago.

She said: "When my brother started to get into wrestling, I thought I'd give it a go too. He really enjoyed it so I thought I might too.

"The people here are really nice and everyone helps each other out with the different moves and holds.

"It was scary at first getting thrown about, but now it's fine."

Sales representative Simon Connell or The Saint is one of the school's rising stars and later this month he jets off to the US to take part in a show.

The testosterone-fuelled ring is certainly a world-away from his day job as a sales representative for an IT distributor.

He said: "It's certainly different, but I don't get too much stick for it.

"It's good to do something completely different. Wrestling is about doing stuff you wouldn't normally do. When you step out into the ring you're performing in a show."

While in the US Simon will watch Wrestle-mania in New York, one of the biggest events in the sport's calendar.

"It is all started in the US. The likes of Hulk Hogan got it going he really raised its profile and got a lot of youngsters into it."

Despite the violent appearance of wrestling, Simon insists it's safe if you know how to fall properly. He said: "Safety is taken seriously. There's a really social atmosphere here. Every-one trusts each other and works together. Nobody wants to get seriously injured."

If you want to try wrestling call Ultimate Championship Wrestling on 07919 037179 or visit www.ucw-wrestling.co.uk

Sessions are held every Saturday between 2pm and 6pm at St Barnabas Church Hall, Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill. The cost is £7.50.