Ready to rumble

HER MUM had high hopes of her becoming a ballerina but Erin Marshall had other plans. Not for her the girly allure of silky ballet pumps and tutus.

No, Erin prefers to get mean and physical performing a half nelson rather than a plie these days.

As a teenager she was captivated by the glamorous wrestlers on the TV and now the Shirley-based student takes to the ring most weekends as Erin Angel to grapple with men and women.

On her 16th birthday she started getting to grips with the sport and two years on she had her first fight at the Guildhall in Southampton last week against the 25-stone veteran Klondyke Kate.

"I did learn ballet when I was a little girl and my mum did want me to be a dancer.

"But my mum and dad have been really supportive of the wrestling," she said.

Erin trained with wrestler Phil Powers and he taught her all the moves needed to become a star of the ring.

"My younger brother Owen used to watch wrestling on the TV and I began watching with him. I really liked the characters and story lines - and I decided I wanted to be a wrestler.

"I went to see a show at the Guildhall in Southampton and I haven't looked back since.

"With Phil I did nine weeks intensive training - it took about three months to learn all the basics and about the same time to master all the reverse moves and more technical stuff," she said.

She can still recall her first fight and what it was like taking to the ring.

"It was really nerve-racking but exciting at the same time. Obviously I lost because it was my first fight but I discovered that I really loved it.

"It made me feel nervous because everyone was looking at me but I also found out I had a bit of the showman in me - and I felt at home in the ring.

"You are putting on a show for the crowd and entertaining them is really important," she said.

When she's in the ring in her sexy lycra outfit, the only protection she wears is knee pads and Erin, 18, admits it can be a dangerous sport.

"Since I've been training I've become a lot stronger especially in my arms.

"You can really hurt yourself wrestling because it is such a physical sport. You have to protect yourself or you could end up with broken bones.

"I am always covered in cuts, bumps and bruises - and I once had concussion.

"I've been really lucky that I haven't had any more serious injuries," she said.

Erin and her trainer Phil are now romantically linked and the pair run a wrestling school in Woolston. As well as training other up-and-coming stars, the school offers a great way to get in shape.

"We started the classes just before Christmas and they are going really well. We have male and female students and it seems to be growing in popularity," said Erin, who is studying for A-levels in sports, drama and leisure & recreation.

Erin is used to wrestling with male opponents but she needed all her strength, stamina and courage to take on the imposing Klondyke Kate.

Dressed all in black the enormous female wrestler would strike fear in anyone. She has years of experience, a menacing look and plenty of weight on her side.

Before the tag match which saw Erin and her partner take on Klondyke Kate and Mystery Man Tagorie, she admitted she was feeling nervous.

But in the event she had nothing to worry about.

Despite some underhand tactics from her opponents, Erin emerged as victor and her smile filled the Guildhall.

Brimming with pride her parents watched anxiously as their daughter went through her paces.

Mum Lolla, 44, a nurse, said: "I'm very proud of her. She decided she wanted to do this. She found someone to train her and she has made all this happen.

"I was keen for her to be a dancer or something a bit more feminine but I am pleased she has done so well."

Dad Chris, 44, a swimming coach, said he believed his daughter could go far in her chosen profession.

"There is already some international interest in her and I am sure she can go far.

"She really loves what she is doing and she is very keen to promote women in wrestling."