Cornish wrestling

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Cornish wrestling
Gerry and Ashley Cawley.JPG
Gerry and Ashley Cawley wrestling at Pendennis Castle, 6 May 2002
FocusGrappling
Country of originCornwall
CreatorCornish people
Olympic sportNo

Cornish wrestling (Cornish: Omdowl Kernewek[1]) is a form of wrestling that has been established in Cornwall for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"[2] in the Cornish dialect of English; historically, this usage is attested by Chaucer,[3] Shakespeare[4] and Drayton.[5]

The referee is known as a 'stickler', and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a 'pedant' originates from this usage.[6]

Cornish wrestling is the local sport of Cornwall, and spread outside the British Isles with the Cornish diaspora to such places as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Introduction to the rules of competition[]

The objective of Cornish wrestling is to throw ones opponent and cause them to land as flat as possible on the back. Each of the wrestlers wears a ‘jacket’ of tough make and material, enabling them to better grip their opponent. Grabbing of the wrists or fingers is forbidden as well as holding below the waist. All holds are to be taken upon the jacket, although the flat of the hand is allowed to be used to push or deflect an opponent.[7][8] Three sticklers watch and control each bout, keeping score of points.[9]

Four pins are located on the back of a wrestler, two at the shoulders and two just above the buttocks. A wrestler scores points by throwing their opponent onto their back, the number of pins hitting the floor being the number of points scored. If a wrestler manages to score with three or four pins this is called a ‘Back’ and the bout is then finished, with the throwing wrestler as the winner.[10] The sticklers each raise their sticks when they perceive a Back has been achieved. A Back may be awarded by majority, i.e. by two out of the three stickers. If a Back is not awarded, the winner is the wrestler with the most accumulated points within the time limit.[9]

History[]

John Cawley throwing Chris French at Demonstration at Robby Richards Museum Opening - CWA Event 13–14 May 2006.

Cornish wrestling has a long history, and Geoffrey of Monmouth suggests Historia Regum Britanniae, of c. 1139 that Corineus wrestled a Cornish giant, Gogmagog or Goemagot upon the cliff top known as Lamm Goemagot.

Thomas Hoby writes that in 1551 at Chastenbriant the French king showed my Lord Marquess of Northampton "great pleasure and disport...sometime with his great boisterlie Bretons wrastling with my lordes yemen of Cornwall, who had much to do to gete the upper hande of them."[11]

Some of the earliest written evidence for wrestling in the West Country comes from a 1612 poem entitled "Poly-Olbion" by Michael Drayton, which gives the names of some Cornish Wrestling throws. Drayton also published a poem in 1627 called The Battle of Agincourt, which concerns the 1415 battle. The poem states that the Cornish men who accompanied Henry V into battle held a banner of two Cornish wrestlers.

Cornish, Devon and Breton wrestlers have long taken part in inter-Celtic matches since at least 1402 and these still occasionally continue. In early times Cornish and Devonian wrestlers often had matches against each other though the rules they followed were not the same. One of these was the notable match between Richard Parkyn and the Devonian John Jordan.

In 1654, Oliver Cromwell and many of his privy council were reported as watching c100 Cornishmen wrestling in Hyde Park, presenting "...great agility of body and most neat and exquisite wrestling at every meeting of one with the other, which was ordered with such dexterity, that it was to show more the strength, vigour and nimbleness of their bodies, than to endanger their persons."[12]

Wrastling is as full of manliness, more delightful and less dangerous (than hurling).... for you shall hardly find an assembly of boyes in Devon and Cornwall, where the most untowardly amongst them will not as readily give you a muster of this exercise as you are prone to require it.

17th century historian Richard Carew, [13]

Charles II, along with "a world of lords" and many other spectators, watched a series of wrestling matches in St James' Park in 1669, with a purse of £1000, which saw the "Western men" win.[14]

His Highness York’s great Duke beheld the same
With other persons of renowned fame
Brave Cornishmen, you are to be commended
And will be so until the world is ended.[15]

Sir Thomas Parkyns (1664–1741), known as the Wrestling Baronet, was a devotee of wrestling and organised an annual wrestling match in Bunny Park (prize a gold-laced hat). These matches continued until 1810. His book on the subject The Inn-Play: or, the Cornish Hugg-Wrestler was published in 1713 and reprinted many times.[16]

A contest at Bodmin in 1811 attracted 4,000 spectators, but thereafter interest in the sport waned. James Gerry (of Linkinhorne) and Samuel Rundle (Plymouth) fought for a £20 purse and the championship of Cornwall in 1883 at Liskeard. Lasting just over an hour, the match ended in a draw in the 19th round following Rundle tearing leg muscles. Gerry was reported in The Cornishman newspaper to have vanquished all the best men in America as well as many men in Cornwall, Rundle had beaten nearly all the wrestling men in Devon and Cornwall.[17]

In 1927 William Tregoning Hooper (Bras y Golon) agreed with the Breton Dr. Cottonec of Quimperle that there should be annual wrestling tournaments in which both Cornish and Breton wrestlers would compete. In 1932, the Duke of Cornwall helped the fund the competing Cornish wrestlers.[18]

In the 1970s Truro Cathedral School was teaching Cornish wrestling as part of its physical education programme and was the only school in Cornwall to do so.[19]

Traditions[]

There is an ancient custom whereby sticklers of a tournament would appear at church the following Sunday wearing "Christys" with streamers.[20]

Prior to the mid 1800s, competitors had to renounce the use of magic before the start of a tournament.[21]

Governing bodies[]

There has been significant disagreement, over time, as to which were the ruling governing bodies in the sport and also differences in the precise nature of the rules. This has resulted in simultaneous claimants for world, national and regional titles.[22]

Governing bodies outside Cornwall[]

Wrestling at Hackney Wick 1866[23]

The Cornwall and Devon wrestling Society (also known as the Devon and Cornwall wrestling Society[24][25]) was formed in 1752, running tournaments and matches in London, often at Hackney Wick. In 1863 and 1868[26] the Prince of Wales was the patron to the society. Open competitions were held, awarding significant belts and prizes often funded by the patron, but only natives of Cornwall were permitted to compete for the Great Duke of Cornwall cup.[27]

The Devon and Cornish wrestling Society was formed in 1849.[28]

Worldwide, various regional bodies have governed local Cornish wrestling tournaments or matches. Examples include:

  • The Royal Marine Light Infantry for a tournament in Japan (1872);[29]
  • The Ivey Athletic Club for tournaments in Michigan, United States;[30]
  • The Brotton wrestling committee for Cornish wrestling in Yorkshire;[31]
  • The Bendigo Amateur Wrestling Association in Bendigo, Australia;[32]
  • The Cornish Association of South Africa;[33]
  • Taunton Athletic club in Somerset;[34]
  • St Budeaux and District Wrestling Committee for local tournaments in Devon;[35]
  • The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in India;[36]
  • The Cornish Porcupine wrestling club in Canada;[37]
  • Pachuca Athletic Club in Mexico.[38]

Governing bodies inside Cornwall[]

The different regional associations within Cornwall merged into the Cornwall County Wrestling Association ("CCWA") in September 1923, under the patronage of Commander Sir Edward Nicholl and presidency of Lord St Levan,[39] to help standardize the rules, facilitate the competing of Duchy championships, mitigate the risk of clashing tournaments and promote Cornish Wrestling throughout Cornwall and indeed Worldwide.[7] In 1923 there were 21 affiliated local associations.[39] Note that the Newquay and Port Isaac associations indicated that they wanted nothing to do with the CCWA.[40]

In 1931, the CCWA had financial difficulties and the belts and cups were seized by the bank. As a result, belts and cups were not awarded.[41][42]

In 1933, the CCWA was refinanced, with help from the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, changed its name to the Cornish Wrestling Association ("CWA") and the belts and cups were retrieved from the bank.[10][7][43] In 1933 the CWA adopted a rule to limit rounds to 15 minutes.[44]

The East Cornwall Wrestling Federation ("ECWF") was also formed in 1933, at least in part to hold competitions under more traditional rules.[7][45][46] The ECWF also complained that the CWA had preferred placing championship tournaments in West Cornwall and had preferred selecting wrestlers from West Cornwall to represent Cornwall in the inter-celtic competition.[47] The ECWF held rival championship titles of heavyweight, middleweight and lightweight champion in the "Old Cornish Style".[10][7] In 1934, the CWA initially suspended wrestlers involved with ECWF competitions, but then backed off from this position.[22]

In 1934 and 1935 the Prince of Wales was a patron of the CWA.[48]

Between 1932 and 1935 Sir John Langdon Bonython was a patron of the CWA.[48][49]

In 1946, the ECWF was absorbed by the CWA, who have overseen almost all tournaments since.[50][51] A current example of an exception to this is the annual St Mawgan tournament.

In 2004 the CWA became affiliated with the British Wrestling Association.

Notable people who were Cornish wrestlers[]

  • King Henry VIII was a confident wrestler,[52] but he lost a hitch with King Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold (possibly with a Flying Mare[7]), after his Cornish wrestlers had soundly defeated Francis' Breton wrestlers.[53][54][55]
  • According to his brother, Sir Humphry Davy was a Cornish wrestler in his youth. Davy was a Cornish chemist, inventor,[56] a baronet, President of the Royal Society (PRS), Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA), Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS), and a member of the American Philosophical Society (elected 1810).[57]
  • Cornwall's favourite son, the inventor Richard Trevithick, was a champion Cornish Wrestler.[52][58]
  • Perhaps the most famous Cornish wrestler was the US President, statesman and soldier Theodore Roosevelt, whose training started when he was New York governor, where he was taught three times a week by Professor Mike J. Dwyer.[59][60]
  • The actors, Paul Dupuis and Ralph Michael, studied Cornish wrestling under middleweight champion Tom Cundry, for their roles in the film - Johnny Frenchman.[61] Later, Dupuis and Michael were invited to enter the Cornish wrestling festival at Helson.[62]

Notable Cornish wrestlers[]

Historically, there were simultaneous claimants to world, national and regional titles in Cornish wrestling. This was driven, at least in part, by there not being agreement concerning the definitive governing bodies in the sport until the 1920s.

Some of these wrestlers also competed in other wrestling styles, or in matches where multiple styles were used.

Australia[]

  • Jesse Liddicoat was a very strong immigrant Cornish wrestler.[63]
  • Willian Hodge was an Australian Cornish wrestling champion in the late 1840s and early 1850s.[64]
  • Jacob Burrows was an Australian Cornish wrestling champion in 1887.[64]
  • Williams was Australian Cornish wrestling champion in 1889.[65]
  • Delhi Neilson, the "Bendigo Boy", was Australian Cornish wrestling champion between 1889 and 1907,[66][67] weighing 10 st 7 lbs, who was said to have defeated over 400 opponents.[68][69] He was an Australian rules footballer. In 1909, he became middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.[70]
  • Harry Pearce, was Australian champion Cornish wrestler in 1904.[71]
  • Dick Porter became middleweight wrestling champion of Australia, beating Delhi Neilson in 1906.[72]

Canada[]

  • Quinn was Cornish wrestling champion of the Pacific coast in 1892.[73]

Cornwall[]

  • John Goit was a friend of Richard Carew who states that during the reign of Elizabeth I, he had a claim to be the best wrestler in Cornwall.[74]
  • The Vicar of Lanteglos-by-Fowey was described in 1586 as "the best wrastler in Cornwall."[75][20]
  • Lyttelton Weynorth wrestled before Charles II.[39][20]
  • Thomas Hawkin of Cubert defeated Lyttelton Weynorth and was described as "the strongest man in the county."[39][20]
  • Harris, of St Agnes, "beat all and sundry" and was the court wrestler of Charles II.[76]
  • Charles Dawe from St Gorran was referred to by Thomas Tonkin (1678–1742) as being without equal in about 1730.[7][77]
  • William Pascoe, the parish clark of Sithney, was the champion from 1720-3.[39][78]
  • Thomas Pearce, wrestled throughout Britain in the mid 1700s.[79]
  • Abel Werry (?-1824), from Liskeard was for many years the champion wrestler of Cornwall.[80]
  • Absalom Bennetts from Probus is described as having won well over 42 gold laced hats during the 18th century.[7][39][20] He won the Probus tournament seven years running.[81]
  • Richard Parkyn (1772-1855) was a champion wrestler, known as The Great Parkyn. He was champion of Cornwall in 1806.[82] He was dominant from 1795 through to 1811. [83]
  • John Truscott (1766-1848), from Roche, was a champion Cornish wrestler, competing with an 'East Cornwall' style. He won a famous match with the Giant Jordan in 1813. His brothers, George (known as the 'Big Truscott')[84] and Diggory, were also well known wrestlers.[85][86]
  • John Collings (1783-1869) from St Minver was a celebrated wrestler in his early life.[87] He also had a famous wrestling brother called Thomas.[88]
  • James Polkinghorne (1788–1851) was a champion wrestler who had a number of famous contests against Devon fighters, including Flower, Jackman (1816) and Abraham Cann (1826), which drew very large crowds of spectators (c17,000).[7][89]
  • Abraham Bastard (1789-1868), born in St Teath, beat Polkinghorne in a famous match. He later became a preacher.[90][91]
  • James Warren from St Just was a famed Cornish wrestler, who became champion of Cornwall. He was known as 'Little Jem Warren' or 'Little Hercules' due to being 5 feet 7.5 inches high, but having prodigious strength.[92][93] He distinguished himself in the rescue of survivors when the East Indiaman ship, "Kent" caught fire.[90]
Joseph Menear 1864, Champion Wrestler of Cornwall and Devon[94]
  • Tom Nicholas was considered champion of the West of Cornwall and perhaps of all of Cornwall in 1835.[95]
  • Tom Magor from Breage was All England Champion in the early 1800s.[96]
  • Captain Thomas Gundry (1818-1888), of Wedron, was a champion wrestler in the 1830s and 1840s. His wrestling record comprised at least 25 tournament wins and 5 second placements from tournaments in Cornwall, Devon and London.[7] He was 7 times Cornish champion.[97] He was the champion wrestler of all England.[98] He was called champion wrestler of the world in 1847.[99]
  • Captain Joseph Hodge (1824-1909) was champion of Cornwall in 1839[100][101] and London champion in 1848.[102][103]
  • William Treglown from Ludgvan was the Cornish champion and the American champion in 1856.[104]
  • Joseph Menear (1838-?) was born in St Austell[94] and won the London Cornish wrestling title for over 10 years in a row[105] and won over 100 prizes, cups, belts and medals.[106]
  • William Pollard from Linkinhorne won many tournaments from the mid to late 1800s. He became champion of England. He was 6 feet 2 inches high and weighed 220 pounds.[107] He was champion of Cornwall for seven years to 1869.[108]
  • Samuel Rundle was all England Cornish wrestling champion in 1874, retaining the title for 20 years.[109][110] He was champion of England in 1876[111] and in 1883 and in 1898 had been champion of England for "many years".[112][113] In 1884 he had been champion of Devon and Cornwall for 12 years.[114]
  • Philip Hancock (1846-1927) of St Austell was the World Cornish Wrestling champion in 1884, winning the "open to the world" belt in Penzance. He was known as "Phep" or "Phip" and came from Mullion, Cornwall.[115] He was 5ft 9in and won the champion belt of Devon and Cornwall, wrestling in front of the Prince of Wales. He claimed that he was never thrown or beaten in 28 years in competitions across the UK.[116]
  • Captain Samuel Coombe (1849-?), from Bugle, known as "Sammy", was a very strong wrestler who had some famous bouts with Hancock, who said he was as good a wrestler as he ever faced.[117] He was heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of Cornwall.[118][119] When Sammy ceased wrestling he became a renowned Methodist preacher.[120][121]
  • Richard Williams (1851-1892), born in Chacewater, was known as 'Schiller Williams' after surviving the wreck of the Schiller and helping save some of the other few survivors. He was a well known, champion wrestler in Cornwall, the US, England, Northern Ireland and Mexico. [122][123] He was Western states champion in the US and was lightweight champion of Cornwall.[124]
  • Thomas Stone (1852-1937) of St Austell, was a well known wrestler, who won over 20 tournaments in the mid to late 1800s. [125] He was wrestling champion of Cornwall in 1899.[126] He wrestled in front of King Edward VII, who gave him a sovereign that he kept as a keepsake.[126]
  • Thomas Bragg (1852-?) was born in St Austell[127] and was champion of America in 1866,[128][111] 1876,[129] 1879,[130][131] 1880,[132] 1882,[133][134] and 1883.[135] He was champion of Cornwall in 1882.[136] He was champion of England in 1887.[137][138]
  • John Pearce (1859-1896), from Wendron, was the champion of Cornwall in 1887 and held the title for 6 years. He won over 24 tournaments in England and the United States.[139][140] John also claimed to be world Cornish wrestling champion in 1884,[141] 1887,[142][143] 1888,[142][144] 1889,[145] 1893[146] and in 1894.[147][148]
  • James Matthews was a champion wrestler, who is especially notable, since he only had one arm![149]
  • Jeffries from St Mewan was Cornish wrestling champion of America.[150]
  • Sidney Chapman, from the famous Chapman family that has won many titles throughout the last century, won the championship of Cornwall in 1907, 1910 and 1920, was the middleweight champion of the US in 1910. He was awarded a medal by the Transvaal wrestling association in 1911 for his wrestling in South Africa[151] and was the champion of South Africa in 1912.[152]
  • Francis Gregory (1904-?) was a champion Cornish wrestler in the 1920s and 1930s who won the heavyweight title 9 times in a row and the interceltic title 7 times in a row. He was champion of Britain in 1934. [153] He was a famous sportsman, being a professional wrestler and boxer, who played league and union rugby (including for England).[154] He participated in the first televised wrestling match and wrestled Billy Holland in a scene for the film "Lady of Pendower".[153]

Egypt[]

  • Mustapha Hambdi was an Egyptian wrestler who competed in Cornish wrestling competitions in Britain in the 1920s.[155] He was middleweight champion of the world in catch as catch can wrestling.[156]

England[]

Abraham Cann, the Devonshire and Cornwall wrestler[157]
  • John Ridd, from Devon, held the championship belt for Devon and Cornwall in about 1685.[158]
  • Rev Richard Stevens (c1670-1727), fellow and proctor of King's College, Cambridge, was a well known Cornish wrestler in the 17th century.[90]
  • Sir Thomas Parkyns (1664-1741) learnt his Cornish wrestling in Greys Inn in London before authoring one of the first books giving detailed instructions on hand to hand combat using Cornish wrestling techniques.[159]
  • John Coppe, known as "Little Cock", came from near Great Torrington, was about 5 feet 5 inches high and in the middle of the 18th century was champion throughout Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, for about 20 years.[160][161][162]
  • John Jordan (1787-?), from Grantham[163] near Hatherleigh and known as "Giant Jordan"[164] or the "Devonshire Giant", was a famously massive champion wrestler from Devon who was 6 feet 4 inches tall. He fought in the early 1800s and had a series of famous matches with Cann.[89] He was champion of Devon in 1811[165] and 1812.[166][167] He also had famous matches with the Great Parkyn (1811) and John Truscott (1813), both of which he lost.[168][169][85]
  • William Wreford, who lived at Cheriton Cross between Okehampton and Exeter, was a sightless champion from Devon in the early 1800s. He was known as 'Blind Bill'.[162][160]
  • Charles Cleeve of Kenton[170] was champion of England in 1827.[170]
  • Charles Layton was the Norfolk champion from 1817 to 1827.[171][172]
  • Abraham Cann (1794[85]-1864) was born in Crediton[173] and was a famous wrestler who had an infamous wrestling match with James Polkinghorne.[7] He was the champion wrestler of England.[174] It was claimed that he became champion of the world.[175][93]
John Slade 1866, Champion Wrestler (Devon and Cornwall)[176]
  • Clargo (also spelt Claggo in the newspapers)[177] claimed to be the Berkshire Cornish wrestling champion in 1828.[178]
  • James Truscott, from Devon and often called 'Jemmy', claimed to be the English lightweight champion in 1845.[179]
  • William Chapple from Bishop's Nympton,[180] was champion of Devon in 1841,[181] 1844,[182] 1845[183] and 1847.[184][185] He was champion of England in 1842[186][187] and 1847.[99]
  • William Matthews was champion of Dorset in 1841[181] and in 1842.[188]
  • William Davy May (1817-1842) was champion of England in 1841.[181][189]
  • John Goodman of the Blues was the London champion in 1845.[190][191]
  • John Slade, known as 'Jack Slade', held the Devon title for many years in the mid 1800s. He won the Prince of Wales cup and the Duke of Cornwall cup and a large number of tournaments and matches.[192]
  • Thomas Cooper (1823-?) won many tournaments and was the four Western counties champion in the 1860s through to 1870.[193][194] He was champion of Devon and Cornwall and reported to be champion of England in 1869.[195][196]
  • Frank Hutchings from Moreton[127] was Cornish wrestling champion of England in 1877.[197][198]
  • Robert Baker (1847[199]-?) of Bow[200] was champion of England in 1879, throwing Pike in the 10th round of the second day.[199][201] He was also Devon champion in 1879.[130] He had a brother Thomas who also had some success.[202]
  • Richard Pike (1850[199]-?) of Bow[200] was a champion wrestler in the 1880s and 1890s and was referred to as the "great Pike".[116] He was about 6 feet 2 inches high and weighed 244lbs.[199][200] He was champion of Devon in between 1878 and 1881.[203][204][205] He was champion of England in 1882.[206][134] He was world champion in 1894.[207] He was West of England champion for 17 years.[208]
  • Tom Cannon was a world champion Greco-Roman wrestler, who wrestled in Cornish wrestling matches in the late 1800s and early 1900s.[209]
  • Samuel Battershill of Bow[200] was champion of Devon from 1885 through to 1887.[210][211]
  • Jack Wannop (1854-1923) was champion of London in 1892. He wrestled in other styles in the UK and United States. He was also a boxer.[140]
  • Joe Faulkner was 12 stone champion of the world in 1895.[212]

France[]

  • Fleure was a champion French wrestler who competed in Cornish wrestling competitions in Britain at the highest level in the early to mid 1800s.[213]
  • Dubois was a French wrestler who weighed nearly 22 stone, who was beaten by Sam Rundle.[214]

Germany[]

  • Joe Ziehr, from Germany,[215] fought mostly in the United States and held the world Cornish wrestling heavyweight title between 1906 and 1911. In 1902 he was the heavyweight champion of the United States.[30] Prior to this he had been a professional ice hockey player and played for the Calumet Miners.[216][217]

Ireland[]

  • Saffney was champion of Ireland in 1826 and fought with Cann in 1826.[218][219]
  • Philip Gaffney was an Irish champion in the early 1800s.[220] He was champion of Ireland in 1827.[221] He was London champion in 1828.[222]
  • Larkins was the Irish champion in 1827.[223]
  • Simon Finn won the all-weights championship belt at the first annual meeting of the Devon and Cornish wrestling Society at Lambeth in 1849.[224] He was the Irish champion in 1847[225] and in 1849.[226]
  • McMahon was the Irish champion who fought in America in the 1870s.[122]
  • Molly Russell, was Lady Cornish wrestling champion of the world in 1904.[227][228] She was a crack shot, fencer and fought in other wrestling styles.[229]

Japan[]

Mexico[]

  • Don Pardo, originally from France,[233] was a noted Mexican Cornish wrestler in the late 1800s.[122]
  • Professor Willie, originally from San Francisco - 6 feet high and weighing 176 pounds,[233] was a noted Mexican Cornish wrestler in the late 1800s.[122]

New Zealand[]

  • Richard Cox was the Westland Cornish wrestling champion in 1868.[234]
  • Thornton was the Cornish wrestling champion of New Zealand in 1882.[235][236]
  • Duncan C Ross was the Cornish wrestling champion of New Zealand in 1891.[237]
  • Robert James Scott, Cornish wrestling champion of New Zealand defeated Australian champion Delhi Nelson in 1905 to become the Cornish wrestling champion of Australasia. He was 6 ft 3 inches and weighed over 14 stone.[238][239]

Russia[]

  • Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (the "Russian lion" weighing over 25 st, or about 160 kg) defeated the Australian Cornish wrestling champion, Delhi Nelson and the South African Cornish wrestling champion Grotz, in 1905.[240] Hackenschmidt was a champion of many wrestling styles.[241]

South Africa[]

  • Phil Mitchell was a famous heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.[242][243] He was the heavyweight Cornish Wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905.[244][243]
  • William Prynne, known as "Bill", was the Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.[245][246]
  • "Nick" Hocking was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905.[243]
  • Grotz was Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905.[240]
  • T Wills was the middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1906.[247]
  • James Henry Triggs (1872-1949), born at Four Lanes and known as Jim,[248] was the heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905[249] and 1906.[250][251] He was champion of Australia in 1905 and won many matches in the US.[249] He held the heavyweight title for Cornwall in 1904[244][249] and was instrumental in setting up the CWA. He was also a regular manager and stickler for the Cornish contingent in Brittany.[252]
  • Almond Giles was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa, England and America in 1907.[253] He was born in St Dennis, Cornwall.[254] He won many tournaments in England and America.[247]
  • Rudd was the Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1907.[254]
  • Sam Ham (1880-1946), who was born in Condurrow near Camborne, was the 1910 middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.[255][256]
  • W Littlejohn, known as 'tiny', was heavyweight champion of the Transvaal in 1910.[255]
  • Prynne Stevens, was the 1916 Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.[245]

United States[]

  • Joseph Taylor Williams (1830-?) was born in St Erth and fought in tournaments in Cornwall, Devon and California during the 1850s and 1860s. "He had not an equal in his day at anywhere near his weight."[64] He was champion of the Pacific coast. He was known as "little" Joe Williams or "Shiers" Williams. He was also lightweight champion of Cornwall.[257]
  • Thomas Eudy (born in St Austell) was the California State Cornish wrestling champion in 1861.[64][258][259]
  • George Harvey (1843-?) was the Michigan Cornish wrestling champion in the 1870s. He was 5 feet 11 inches high and weighed 195 lbs.[107]
  • James Delbridge (1851-?) was the Michigan lightweight Cornish wrestling champion in the 1870s. He was 5 feet 7 inches high and weighed 145 lbs.[107]
  • Bill Pellew (1838-1908), from Virginia City, Nevada was a miner and known as the "Pride of Comstock". He was Cornish wrestling champion of America in the 1870s.[260]
  • Tom Carkeek, born in Plain-an-Gwarry, Redruth[261] was said to weigh 17 stone,[262] was a champion of Cornish wrestling in the 1860s[263] and was the world Cornish wrestling champion in 1875.[264] It was said that he won 528 consecutive wrestling matches without defeat and won 88 prizes.[265][261] He was champion of the Lakes in 1878.[265]
  • James Pascoe was the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1884.[266][267]
  • Peter Carlyon (?-1926) was the world lightweight Cornish wrestling champion in 1876, having defeated Tom Carkeek.[264] In 1887, he was the lightweight champion of America.[268][269]
  • Frank Joslin was the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1894.[270]
  • J W Jefford of Sonoma was the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1898.[271]
  • John Carkeek (1861-1924) was the World Cornish Wrestling champion in 1886 (after beating Jack Pearce in a bout lasting over 5 hours), in 1887 (he separately fought Pearce where the outcome was contested and Pearce claimed that Carkeek bit off a portion of his ear[272] and Bragg[273]) and again in 1889 (beating Hancock and Pearce)[274][275][276] through to 1901,[277] 1904 (beating Tom Bragg)[66] and 1905.[277][278][279] He regularly wrestled in Britain and the USA. He was known as "Jack", was born in Rockland, Michigan, died in Havana and was buried in New York. He also won the Pacific coast championship.[280][281][139] He officially retired from wrestling in 1891,[282] however was involved in competitions after this date.[283] He was the son of Tom Carkeek[284] and his mother was first cousin to the actor Sir Henry Irving.[284] He was the champion of America in 1887,[285][286][287] 1888[140] and 1900.[288]
  • Jack King held the world championship from 1895 to 1898 and was known as the Iron Mountain Butcher.[289][290] He was arrested for robbing a train in 1893.[291][292]
  • John H Rowett, born in St Austell, was known as Jack, gained the lightweight championship of the United States at the age of 16. He won the world championship in 1896 from Jack King and defended the title until his retirement in 1911.[293][289][294][295] Rowett regained his title in 1914.[296][295] He was champion of America in 1898.[261] [297]
  • Tony Harris was an USA Cornish wrestling Champion in 1900 (coming from Butte, Montana), of which it was claimed that he was "the best man to ever wear a [wrestling] jacket".[64] He was champion of the North West in 1903.[298]
  • Prof Mike F Dwyer claimed the world Cornish wrestling title in 1902.[299] He had the distinction of teaching Cornish wrestling to the US President, Theodore Roosevelt.[59][60]
  • Frank Gotch (1877 - 1917) beat Jack Carkeek in a Cornish wrestling match, while Jack claimed to have the world Cornish wrestling title.[300] Gotch was a champion of many wrestling styles.[301]
  • Fred Roeber was champion of America in 1907.[302][303]
  • John Tippett, known as Jack, from Butte, Montana and weighing 186 lbs, claimed to be Cornish wrestling champion of America in 1908.[302][303]
  • Tim Harrington (?-1907) claimed the world Cornish wrestling middleweight title in 1903 and retained it until his death.[304][305][298][306]
  • William Martin (?-1910), 'Billy', was the lightweight world Cornish wrestling champion until he died in 1910.[307] In 1902 he was the middleweight champion of the United States.[30]
  • John Rowe was Sheriff of Gogebic County, City Marshal of Bessemer and in 1910 was the undefeated world champion of Cornish-style wrestling.[291]
  • Charles Dufstrom claimed the world Cornish wrestling title in 1912.[308]
  • Sid Varney claimed the world Cornish wrestling title in 1921.[309]
  • Dick Johns, from Marquette was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of the world in 1921.[310]

Wales[]

  • John Rowe was a Welsh champion Cornish wrestler from the 1870s.[311]
  • Jack Lamnea, known as "Swansea Jack" and "Lemm" became all England Cornish style wrestling champion in 1903.[312]
  • Nancy Jones, was Lady Cornish wrestling champion of Wales in 1904.[227][228]

Cornish wrestling throws[]

There are a number of Cornish wrestling throws that are taught in training classes, but each has many variants.

In Play
 Heaves
 Back Heave
Cornish Hug
Fore Heave
Flying Mare
Half Heave
Scat un Back
Teddy Bag Heave
Under Heave
Crooks
 Back Crook
Fore Crook
Slip Crook
Sprags
 Back Sprag
Double Sprag
Single Sprag
Hip Throws
 Fore Hip
Pull Over Hip
Out Play
 Trips
 Back Step
Heel
Lock Arm
Pull Under
Toe
Foul Throws
 Foul Moves
 Cross Collar
Crowbar Hitch

Championships[]

The following Senior Championships are fought annually in competitions across the Duchy:

  • Heavyweight Belt (Open category)
  • Light Heavyweight Trophy (Under 15 Stone)
  • Middleweight Belt (Under 12 Stone)
  • Lightweight Belt (Under 11 Stone)
  • Featherweight Belt (under 10 Stone 5 pounds)
  • Women's Shield

The following Junior Championships are fought annually in competitions across the Duchy:

  • Under 18s Belt
  • Under 16s Trophy
  • Under 14s Trophy
  • Under 12s Trophy
  • Under 10s Trophy

Cornish Wrestling at the Royal Cornwall Show[]

The Cornish Wrestling Association (CWA) still features annually at the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show. The Cornish wrestling tent can be found in the Countryside area very near to the west entrance. In the Cornish wrestling tent you will find an impressive display of Cornish wrestling trophies, belts, history, photos, books and DVDs. The wrestlers perform demonstrations of their style in the Countryside ring, usually twice a day for each of the three days of the show. The demonstrations feature most of the throws and moves of the Cornish style and also feature demonstration bouts usually with a variety of wrestlers from youngsters, girls, lightweights and heavyweights.

Outside Cornwall[]

Cornish wrestling is Cornwall's oldest sport and as Cornwall's native tradition it has travelled the world to places like Victoria, Australia and Grass Valley, California following the miners and gold rushes. In the city of Grass Valley, the tradition of singing Cornish carols lives on and St Piran's Day celebrations are held every year, which along with carol singing, includes a flag raising ceremony, games involving the Cornish pasty, and Cornish wrestling competitions.[313]

See also[]

References[]

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  215. ^ Michigan, Cornishman, 3 September 1908, p3.
  216. ^ Ziehr defeats Ed. Tremberth, Camulet News, 03 January 1911, p7.
  217. ^ Wrestling in the limelight, just now, The Minneapolis Journal, 19 August 1906, p28.
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  225. ^ Wrestling near Bristol, Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 1 August 1847, p3.
  226. ^ Wrestling, Morning Advertiser, 30 May 1849, p3.
  227. ^ a b Female Wrestlers, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 14 May 1904, p8.
  228. ^ a b Wrestling at the Winter gardens, Plymouth, Cornishman, 12 May 1904, p7.
  229. ^ Dublin born girl's versatility, Dublin Daily Express, 21 July 1915, p5.
  230. ^ Cornish Wrestling, Western Morning News, 8 December 1926, p12.
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  234. ^ Wrestling for the championship of Westland, WEST COAST TIMES, ISSUE 712, 4 JANUARY 1868, p2.
  235. ^ More Wrestling, WEST COAST TIMES, ISSUE 4120, 29 JUNE 1882, p2.
  236. ^ Wrestling, GREY RIVER ARGUS, VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 4313, 29 JUNE 1882, p2.
  237. ^ Wrestling Championship, LYTTELTON TIMES, VOLUME LXXV, ISSUE 9310, 13 JANUARY 1891, p5.
  238. ^ CORNISH WRESTLING. Melbourne, Sunday, Zeehan and Dundas Herald (Tas) 14 August 1905, p3.
  239. ^ Wrestling, Leader (Melbourne, Vic) 29 July 1905, p17.
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  244. ^ a b Wrestling in South Africa, The Cornish Telegraph, 2 February 1905, p8.
  245. ^ a b In South Africa, Amateur tournament in Johannesburg, Sporting Chronicle, 2 October 1916, p3.
  246. ^ Some Old Time Champions, Cornish Guardian, 19 September 1919, p3.
  247. ^ a b Wrestling tournament in South Africa, Cornishman, 11 October 1906, p4.
  248. ^ Cornish Wrestling, Cornish Post and Mining News, 15 June 1935, p8.
  249. ^ a b c Famous Cornish wrestler, Western Morning News, 10 April 1919, p7.
  250. ^ Cornishmen in the Transvaal, Cornishman, 1 February 1906, p7.
  251. ^ The Cornish Sport, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 31 July 1924, p2.
  252. ^ Well known Cornish wrestler, Cornishman, 17 March 1949, p2.
  253. ^ How Rand Cornishmen spent Christmas, Cornishman, 24 January 1907, p4.
  254. ^ a b Wrestling, Coolgardie Miner (WA), 12 March 1907, p4.
  255. ^ a b Our South African Letter, Cornishman, 13 October 1910, p8.
  256. ^ Mr S Ham, Cornishman, 31 October 1946, p2.
  257. ^ Letters from the Transvaal, Cornishman, 13 May 1948, p4.
  258. ^ Wrestling in America, Western Morning News, 13 November 1861, p2.
  259. ^ Cornish Wrestlers in America, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 15 November 1861, p8.
  260. ^ Bill Pellew's Death, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 28 May 1908, p3.
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  262. ^ Wrestling in California, Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, 8 December 1866, p8.
  263. ^ Jack Carkeek the Cornish wrestling wonder Cornubian and Redruth Times, 05 August 1905, p3.
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  265. ^ a b Cornish wrestling in the United States Cornish & Devon Post, 5 October 1878, p8.
  266. ^ Wrestling, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 1 July 1888, p41.
  267. ^ Championship of the world wrestling match, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 24 June 1887, p6.
  268. ^ Cornish wrestling matches, The Cornish Telegraph, 5 May 1887, p1.
  269. ^ Political matters, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 6 May 1887, p7.
  270. ^ Wrestling in Michigan, Cornishman, 27 September 1894, p3.
  271. ^ Mining Fair, The record-union (California US), 25 February 1898, p41.
  272. ^ ,The Wrestling Championship of the world, Cornish & Devon Post, 09 July 1887, p3.
  273. ^ Wrestling match at Plymouth Carkeek vs Bragg, Cornishman, 25 August 1887, p5.
  274. ^ The championship of the world, The Cornish Telegraph, 4 July 1889, p5.
  275. ^ Wrestling, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW), 20 August 1887, p411.
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