Think about Switzerland and what stereotypes pop into your head? Mountains, bankers, skiing, fondue, Federer, watches and chocolate perhaps? But wrestling? Perhaps not.

Traditional wrestling – schwingen – is the Swiss national sport, with records of it going back to the 13th century when it was part of shepherding culture.

Grassroots competitions take place across summer and autumn weekends with an Autumn Wrestling Festival in Unteriberg and Christmas festival in Pratteln. But every three years up to 350,000 people gather on the last weekend in August to crown a new national champion, which I got to witness this year.

Just as only the US has the World Series of baseball, imagine this as the world championship of Swiss wrestling, with competitors coming from as far afield as, erm

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