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Cornish wrestling ( kw, Omdowl Kernewek) is a form of
wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...
that has been established in
Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"Phillipps, K C: ''Westcountry Words & Ways'', David & Charles (Publishers) Limited 1976, p99.''Cornish culture steps into the spotlight'', The Western Morning News, 14 August 2006. in the Cornish dialect of English; historically, this usage is attested by Chaucer, Chaucer, Geoffrey: '' The Canterbury Tales'', The Knightes Tale, The Reeves Tale, the Tale of Gamelyn, The Tale of Sir Thopas, etc, 1387-1400
Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
Shakespeare, William: ''As you like it'', Act III, Scene II, 1599 and Drayton. Drayton, Michael: ''
Poly-Olbion The ''Poly-Olbion'' is a topographical poem describing England and Wales. Written by Michael Drayton (1563–1631) and published in 1612, it was reprinted with a second part in 1622. Drayton had been working on the project since at least 1598. ...
'', 1612, i, 244
The referee is known as a 'stickler',James, Nicholas:''Poems on several occasions, Wrestling'', Andrew Brice (Truro) 1742, p21-40. and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a 'pedant' originates from this usage. Hone, William: ''The Table Book of Daily Recreation and Information'', Hunt & Clarke 1827, p663-664. Cornish wrestling is a national sport of
Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
, which spread throughout the British Isles and then, along with the
Cornish diaspora The Cornish diaspora ( kw, keskar kernewek) consists of Cornish people and their descendants who emigrated from Cornwall, United Kingdom. The diaspora is found within the United Kingdom, and in countries such as the United States, Canada, Austral ...
, to such places as the United States, Australia,
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
,
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
and
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
.


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.Tripp, Michael: ''PERSISTENCE OF DIFFERENCE: A HISTORY OF CORNISH WRESTLING'', University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2009, Vol I p2-217.W, Tregoning Hooper: ''Cornish Wrestling'', The Cornish Review, Porthmeor Press (Penzance) 1950, p. 30–32. Three sticklers watch and control each bout, keeping score of points.Kendall, Bryan H: ''The Art of Cornish Wrestling'', Federation of Old Cornwall Societies (Cornwall) 1990, p. 1–32. 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.Guy Jaouen and Matthew Bennett Nicols: ''Celtic Wrestling, The Jacket Styles'', Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (Switzerland) 2007, p1-183. 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.


History

Cornish wrestling has a long history, with
Geoffrey of Monmouth Geoffrey of Monmouth ( la, Galfridus Monemutensis, Galfridus Arturus, cy, Gruffudd ap Arthur, Sieffre o Fynwy; 1095 – 1155) was a British cleric from Monmouth, Wales and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography ...
in ''
Historia Regum Britanniae ''Historia regum Britanniae'' (''The History of the Kings of Britain''), originally called ''De gestis Britonum'' (''On the Deeds of the Britons''), is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written around 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. I ...
'' () describing
Corineus Corineus, in medieval British legend, was a prodigious warrior, a fighter of giants, and the eponymous founder of Cornwall. ''History of the Kings of Britain'' In Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-history '' History of the Kings of Britain'' (1 ...
, the legendary founder of Cornwall, as a man "of great courage and boldness, who, in an encounter with any person, even of gigantic stature, would immediately overthrow him, as if he were a child", and later tells the story of how Corineus wrestled a Cornish giant, Gogmagog or Goemagot upon the cliff top known as '' Lamm Goemagot''.
Thomas Hoby Sir Thomas Hoby (1530 – 13 July 1566) was an English diplomat and translator. Early life Hoby was born in 1530. He was the second son of William Hoby of Leominster, Herefordshire, by his second wife, Katherine, daughter of John Forden. He was ...
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." Hoby, Thomas: '' A Book of the Travaile and Life of me Thomas Hoby'', 1551 Some of the earliest written evidence for wrestling in the West Country comes from a 1612 poem entitled ''"
Poly-Olbion The ''Poly-Olbion'' is a topographical poem describing England and Wales. Written by Michael Drayton (1563–1631) and published in 1612, it was reprinted with a second part in 1622. Drayton had been working on the project since at least 1598. ...
"'' by
Michael Drayton Michael Drayton (1563 – 23 December 1631) was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. He died on 23 December 1631 in London. Early life Drayton was born at Hartshill, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Almost nothin ...
, 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 Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...
and many of his privy council were reported as watching 100 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."''The Moderate Intelligencer'', May 1, 1654 Charles II, along with "a world of lords" and many other spectators, watched a series of wrestling matches in
St James' Park St James' Park is a football stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Premier League club Newcastle United F.C. With a seating capacity of 52,305 seats, it is the eighth largest football stadium in England. St James' Pa ...
in 1669, with a purse of £1000, which saw the "Western men" win. Evelyn, John: '' Memoirs Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn'', William Bray, 1818 ::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.''Hurling in the 17th century, matches in Hyde park'', Cornish Guardian, 15 February 1940, p. 2. 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. A contest at Bodmin in 1811 attracted 4,000 spectators, but thereafter interest in the sport waned. James Gerry (of
Linkinhorne Linkinhorne (in Cornish ''Lanngynhorn'') is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at and is approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Callington and seven miles (1 ...
) and Samuel Rundle (Plymouth) fought for a £20 purse and the championship of Cornwall in 1883 at
Liskeard Liskeard ( ; kw, Lyskerrys) is a small ancient stannary and market town in south-east Cornwall, South West England. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Plymouth, west of the Devon border, and 12 miles (20 km) eas ...
. 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 ''The Cornishman'' is a weekly newspaper based in Penzance, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom which was first published on 18 July 1878. Circulation for the first two editions was 4,000. An edition is currently printed every Thursday. In early Fe ...
'' 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. 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 fund the competing Cornish wrestlers.''Cornish Wrestling'', Cornishman, 04 August 1932, p. 4. In the 1970s Truro Cathedral School was teaching Cornish wrestling as part of its
physical education Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning by using a play and movement explorat ...
programme and was the only school in Cornwall to do so.


Traditions

A very old custom was, on the Sunday following a wrestling match or tournament, to wear to church any prizes won. Alternatively they were hung on an inside pillar near the main church door. This custom was especially observed when the victory was within another parish.''Another usage'', The Cornish Telegraph, 5 July 1871, p3. There is an ancient custom whereby sticklers of a tournament would appear at church the following Sunday wearing "Christys" (silk top hats)''Wrestling at St Mawgan'', St. Austell Star, 29 July 1897, p5. with streamers (silk ribbons). There are multiple stories of women being capable wrestlers, even more than 200 years ago. For example, Caroline who was taught wrestling by her father and in turn taught her son Joel Andrewartha, who went on to become one of the best wrestlers in Cornwall and beat Polkinhorne.''The farmer and the maid'', Cornishman, 18 May 1939, p. 6.''The farmer and the maid'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 20 May 1939, p. 4. Another example is Lizzie Taylor (1831-1887) or Happy Ned, who threw John Lillywhite in a wrestling-bout at Clowance. She was a miner who dressed in men's clothes''First class cricketers on Penzance ground'', Cornishman, 13 September 1894, p6.''Cornwall 30 years ago'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 6 January 1888, p8. During a match, wrestlers shake hands before every hitch.Muldoon, James: ''Muldoon's Wrestling, A complete treatise on the various English, Scotch, American, French, German and Japanese Styles of Wrestling'', Dick and Fitzgerald (New York) 1893, p30-42. Prior to the mid-1800s, competitors had to renounce the use of magic before the start of a tournament.''Duchy Wrestling Champions'', Western Morning News, 22 August 1930, p4. Traditionally wrestlers would challenge each other to wrestling matches by throwing their hat into the ring. The idiom may come from this practice.Littell, E: ''Living Age'', Stanford & Delisser (New York) 1858, p757.Walker, Donald: ''Defensive Exercises'', PALMER and CLAYTON (London) 1840, p24-34. In Cornwall, youngsters used to play the game of "shuffle hats and wrastle", where they would throw their hats into a ring, with their owners wrestling off in accordance with the pairing of the hats.''Notes in the West: Cornish wrestling'', Western Morning News, 10 May 1946, p. 4.Pascoe, Harry, ''Cornish wrestling'', Tre Pol and Pen The Cornish Annual, 1928, p63-69.''A Cornish "Admirable Crichton"'', St. Austell Star, 30 October 1891, p5. There had been a custom of "begging the ring" whereby old or injured wrestlers would walk around the ring begging for alms. This was replaced by a wrestlers' benevolent fund in 1926 and then by the
welfare state A welfare state is a form of government in which the state (or a well-established network of social institutions) protects and promotes the economic and social well-being of its citizens, based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equita ...
.''Benevolent fund for competitors who are injured'', Cornish Guardian, 16 April 1926, p. 14.''"Begging the ring" abolished'', Western Morning News, 15 April 1926, p. 12. Wrestling matches were once played in churchyards, but in 1297 the Bishop of Exeter banned it from such places in Devon and Cornwall. ''Down Your Way'', Cornish Guardian, 8 May 2013. In late Victorian times women were briefly banned from matches, as men often wrestled in their long johns, which was not considered respectable. Gold laced hats were often used as first place prizes for Cornish wrestling tournaments. It was said that wearers of such hats were immune from the attentions of the
press gang ''Press Gang'' is a British children's television comedy drama consisting of 43 episodes across five series that were broadcast from 1989 to 1993. It was produced by Richmond Film & Television for Central, and screened on the ITV network in i ...
. Wrestlers who were knocked senseless in bouts would often be treated by being "
bled Bled (; german: Veldes,''Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru,'' vol. 6: ''Kranjsko''. 1906. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna, p. 146. in older sources also ''Feldes'') is a town on Lake Bled in the Upper C ...
" on site if there was a doctor at hand.''"Great wrestling match for £20 between James Cann and Francis Oliver'', Western Times, 21 June 1828, p4. In the mid-1800s though to the early 1900s, extra trains were laid on going to and from towns where Cornish wrestling tournaments were being held.''Redruth grand wrestling'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 2 September 1853, p. 4.''Grand wrestling tournament'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 21 June 1906, p. 8. In the early 1900s this was extended to extra bus services.''Bodmin'', Cornish Guardian, 13 August 1926, p. 6. Until 1927 there was no time limit for Cornish wrestling matches and there are records of matches taking many hours and even having to be reconvened the next day. Note that in 1927 the rule became best 2 falls in 20 minutes, but there was much resistance to this change as it was perceived that often the worse player won these matches.''Wrestling record'', Cornish Guardian, 22 September 1927, p. 3. This was changed to the current rules of two, ten minute, rounds with points being used to determine the winner if no back is scored.''County wrestling, rule alteration'', Cornish Guardian, 23 February 1928, p. 14. However, his time limit lapsed in the 1940s, was proposed to be reinstated in 1956,''More wrestlers and more interest in the sport'', Cornish Guardian, 19 April 1956, p. 13. but was only reinstated in 1967.''Bodmin wrestler is new featherweight champion'', Cornish Guardian, 10 August 1967, p. 10. In the early 1800s there were two distinct styles of wrestling. Wrestlers who fought in the Western style included Parkyn and wrestlers who fought with the Eastern style included the Truscotts. This distinction had disappeared by the end of the 1800s.''The Wrestling Truscotts 1800-1814'', Old Cornwall, Summer 1949, p320-322.


The wrestler's motto

Gwari hweg yw gwari teg''Wrestling'', The Cornishman, 22 December 2011.''Wrestling'', The West Briton, 22 December 2011.''Expert help on offer to Cornish language film-maker'', The Western Morning News, 5 February 2008. English Translation: Fair play is sweet play.''Cornishmen at play'', Daily News (London), 6 December 1930, p. 4.''Sport in Cornwall'', The Cornish Telegraph, 28 July 1858, p. 4.


The wrestler's oath

War ow enor ha war enor ow bro, my a de omdewlel heb trayturi na garowder, hag avel oll ow lelder my a ystynn ow leuv dhe’m kontrari. Gans geryow ow hendasow: “gwari hweg yw gwari teg”. English Translation: On my honour and the honour of my country, I swear to wrestle without treachery or brutality and in token of my sincerity I offer my hand to my opponent. In the words of my forefathers: “gwari hweg yw gwari teg”.''Cornish wrestling, clean and vigorous'', The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), 9 February 1931, p3.''Bretons and Cornish "brothers" kiss and then wrestle with spirit'', Cornish Guardian, 31 August 1933, p10.


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.''Wrestling in Cornwall, regrettable lack of harmony'', Cornishman, 24 May 1934, p6.


Governing bodies outside Cornwall

The Devon and Cornish wrestling Society was formed in 1849.''Wrestling'', Sporting Life, 29 April 1887, p4. The Western Counties Wrestling Association was formed in 1877''Local and District News'', Launceston Weekly News, and Cornwall & Devon Advertiser, 3 February 1877, p4. Worldwide, various regional bodies have governed local Cornish wrestling tournaments or matches. Examples include: * The
Royal Marine Light Infantry The history of the Royal Marines began on 28 October 1664 with the formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot soon becoming known as the Admiral's Regiment. During the War of the Spanish Succession the most historic achi ...
for a tournament in Japan (1872);''Wrestling'', The Japan Weekly Mail, 30 March 1872, p162. * The Ivey Athletic Club for tournaments in Michigan, United States;''Great activity in wrestling, Cornish sport is growing in popularity in upper peninsula of Michigan'', The Minneapolis Journal, 19 July 1902, p9. * The Brotton wrestling committee for Cornish wrestling in Yorkshire;''Cornish prize wrestling in Yorkshire'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 1 August 1879, p4. * The Bendigo Amateur Wrestling Association in Bendigo, Australia;''Wrestling'', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic), 9 January 1906, p3. * The Cornish Association of South Africa;''Cornish Association of South Africa'' Cornish Guardian, 8 May 1914, p5. * Taunton Athletic club in Somerset;''Last Christmas Day wedding in Taunton'', Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 28 December 1963, p1. * St Budeaux and District Wrestling Committee for local tournaments in Devon;''Cornish wrestling in Devon'', Cornish Guardian, 25 June 1926, p6. * The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in India;''Wrestling'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 19 February 1927, p2. * The Cornish Porcupine wrestling club in Canada;''Cornish Wrestling to be introduced to Canada'', Cornish Guardian, 20 December 1928, p5. * Pachuca Athletic Club in Mexico.''Our Mexican letter'', Western Daily Mercury, 21 October 1895, p8. * Morro Velho mines in Brazil.''A miner's holiday in Brazil'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 5 October 1860, p6.


Cornwall and Devon wrestling Society

The Cornwall and Devon wrestling Society (also known as the Devon and Cornwall wrestling Society''Chalk Farm Tavern and Tea Gardens'', Morning Advertiser. 1 April 1844, p1.''Devon and Cornwall wrestling match'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 12 June 1868, p3.) was formed in 1752, running tournaments and matches in
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, often at
Hackney Wick Hackney Wick is a neighbourhood in east London, England. The area forms the south-eastern part of the district of Hackney, and also of the wider London Borough of Hackney. Adjacent areas of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets are sometimes a ...
. Open competitions were held, awarding significant belts and prizes funded by the patrons. However, only natives of Cornwall were permitted to compete for the Great Duke of Cornwall cup.''The Cornwall and Devon wrestling society's grand carnival'', Sporting Life, 1 April 1863, p3.


Patrons of the Cornwall and Devon wrestling Society

* The
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...
for many years.''The Cornwall and Devon wrestling society'', Morning Advertiser, 10 April 1868, p6.''Wrestling'', Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review, 13 April 1867, p2. * Sir Arthur William Buller from 1868.''Wrestling - the Cornwall and Devon Society'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 27 March 1868, p2.


Governing bodies inside Cornwall

The different regional associations within Cornwall merged into the Cornwall County Wrestling Association ("CCWA") in September 1923, under the presidency of Lord St Levan, 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. When the CCWA was formed there were only 9 affiliated local associations, but by 1925 there were over 50.''Annual dinner of the association'', Cornish Guardian, 11 December 1925, p12. Note that the Newquay and Port Isaac associations indicated that they wanted nothing to do with the CCWA.''Cornish Wrestling, County Association Formed'', Western Morning News, 13 September 1923. In 1928, William Tregonning Hooper initiated inter-Celtic tournaments between the CCWA and its counterpart in Brittany, as the similarities of Breton and Cornish wrestling are sufficient for successful competitions to be held between the two.''In My View'', Cornish Guardian, 19 October 2011. In 1930, the CCWA had financial difficulties resulting in suspension of activities and the belts and cups being seized by the bank. As a result, belts and cups were not awarded.''Breton-Cornish wrestling'', Cornish Guardian, 16 July 1931.''Cornish Wrestling - suspension of county association'', Cornishman, 3 July 1930, P10. In 1932, the CCWA was refinanced, with help from the London Cornish Association,''Promising outlook for Cornish wrestling'', Cornish Guardian, 13 April 1933, P4. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies,
Viscount Clifden Viscount Clifden, of Gowran in the County of Kilkenny, Ireland, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 12 January 1781 for James Agar, 1st Baron Clifden. He had already been created Baron Clifden, of Gowran in the County of ...
,''Cornish Wrestling'', Cornish Guardian, 15 September 1932, P2. the Western Morning News and the Duke of Cornwall,''Prince and Cornish Wrestling'', Western Morning News, 11 July 1932, P7. and the belts and cups were retrieved from the bank.''Cornish Wrestling Revival'', Cornish Guardian, 4 May 1933, p6. In 1933 the CCWA changed its name to th
Cornish Wrestling Association
("CWA") and adopted a rule to limit rounds to 15 minutes.''Cornish Wrestling conflict'', Cornish Guardian, 20 July 1933, P14.''New rule operates at Truro tournament'', Cornish Guardian, 15 June 1933, P6. In 1933 various local wrestling associations had competitions unaffiliated to the CWA, culminating with St Mawgan holding a championship of Cornwall, "under the old Cornish wrestling rules".''Wrestling in the Cornish style'', Cornish Guardian, 24 August 1933, p11. The East Cornwall Wrestling Federation ("ECWF") was formed in 1934, at least in part to hold competitions under more traditional rules (the time limit being a key issue).''Cornish Wrestling'', Cornishman, 26 July 1934, p10.''Cornish Wrestling Championship'', Cornish Guardian, 19 July 1934, p14.''Formation of East Cornwall Federation'', Cornish Guardian 14 June 1934, p14. 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.''Wrestling Breach not healed'', Western Morning News, 25 June 1935, p10. The ECWF held rival championship titles of heavyweight, middleweight and lightweight champion in the "Old Cornish Style". In 1934, the CWA initially suspended wrestlers involved with ECWF competitions. This rule was suspended in 1936, but re-instigated it in 1938.''The wrestling season'', Cornish Guardian, 5 May 1938, p8.''County wrestling association's finance'', Cornish Guardian, 26 May 1938, p14. In 1936 the CWA removed the time limit to matches.''Wrestling matches'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 14 May 1936, p12. In 1946, the ECWF was absorbed by the CWA, who have overseen almost all tournaments since.''Cornish Wrestling, Remarkable revival in the County'', Western Morning News, 30 August 1946, p4.''Wrestling in the Duchy'', Western Morning News, 08 May 1947, p5.''Unity achieved, "Red letter" day for Cornish wrestling'', Cornish Guardian, 9 May 1946, p5. A current example of an exception to this is the annual St Mawgan tournament. In 1994 the CWA opened competitions to women.''Now, wrestling for women'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 19 May 1994, p3. In 2004 the CWA became affiliated with the British Wrestling Association.


Patrons of the CCWA/CWA

* Lord St Levan between 1923 and 1934. * Commander Sir Edward Nicholl from 1923 for many years.''County'', Cornishman, 3 October 1923, p8. *
The Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers o ...
between 1932 and 1935.''Cornish Wrestling Authorities'', Western Morning News, 31 May 1935, p10. * Sir John Langdon Bonython between 1932 and 1935.''County Association to be Resuscitated'', Cornishman, 28 July 1932, p9. *
Viscount Clifden Viscount Clifden, of Gowran in the County of Kilkenny, Ireland, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 12 January 1781 for James Agar, 1st Baron Clifden. He had already been created Baron Clifden, of Gowran in the County of ...
between 1932 and 1934.''Mainly Personal'', Cornish Guardian, 18 August 1932, p7.''Cornish wrestling - county secretary outburst at committee meeting'', Cornish Guardian, 17 May 1934, p12.


Notable people who were also Cornish wrestlers

* King Henry VIII was a confident wrestler,Longhurst, Percy: ''Cornish Wrestling'', The Boy's Own Annual, Volume 52, 1930, p167-169. but he lost a hitch with King Francis I at the
Field of the Cloth of Gold The Field of the Cloth of Gold (french: Camp du Drap d'Or, ) was a summit meeting between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France from 7 to 24 June 1520. Held at Balinghem, between Ardres in France and Guînes in the English ...
(possibly with a Flying Mare), after his Cornish wrestlers had soundly defeated Francis' Breton wrestlers. Morris, Charles: ''Historical Tales, the Romance of Reality'', JB Lippincott Company (Philadelphia) 1895, p212. Sewell, Elizabeth Missing: ''Popular History of France'', Longmans Green and Co (London) 1876, p302.Jennings, LA: ''Mixed Martial Arts: A History from Ancient Fighting Sports'', Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group 2021, p52-53. * John Wesley had been a Cornish wrestler in his youth.''Wrestling advocated : Football condened'', Cornish Guardian, 23 September 1910, p2. * According to his brother,
Sir Humphry Davy Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet, (17 December 177829 May 1829) was a British chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and a very early form of arc lamp. He is also remembered for isolating, by using electricity, several elements for the ...
was a Cornish wrestler in his youth. Davy was a Cornish
chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe t ...
, inventor, David Knight (2004
"Davy, Sir Humphry, baronet (1778–1829)"
in ''
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
'',
Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
a
baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14t ...
, 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 The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...
(elected 1810). * Cornwall's favourite son, the inventor
Richard Trevithick Richard Trevithick (13 April 1771 – 22 April 1833) was a British inventor and mining engineer. The son of a mining captain, and born in the mining heartland of Cornwall, Trevithick was immersed in mining and engineering from an early age. He w ...
, was a champion Cornish Wrestler.''Trevithick, Ricard'', Encyclopedia Britannica Vol XXIII, Maxwell Sommerville (Philadelphia) 1891, p589.''Cornish wrestling champion of 150 years ago'', Cornish Guardian, 17 March 1966, p10. *
Billy Bray William Trewartha Bray (1 June 1794 – 25 May 1868), known as Billy Bray, was an unconventional Cornish preacher. Biography Billy Bray was born in 1794 in the village of Twelveheads, Cornwall, England, UK. He was the eldest of three chil ...
the famous unconventional Cornish preacher was a Cornish wrestler.''Fears for future of wrestling after event's small turnout'', Cornish Guardian, 22 September 2010. *
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
, the president of the United States, was a Cornish wrestler and would practice Cornish wrestling during his work outs in the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...
.''Playing the judo card cost Hague his job'', The Guardian (London), 12 June 2001. * The US president, statesman and soldier
Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
, started training in Cornish wrestling when he was New York governor, where he was taught three times a week by Professor Mike J Dwyer.''Gov. Roosevelt, a Wrestler'', New York Times, 1 December 1899, p1.''Wrestler has apparently defied all traditions of athletics and is throwing all comers'', The Minneapolis Journal, 21 January 1906 *
John Lillywhite John Lillywhite (born 10 November 1826 at Hove, Sussex; died 27 October 1874 at St Pancras, London) was an English cricketer and umpire during the game's roundarm era. John Lillywhite was part of a famous cricketing family, his father bein ...
, the famous cricketer who was in the first England team competed in Cornish wrestling tournaments in the mid-1800s.''Cornwall'', Cornishman, 29 December 1887, p6.''Wrestling'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 3 October 1856, p5. * US Senator, Thomas Kearns, when he moved from Kansas to Utah, went around Cornish mining camps wrestling challenging the strongest miners in Cornish wrestling matches for side bets.''Wit sharpened by fight for fortune'', The San Francisco call, 12 January 1909, p6. * Robert James Fitzsimmons, better known as
Bob Fitzsimmons Robert James Fitzsimmons (26 May 1863 – 22 October 1917) was a British professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett (the man who beat John L. Sullivan), ...
was a Cornish professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion between 1894 and 1903. He knew Cornish wrestling from when he was a boy and used Cornish wrestling tricks in his early finish fights. He usually had a wrestler in his camp while training for a fight.''Berlenbach shows wrestling training'', San Bernardino Sun, 6 April 1924, p4.''Robert Fitz-Simmons'', Cornishman, 25 March 1897, p7. * Roy Jennings was a rugby player that played for Redruth and the British Lions (touring Australia and New Zealand in 1930), that regularly competed in Cornish wrestling tournaments in the 1930s. He also represented Cornwall in the 1933 inter-Celtic wrestling tournament.''Breton wrestlers in Cornwall'', Cornishman, 31 August 1933, p6.''Iron Men'', Manawatu Times, 19 October 1935, p11. * The actors, Paul Dupuis and Ralph Michael, studied Cornish wrestling under middleweight champion Tom Cundry, for their roles in the film - Johnny Frenchman.''Cornish wrestling at stake'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 8 September 1944, p3. Later, Dupuis and Michael were invited to enter the Cornish wrestling festival at Helston.''For Realism'', Border Watch — (SA), 21 March 1946, p4.


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.


Algeria

* Mourzouk had a famous Cornish wrestling match with Jack Carkeek in Australia in 1904. He was a champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.


Australia

* Jesse Liddicoat was a very strong immigrant Cornish wrestler.''Cornish Reminiscences'', The Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA), 20 July 1927, p4. * Nicholas was Cornish wrestling champion of South Australia in 1842.''A wrestling match'', The Examiner (SA), 28 September 1842, p4. * James Chipman was Cornish wrestling champion of South Australia in 1851.''Cornish wrestling in South Australia'', Royal Cornwall Gazette 17 October 1851, p6. * William Hodge (1817-?), originally from
Sithney Sithney ( kw, Merthersydhni) is a village and civil parish in West Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Sithney is north of Porthleven. The population including Boscadjack and Crowntown at the 2011 census was 841. It is named after Saint Sithne ...
, was an Australian Cornish wrestling champion in the late 1840s and early 1850s, winning over 80 prizes. Payton, Philip: ''The Cornish Overseas: A History of Cornwall's Great Migration'', Ian Grant 2005, p21-218.''Wrestling'', Adelaide Times (SA), 29 July 1851, p3. He was 5 feet 10 inches high and weighed 174 lbs. He was champion of Australia in 1851, beating James Chipman for the title.''Wrestling match for the championship'', South Australian (Adelaide, SA), 29 July 1851, p3. * William Kneebone (1829-1906), was recognised Australian Cornish wrestling champion in the 1850s.''Death of an ex-champion wrestler'', The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA), 5 February 1906, p4.''Old wrestler dead'', The Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette (Cue, WA), 6 February 1906, p3. He once came home and caught a burglar. He explained the battered state of the burglar to the bench by saying he had given him a Flying Mare.''Death of a wrestler'', The Corowa Free Press (NSW), 9 February 1906, p6. * Charles Corse (1825-1872), originally from St Neot, Cornwall, was about 6 feet and 15 stone and was a champion Cornish wrestler. In newspaper articles his surname was also spelt 'Coss', 'Cause', 'Cawse', 'Cawrce' and 'Cawrse'. He was a blacksmith and claimed to have thrown Gundry before emigrating. He was champion of Victoria''THE BATHURST MURDER.'', The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.), 9 November 1872, p9. and was Cornish wrestling champion of Australia in 1857.''Wrestling at Redruth'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 27 August 1858, p5. In 1852 he was known as the "Sydney Champion"''The grand wrestling match'', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA), 23 August 1852, p3. and beat Hodge in a high-profile challenge match taking the Australian title.''WRESTLING. CHAMPION MATCH BETWEEN HODGE AND CAWRSE'', Adelaide Observer (SA), 4 September 1852, p8. He successfully defended the title in 1856 against Burns.''Grand wrestling match'', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic), 10 March 1856 , p5. He was murdered by being shot in the back of the head.''A formidable ruffian'', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic.), 11 November 1872, p2.''The Ophir murder - the character of Corse'', Empire (Sydney, NSW), 2 November 1872, p3. * Captain James Williams White (1826-1903), born on
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly St Mary's ( kw, Ennor, meaning ''The Mainland'') is the largest and most populous island of the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the southwest coast of Cornwall in England. Description St Mary's has an area of — 40 percent of the total la ...
and lived in
Burra, South Australia Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company ...
since 1856, was a champion wrestler in the Cornish style.''Personal'', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 2 January 1903, p4.''BRIGHTON REGATTA AND SPORTS'', The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA), 2 January 1903, p2. * Dick Bray, known as "Curley" and weighing about 11 stone, was a champion Australian Cornish wrestler of the 1860s.''Wrestling, match between Curley Bray and Curnick for one hundred pounds'', Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle (Melbourne, Vic.), 7 April 1860, p4. * John H Bray, known as Dancing Bray", was a champion wrestler, winning an important competition in 1868.Payton, Philip: ''Cornwall'', Alexander Associates (Fowey) 1996, p240. * Joe Williams, originally from
Crowan Crowan ( kw, Egloskrewen (village), Pluw Grewen (parish)) is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is about three-and-a-half miles (6 km) south of Camborne.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map she ...
emigrated to mine in Australia in the mid-1800s. He won the Cornish wrestling championship of Australia, gaining the championship belt and a large gold cup.''Helston retrospect'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 6 May 1954, p3. * G Philips (1846-1922), was a noted Cornish wrestler in his youth.''Death of Mr G Philips'', The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld.), 24 March 1922, p8. * John Thomas (1844-?),''ACCIDENT TO JACK THOMAS'', Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic), 15 May 1889, p5. known as "Jack" and from
Eaglehawk The wedge-tailed eagle (''Aquila audax'') is the largest bird of prey in the continent of Australia. It is also found in southern New Guinea to the north and is distributed as far south as the state of Tasmania. Adults of this species have lon ...
, was heavyweight champion of Australia for many years. His wrestling career spanned from 1871 to 1899.''CALEDONIAN GAMES. FIRST DAY.'', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.), 27 December 1879, p3. He won over 100 first prizes in England, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and New Zealand in many wrestling styles.''RETIREMENT OF A WRESTLER'', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic), 9 May 1889, p2.''Athletics'', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic), 10 May 1889, p4. * Stephens was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of Australia in 1879. * Jack Tamblyn (1849-?), was a champion Cornish wrestler.''Callow youths'', Smith's Weekly (Sydney, NSW), 6 July 1935, p13. * John Walker (1857-1913), known as " Wrastling Jack", was Cornish wrestling champion of the Barrier towards the end of the 1800s. In later life he suffered from lead poisoning.''Death of Champion Wrestler'', Daily Post (Hobart, Tas.), 28 March 1913, p6.''Former champion wrestler's death'', The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 28 March 1913, p7.''Death of Mr J Walker'', Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), 26 March 1913, p2. * Thomas was champion Cornish wrestler of Australia in 1884. He was previously Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling champion.''Great wrestling match'', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.), 4 March 1884, p1. * Connors claimed to be world Cornish wrestling champion in 1886.''A NIGHT AT FOLEY'S'', Globe (Sydney, NSW),25 January 1886 , p5. * Jacob Burrows was an Australian Cornish wrestling champion in 1887. * W Williams was Australian Cornish wrestling champion in 1889.''Wrestling'', Coolgardie Miner (WA), 20 December 1894, p3. * Charles Colwell was Australian Cornish wrestling champion in the late 1800s who was especially notable for having only one arm.''Notes and News'', Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld), 8 April 1890, p3. * Henry Randall Neilson (1867-1925),''Bendingo and district'', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic), 23 June 1925, p5. known as "Delhi Neilson" and the "Bendigo Boy", was Australian Cornish wrestling champion between 1889 and 1907,''Wrestling'', West Cumberland Times, 13 March 1907, p3.''Western Australia'', Cornishman, 3 November 1904, p3. weighing 10 st 7 lbs, who was said to have defeated over 400 opponents.''Cornish Wrestling. Dell Nellson v. Thomas. Neither Man Prevails.'', Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), 6 July 1891, p2. He was an Australian rules footballer. In 1908, 1909 and 1910 he was middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.'' Boxers and Their Doings and Their Doings'', Referee (Sydney, NSW), 23 November 1910, p7.''Wrestling, Delhi Neilson, Champion of South Africa'', Referee (Sydney, NSW), 24 February 1909, p7.''Wrestling'', The Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic. : Moama, NSW), 1 March 1909, p3. He was the Cornish wrestling champion of the Barrier in 1890''Cornish Wrestling'', Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), 22 December 1890, p2. and 1891. * Mons Victor was an Australian champion Cornish wrestler in 1898.''Cornish wrestling'', The Evening Star (Boulder, WA), 10 November 1898, p4.''Mons Victor'', The Evening Star (Boulder, WA), 17 December 1898, p3. * Harry Pearce, was Australian champion Cornish wrestler from 1897''Wrestling'', The Goldfields Morning Chronicle (Coolgardie, WA), 23 August 1897, p3. to 1904.''Harry Pearce the Australian champion'', Cornishman, 4 August 1904, p7. * Dick Porter became middleweight wrestling champion of Australia, beating Delhi Neilson in 1906.''Wrestling, A desperate struggle'', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic), 3 February 1906, p17. * Rundle was the 1907 champion of Australia, who also fought in South Africa.''Wrestling on the Rand, Cornish middleweight championship'', The Cornish Telegraph, 31 January 1907, p17. * George Dinnie was the 1907 Cornish wrestling champion of Western Australia.''Wrestling in Perth, Western Australia'', Cornishman, 22 August 1907, p6. * Gavin Dickson from Sydney won the Australian Cornish wrestling championship in 2001 in front of 30,000 people at the Cornish festival in Moonta.''Festival finale'', The Advertiser; Adelaide, 22 May 2001.


Austria

* Fred Oberlander (1911-1996), was born in
Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
and fought successfully in various wrestling styles in Austria, Britain and Canada. He fought in Cornish wrestling tournaments in the 1940s.''Cornish young wrestlers'', Cornish Guardian, 5 September 1946, p5.


Bolivia

* Roeder had a famous wrestling match with Schiller Williams in the 1890s, which he lost.


Brazil

* R Hodge was Morro Velho mines Cornish wrestling champion in 1860.


Canada

* Quinn was Cornish wrestling champion of the Pacific coast in 1892.''Notes and Comments'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 1 April 1892, p5. * Ole Marsh had a well known match in 1899 with John Sugget for a purse of $2k.''Dawson Canada'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 17 August 1899, p3.''Klondike'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 31 August 1899, p4. * John Sugget had a well known match in 1899 with Ole Marsh for a purse of $2k. * Joseph Martin, originally from Castle Gate, Cornwall, was Cornish wrestling champion of Toronto in 1906.''Wrestling in Americal - Gulval man wins silver cup'', Cornishman, 4 October 1906, p6. * W Sampson, originally from Penzance, was Cornish wrestling champion of Toronto in 1907.''Penzance Notes News'', Cornishman, 8 August 1907, p5.


Cornwall

* Stanton became the Cornish wrestling champion of Cornwall at tournament in Penzance in the fifteenth century.''Stanton'', Western Daily Press - Friday 19 February 1875, p1. * 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. Richard Carew (antiquary): ''The Survey of Cornwall'', 1602, p76. * The Vicar of
Lanteglos-by-Fowey Lanteglos (Old kw, Nant Eglos, meaning ''church valley'') is a coastal civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is on the east side of the tidal estuary of the River Fowey which separates it from the town and civil parish of ...
was described in 1586 as "the best wrastler in Cornwall."Coate, Mary: ''Puritan Survey of 160 parishes in Cornwall'', 1586''Cornish wrestling'', Cornish Guardian, 30 July 1936, p14. * Lyttelton Weynorth wrestled several times before Charles II, being introduced by the
Earl of Radnor Earl of Radnor, in the County of Wiltshire, is a title which has been created twice. It was first created in the Peerage of England in 1679 for John Robartes, 2nd Baron Robartes, a notable political figure of the reign of Charles II. The ea ...
.''CORNISH WRESTLING'', The Advertiser (Adelaide) 9 October 1928, p14.Rev Polwhele, R: ''History of Cornwall'', Michell & Co (Truro) 1816, p67-68. He was the champion wrestler of all England.Hamilton Jenkin, A K: ''The Story of Cornwall'', Thomas Nelsom and Sons Ltd 1934, p119-121.Dr Whetter, James: ''Cornish People in the 18th Century'', Lyfrow Trelyspen, The Roseland Institute, Gorran 2000, p50-56. * Thomas Hosken of defeated Lyttelton Weynorth and was described as "the strongest man in the county." * James Harris, of St Agnes, was commonly called "Skinner" and "beat all and sundry" and was the court wrestler of Charles II.''Cornish wrestling revival'', Western Morning News, 20 September 1923, p2. He "shortened his days by the sport". * William Nott from St Gorran was a farmer who had much competition success at the end of the 1600s and was known as the "philosopher". * Charles Dawe from St Gorran was referred to by Thomas Tonkin (1678–1742) as being without equal in the early 1700s.''Cornish folk in times past'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 12 January 1959, p2. * William Pascoe (1722-1808), the parish clark of
Sithney Sithney ( kw, Merthersydhni) is a village and civil parish in West Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Sithney is north of Porthleven. The population including Boscadjack and Crowntown at the 2011 census was 841. It is named after Saint Sithne ...
for 60 years, was the champion of Cornwall for many years.''Matthew's great day'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 25 August 1994, p77.''One hundred years ago'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 26 March 1908, p6. * Thomas Pearce, wrestled throughout Britain in the mid-1700s.''Wrestling match'', Derby Mercury, 14 October 1757, p4. * Abel Werry (?-1824), from
Liskeard Liskeard ( ; kw, Lyskerrys) is a small ancient stannary and market town in south-east Cornwall, South West England. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Plymouth, west of the Devon border, and 12 miles (20 km) eas ...
was for many years the champion wrestler of Cornwall.''Lamentable occurrence'', Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 30 June 1824, p5. * Absalom Bennetts from Probus is described as having won well over 42 gold laced hats during the 18th century. He won the Probus tournament seven years running.''Gymnastics'', Saint James's Chronicle, 16 June 1808, p1. * 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')''Wrestling'', Star (London), 5 August 1826, p4. and Diggory (known as 'Young Truscott'), were also well known wrestlers.''Cornish Wrestlers'', Western Morning News, 22 August 1944, p6. * Richard Jolly (1782-1848) from Penscawen,
St Enoder St Enoder ( kw, Eglosenoder) is a civil parish and hamlet in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hamlet is situated five miles (8 km) southeast of Newquay. There is an electoral ward bearing this name which includes St Columb Road. The populati ...
, was a successful wrestler between 1808 and 1816.''Lover of Cornish wrestling, Late Rev L V Jolly'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser , 30 May 1963, p6.Western Morning News,7 September 1944 * Richard Parkyn (1772-1855), weighing 16 and a half stone, was a champion wrestler from
St Columb Major St Columb Major is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Often referred to locally as ''St Columb'', it is approximately southwest of Wadebridge and east of Newquay Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 ''Newqua ...
and was known as The Great Parkyn. He was champion of Cornwall in 1806 and it was said that he was undefeated 20 years thereafter.''Mawgan wrestling - champions present and past'', Cornish Guardian, 28 July 1927, p13.''Fair play and gentlemanly conduct is key to ancient sport's enduring appeal'', The Western Morning News, 9 September 2014. He was dominant from 1795 through to 1811.''Cornish Wrestling'', Cornishman, 9 March 1927, p2. * Jacob Halls (1782-1876), born on the Biscovallick estate, St Austell was a very powerful farmer who won many gold laced hats in his youth.''Death of an old farmer'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 30 March 1876, p5. * John Collings (1783-1869) from
St Minver St Minver ( kw, Sen Menvra) is the name of an ecclesiastical parish, a civil parish and a village in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The civil parish of St Minver is in Bodmin Registration District and is nominally divided into St Minv ...
was a celebrated wrestler in his early life.''Death of a Cornish wrestler'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 17 December 1869, p4.''Death of a wrestler'', Western Times - Tuesday 21 December 1869, p6. He also had a famous wrestling brother called Thomas.''Death of a Cornish wrestler'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 18 December 1869, p5. * James Polkinghorne (1788–1851)''Deaths'', Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 19 September 1851, p5. born at
St Keverne St Keverne ( kw, Pluw Aghevran (parish), Lannaghevran (village)) is a civil parish and village on The Lizard in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. In addition to the parish, an electoral ward exists called ''St Keverne and Meneage''. This stre ...
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).''The great wrestling match'', Globe, 26 October 1826, p3. * Abraham Bastard (1789-1868), born in
St Teath St Teath (; kw, Eglostedha) is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. Geography The village is situated approximately three miles (5 km) southwest of Camelford and seven miles (11 km) northeast o ...
, beat Polkinghorne in a famous match at St Kew in the 1820s.''Historic venue for wrestling in St Kew'', Cornish Guardian, 16 August 1956, p9. He later became a preacher.Samuel Ley Thorne,''The Converted Wrestler; or the Life of Abraham Bastard'', 1877 * Francis Olver had much success in the early 1800s, including at least once beating Abraham Cann, James Cann and Finney.''Wrestling: James Cann and Olver'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 22 June 1828, p3. HIs brother also wrestled. * James Warren (1786''Warren a St Just Hero'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 28 October 1943, p4.-?) 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 or 'Great Jem'''James Warren'', Cornish Times - Saturday 16 May 1857, p1. from having prodigious strength.''Mining Intelligence'', Cornish Times, 16 May 1857, p1.'Howitt, William: ''Rural Life of England'', Longman (london), 1840, p536-538. He distinguished himself in the rescue of survivors when the East Indiaman ship, "Kent" caught fire.''Cornish Wrestling down the ages'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 4 January 1954, p1. * Thomas Nicholas (1816''Wrestling match'', Weekly Dispatch (London), 18 March 1838, p12.-?) was 3 feet eight inches high and weighed about fifteen stone and was considered champion of the West of Cornwall and perhaps of all of Cornwall between 1835 and 1838.''Cornish Wrestling Match'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 11 October 1835. He trained Gundry and was known as "Tom Pike". * Tom Magor from
Breage Breage or Breaca (with many variant spellings) is a saint venerated in Cornwall and South West England. According to her late hagiography, she was an Irish nun of the 5th or 6th century who founded a church in Cornwall. The village and civil pari ...
was for some time All England Champion in the early 1800s.''Tom Gundry'', Cornishman, 1 November 1888, p3. He trained Gundry and was a miner at Wheal Vor. * Captain Thomas Gundry (1816-1888''Gleanings'', Birmingham Daily Post, 25 October 1888, p7.), of Wendron, was 5 feet 9 inches high, weighed 178 lbs and was a very famous champion wrestler in the 1830s and 1840s. His father was "Boxer" Gundry and his mother was from the Giddles wrestling family. He was trained by Tom Magor and Tom Nicholas. His wrestling record comprised at least 25 tournament wins and 5 second placements from tournaments in Cornwall, Devon and London. He was 7 times Cornish champion.''Cornish Wrestling returns to Sithney'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 03 June 1982, p41. He was the champion wrestler of all England.''Wrestling Matches at Redruth'', Cornishman, 28 August 1884, p6. He was called champion wrestler of the world in 1847.''Cornwall and Devon Wrestling'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 6 June 1847, p3. He was married four times.''Fish, Tin and Copper'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 22 May 1880, p4.''West of England gleanings'', Weston Mercury, 27 October 1888, p2. In 1870, along with a wrestler called White, Tom rescued six or seven lives from a raging sea.''Wrestliana'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 12 February 1870, p4. * John Roberts (1820-1892)''Death of a Cornish wrestler'', Cornishman, 17 March 1892, p4. known as "Johnnah" or "John-a" and born at Newtown, Ludgvan, was as famous champion heavyweight wrestler in the 1840s and 1850s, that more than once beat Gundry.''A reminiscence of Johnna Roberts and Harry Williams'', Cornishman, 31 March 1892, p7.''Wrestlers of the past'', Cornishman - Thursday 28 January 1904, p5. After one such occasion, at the Penzance tournament, he was marched from one end of the town to the other accompanied by the mayor, several dignitaries and a band. He was subsequently the "quiet and unobtrusive" landlord of the "Old Inn" at Gulval for 30 years.''Death of a famous Cornish wrestler'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 19 March 1892, p6. * William Delbridge (1823-1886) was originally from St Agnes and was lightweight champion of Cornwall in 1857.Morning Advertiser, 6 June 1857. He then emigrated to Australia, where he was a respected stickler at many tournaments.''Death of Mr W Delbridge'', Cornishman, 4 March 1886, p7. He became the owner of a well known vineyard. * Captain Joseph Hodge (1824-1909) was champion of Cornwall in 1839Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 26 May 1839Morning Advertiser, 21 May 1839 and London champion in 1848.The Era, 25 June 1848''The late capt. Joseph Hodge, a striking career'', The Cornish Telegraph, 21 October 1909, p7. * William Couch Jeffery (1826-1899),''Death of a Cornish wrestler'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 3 November 1899, p5. from Long Rock was champion middleweight of Cornwall for a quarter of a century including the 1840s and 1850s.''Wrestling at Redruth'', The Cornish Telegraph, 15 May 1884, p8.''Wrestling at Redruth'', Cornishman - Thursday 15 May 1884, p5.''Death of a manly wrestler'', Cornishman, 9 November 1899, p2. He won many prizes in Cornwall as well as London. He was initially a miner and then a market gardener and fisherman. He spent some time in Australia and it was said that he had beaten the Australian champion wrestler, who was an Irishman after walking 160 miles to the match.''Death of a Cornish wrestler, and respected man'', Cornishman - Thursday 02 November 1899, p5. * James Bullocke, from St Austell, was champion wrestler who was champion of Cornwall in 1860 having defeated Treglown.The Cornish Telegraph, 31 October 1860 * William Treglown (1827-1864) from Ludgvan, weighed between 200 lbs and 220 lbs, was about 5 ft 6in high''Wrestling'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 2 November 1860, p4. and was the champion of Cornwall in 1853,The Cornish Telegraph, 28 September 1853 1854,The Cornish Telegraph, 12 April 1854 1856, 1858,Royal Cornwall Gazette, 11 June 1858Royal Cornwall Gazette, 17 September 1858 1861Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 1 June 1861 and 1862.Morning Advertiser, 10 June 1862 He won the London title in 1854Royal Cornwall Gazette, 23 June 1854 and 1859.Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 19 June 1859 He won the West of England title in 1853.Royal Cornwall Gazette, 14 April 1854 He was the American champion in 1856.''The Wrestling'', The Cornish Telegraph, 30 July 1856, p3. He died of consumption in St Mewan.''Treglown'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 25 March 1864, p8. He also wrestled in Europe.''Wrestling'', The Cornish Telegraph, 22 February 1854, p3.Barton RM, ''Life in Cornwall in the mid 19th Century'', D Bradford Barton Ltd (Truro) 1971, p233. * John Murton was lightweight champion in the mid-1800s.''The challenge wrestling match'', Western Morning News, 14 September 1860, p2. * Polmear was a champion Cornish wrestler in the 1860s.''Penzance'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 1 May 1868, p2. * Joseph Menear (1838-?) was born in St Austell''Joseph Menear'', Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review, 2 April 1864, p1. and won the London Cornish wrestling title for over 10 years in a row''Wrestling'', Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review, 12 June 1869, p3. and won over 100 prizes, cups, belts and medals.''Who is Joe Menear'', Cornishman, 25 October 1894, p3. He had a brother John who had some wrestling success.''Hackney Wick'', Sporting Life, 30 March 1864, p3. * William Pollard from
Linkinhorne Linkinhorne (in Cornish ''Lanngynhorn'') is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at and is approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Callington and seven miles (1 ...
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. He was champion of Cornwall for seven years to 1869.''Notes on the Exeter wrestling'', Western Morning News, 8 June 1869, p3. * Samuel Rundle (1847''Exciting wrestling match'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 12 December 1874, p5.-?), of St Austell,''A wrestling match'', Western Times, 25 September 1873, p1. weighing 7 st 10 lbs and known as "Sammy Short",''Cornish wrestling at St Blazey'', Cornish Guardian, 5 September 1902, p8. was all England Cornish wrestling champion in 1874, retaining the title for 20 years.''Wrestling'', The Australian Star (Sydney, NSW),20 June 1883, p2.''The Cornish Champion Vanquished'', Cornishman, 11 July 1895, p7. He was champion of England in 1876''Wrestling match at Plymouth'', The Cornish Telegraph, 4 April 1876, p7. and in 1883 and in 1898 had been champion of England for "many years".''Butte City Montana'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 24 March 1898, p6.''Scene at the Helton wrestling matches'', The Cornish Telegraph, 20 October 1883, p5. In 1884 he had been champion of Devon and Cornwall for 12 years.''Jack Wannop as boxer and wrestler'', Boxing World and Mirror of Life, 19 January 1907, p12. Sam also wrestled successfully in the United States.''Cornishmen abroad: Wrestling'', Cornishman, 7 June 1894, p2.''The canvas jacket'', The Anaconda standard, 15 June 1895, p4.''The wrestling tournament'', Cornishman, 5 July 1894, p4. * 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", "Phip" or the "fat'un".''Wrestling for £100'', East & South Devon Advertiser, 5 November 1887, p7.''Wrestling Champion - Death of Philip Hancock'', Western Morning News - Tuesday 26 April 1927, p12. He was 5 ft 9in and won the champion belt of Devon and Cornwall, wrestling in front of the
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...
. He claimed that he was never thrown or beaten in 28 years in competitions across the UK.''Phip Hancock's ring days'', Western Morning News, 29 September 1921, p2. He helped build the Eddystone Lighthouse and the
Wolf Rock Lighthouse Wolf Rock Lighthouse is on the Wolf Rock ( kw, An Welv, meaning ''the lip''), a single rock located east of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and southwest of Land's End, in Cornwall, England. The fissures in the rock are ...
.''Wrestling'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 21 August 1926, p3. * Captain Samuel Coombe (1849-?), from
Bugle The bugle is one of the simplest brass instruments, normally having no valves or other pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player's embouchure. History The bugle developed from early musical or communication ...
, 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.''Phil Hancock, Tom Gundry and Jack Pearce'', Cornishman, 5 October 1921, p3. He was heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of Cornwall.''Bugle Native's long service'', Cornish Guardian, 31 October 1929, p13.''Obituary'', Cornish Guardian, 6 March 1969, p16.''Converted wrestling champion'', Cornish Guardian, 14 January 1965, p9. When Sammy ceased wrestling he became a renowned Methodist preacher after teaching himself to read and write from reading the bible.''Cornish wrestler and local preacher'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 1 June 1922, p3.''Cornish wrestling'', Western Morning News, 12 July 1922, p2. * Richard Williams (1851-1892), born in Chacewater, 5 feet 6 inches high and weighing 144 lbs,''A Cornish wrestler in Mexico'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 16 July 1892, p4. 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 Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, Bolivia and Mexico.''Death of Schiller Williams'', Cornishman 25 August 1892, p6. He was Western states champion in the US and was lightweight champion of Cornwall.''Letter from the Transvaal'', Cornishman, 13 May 1948, p4. He died in Mexico. * Thomas Stone (1852-1937) of St Austell, was a well known wrestler, who won over 20 tournaments in the mid to late 1800s.''Lanivet: wrestling'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 10 May 1878, p5. He was wrestling champion of Cornwall in 1896''Truro Wrestling'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 11 September 1896, p5. and 1899.''Death of Mr Tom Stone'', Cornish Guardian, 18 March 1937, p10. He wrestled in front of King Edward VII, who gave him a sovereign that he kept as a keepsake. His brother Henry was also an accomplished wrestler and was champion of Cornwall in 1891 after Tom had been disqualified.''County wrestling at Truro '', Cornishman, 24 September 1891, p7.''The county wrestling matches '', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 19 September 1891, p4. He was a worker in the china clay industry.1891 UK Census, Transcript of Piece RG12/1822 (Part 1), Folio 7 Page 7. * Thomas Bragg (1852-1924)''Death of a famous Cornish wrestler'', Cornish Guardian, 4 April 1924, p7. was born in Foxhole''Thomas Bragg'', Western Times - Monday 24 November 1879, p3. and was champion of America in 1866,''Wrestling'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 22 July 1887, p7. 1876,''Wrestling in Devon'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 30 September 1876, p5. 1879,''Wrestling in Devonshire'', Sporting Life, 3 September 1879, p4.''A Wrestling Match'', Western Times, 2 September 1879, p2. 1880,''Wrestling at Dartmouth'', Western Times, 28 August 1880, p3. 1882,''Wrestling'', Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 1 September 1882, p7.''Grand Wrestling Tournament'', Bristol Mercury, 29 May 1882, p4. and 1883.''Wrestling match at Cardiff'', South Wales Daily News, 10 September 1883, p3. He was champion of Cornwall in 1882.''Wrestling'', Cornishman, 8 June 1882, p6. He was champion of England in 1887.''Carkeek vs Bragg'', Cornish & Devon Post, 27 August 1887, p2.''Wrestling'', Cornishman, 30 June 1904, p6. He also fought under the name, "Dan Lewis, the Strangler", in other wrestling styles, both in the UK and in Europe.''Wrestling, Tom Bragg and the "Terrible Turk"'', Cornishman, 11 February 1904, p7. * John Pearce (1859-1896), from Wendron and known as "Jack", 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.Corvion, Tom: ''Pioneers of Professional Wrestling: 1860–1899'', Archway Publishing (Bloomington) 2014, p37-38.''Wrestling for the championship'', Cornishman, 27 October 1892, p7. John also claimed to be world Cornish wrestling champion in 1884,''Grandson of wrestling champ met wife at Helston flora day'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 5 February 1998, p7. 1886,''The wrestling championship of Cornwall'', Cornish & Devon Post, 8 January 1887, p2. 1887,''County Wrestling matches at Truro'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 23 September 1887, p8. 1888,''Wrestling match for the championship of the world'', Western Morning News, 16 May 1888, p4.''Wrestling at Plymouth'', Cornishman, 24 May 1888, p5. 1889,''Prize wrestling'', Cornishman, 16 May 1889, p6. 1893''On Wednesday afternoon wrestling'', Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 19 August 1893, p5. and in 1894.''Yesterday's Cornwall'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 20 October 1994, p14.''The Cornish championship'', Sporting Life, 23 October 1894, p4. He had brothers Nicholas''Trewennack wrestling matches'', Cornishman, 1 November 1883, p5. and Walter''Helston Notes'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 14 August 1885, p5.''Wrestling at Porkellis'', Cornishman - Thursday 20 August 1885, p3. who had some wrestling success. * John Capell (1859-1932),''Passing of Mr J Capell, St Columb'', Cornish Guardian - Thursday 11 February 1932, p2. from Talskiddy, St Columb, was heavyweight champion of Cornwall in 1890''Wrestling at Redruth'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 26 September 1890, p8. and 1898Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 23 July 1898.Royal Cornwall Gazette, 21 July 1898. and Champion of the West of England in 1890.Cornubian and Redruth Times, 26 September 1890. * Alfred Ernest Trenoweth (1868-1942) from Falmouth was well known as light weight champion wrestler of Cornwall. He was a carpenter and joiner and was also lightweight boxing champion of Kent.''Former wrestling champion'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 26 October 1942, p2.''Former wrestling champion'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 26 October 1942, p2. * James Matthews, from Chapel Street,
St Day St Day ( kw, Sen Day) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated between the village of Chacewater and the town of Redruth. The electoral ward St Day and Lanner had a population at the 2011 census of 4,473 ...
,''Correspondence'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 10 January 1902, p5. was a champion wrestler, who is especially notable, since he only had one arm!''Redruth Wrestling matches'', Cornishman, 25 September 1890, p8.''Wrestling matches at Helston'', Cornishman, 10 July 1884, p5.''Redruth wrestling matches'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 21 September 1888, p2. * Jeffries from St Mewan was Cornish wrestling champion of America.''Fine exposition of Cornish wrestling'', Cornishman, 23 June 1904, p5. * Earnest Small, from Penzance, was West of England champion in 1906.''Cornish wrestling revived'', The Sportsman, 20 August 1906, p8. He was Cornish champion in 1906 defeating Sidney and Reuben Chapman.''Cornish wrestling revived'', Cornishman, 23 August 1906, p8.Royal Cornwall Gazette, 23 August 1906 He defeated Ahmed Madrali. * Reuben Chaman (18811891 Census, Enumeration District 10, Folio 154 Page 3.-1930), known as "Reub", from the famous Chapman family of
St Wenn St Wenn ( kw, Sen Gwenna) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated six miles (10 km) west of Bodmin and nine miles (14.5 km) east of Newquay. The parish population at the 2011 census ...
that has won many titles throughout the last century, was champion of Cornwall from 1903 to 1910''Cornish wrestling champion of yesteryear'', Cornish Guardian, 4 August 1966, p7. and in 1914.Boxing World and Mirror of Life, 1 August 1914''Passing of "Reub" Chapman: A former champion'', Cornish Guardian, 3 July 1930, p9. He was a rabbit trapper as a young man.''Charge against a wrestler'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 15 February 1901, p7.''Alleged arson in Cornwall'', The Cornish Telegraph, 13 February 1901, p2. He also fought and won matches in the US.''Michigan'', Cornishman, 18 July 1907, p3. * Sidney Chapman (1889-?), from the famous Chapman family of
St Wenn St Wenn ( kw, Sen Gwenna) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated six miles (10 km) west of Bodmin and nine miles (14.5 km) east of Newquay. The parish population at the 2011 census ...
that has won many titles throughout the last century, won the championship of Cornwall in 1903,Cornubian and Redruth Times, 23 July 1925 1907, 1912,West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 9 September 1912Boxing World and Mirror of Life ,16 August 1913 1913,Boxing World and Mirror of Life, 23 August 1913 1919Cornish Guardian, 20 June 1919West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 23 August 1920 and 1920.Western Morning News, 23 August 1921Cornishman, 25 August 1920 He beat Tim Harrington in 1909''Michigan'', The Cornish Telegraph, 16 December 1909, p6. and 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''Bodmin wrestler wins a second Cornish title'', Cornish Guardian, 18 July 1963, p14. and was the champion of South Africa in 1912.''Wrestling at St Columb'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 12 September 1912, p3.''Wrestling at St Columb'', Cornish Guardian, 13 September 1912, p6. * Francis Gregory (1904-?), from Roche, 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.''Cornish wrestling in Lady of Pendower'', Kinematograph Weekly, 28 June 1934, p37-38. He was a famous sportsman, being a professional wrestler and boxer, who played league and union rugby (including for England).Tripp, Michael: ''PERSISTENCE OF DIFFERENCE: A HISTORY OF CORNISH WRESTLING'', University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2009, p127-175. He participated in the first televised wrestling match and wrestled Billy Holland in a scene for the film "Lady of Pendower".


Devon

* John Ridd, from Devon, held the championship belt for Devon and Cornwall in about 1685.''Some old-time champions'', Cornish Guardian, 19 September 1919, p3. * John Coppe, known as "Little Cock", came from near
Great Torrington Great Torrington (often abbreviated to Torrington, though the villages of Little Torrington and Black Torrington are situated in the same region) is a market town in Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to ...
, was about 5 feet 5 inches high and bow-legged and in the middle of the 18th century was champion throughout Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, for about 20 years.''Wrestlers'', North Devon Journal, 26 January 1871, p5.''Whispers and echoes'', Cornish Guardian, 1 October 1926, p7.''Two celebrated wrestlers, Little Cock and Blind Bill '', Hereford Times, 21 November 1846, p9. * William Ford (1784-1874), from
Zeal Monachorum Zeal Monachorum (; Latin translation ''Cell of the Monks'') is a village and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England, about north-west of Exeter, situated on the River Yeo. According to the 2001 census it had a population of ...
, was a wrestler of great reputation in North Devon.''Death of a noted wrestler'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 16 May 1874, p37. * John Jordan (1787-?), from Grantham''Torpoint diversions'', Hampshire Chronicle, 29 July 1811, p72. near Hatherleigh and known as "Giant Jordan"''Tavistock Wrestling match'', North Devon Journal, 18 May 1827, p3. 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. He was champion of Devon in 1811Globe, 17 July 1811 and 1812.Saint James's Chronicle, 26 May 1812Star (London), 15 August 1812 He also had famous matches with the Great Parkyn (1811) and John Truscott (1813), both of which he lost.''Cornish wrestling at the Eagle tavern'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 14 August 1831, p3.''Wrestling at Saltash'', Pilot (London), 6 August 1811, p3. * William Wreford (1793''Wrestling Notes: Thomas Cooper'', Western Times, 3 February 1880, p7.-1835''Death of an old wrestler'', Express and Echo, 23 March 1875, p2.), who lived at Cheriton Cross between Okehampton and Exeter, was 5 feet 10 inches tall and was a sightless champion in the early 1800s. He was known as 'Blind Bill'. He was always allowed a grip on his opponent's collar at the start of a hitch. * John Bolt (1793-1875), from
Cheriton Bishop Cheriton Bishop is a village and civil parish situated on the northern borders of Dartmoor National park between Exeter and Okehampton, in Devon, England. The population at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 Census was 652. The history of the ...
, was a champion wrestler throughout Britain and was Cann's second in his fight with Polkinhorne.''Death of an old wrestler'', Royal Cornwall Gazette - Saturday 27 March 1875, p4. * Charles Cleeve of Kenton''Wrestling'', Weekly Dispatch (London), 22 July 1827, p5. was champion of England in 1827. * William Wreford (1793-1866) was born at Morchard Bishop''Death of a renowned Devonshire wrestler'', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA), 23 February 1867, p3. was a champion Devonian wrestler of whom Abraham Cann said he was the "best best man he ever took by the collar" .''An old wrestler'', Western Times, 4 December 1866, p3. * Abraham Cann (1794-1864) was born in Crediton''Wrestling Notes'', Western Times, 21 February 1880, p3. and was a famous wrestler who had an infamous wrestling match with James Polkinghorne. He was the champion wrestler of England.''A champion of other days'', Western Times, 12 May 1860, p6. It was claimed that he became champion of the world.''Old Abraham Cann, the Champion Wrestler'', The Cornish Telegraph - Wednesday 25 July 1860, p2. His father, Robert, and brothers James, Robert, George and William were also successful wrestlers.''Abe Cann's bout with the Cornish champion'', Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 14 December 1927, p3. * James Truscott (1804-1891),''Death of Jemmy Truscott'', Sporting Life, 15 January 1891, p4. born on West Street,
Tavistock Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town within West Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards (North, South and South West) had a population of 13 ...
''Funeral of Jemmy Truscott'', Sporting Life, 23 January 1891, p4. and often called 'Jemmy',''Wrestling: Benefit of Jemmy Truscott'', Sporting Life, 14 November 1883, p1. weighing 10st (63 kg), claimed to be the English lightweight champion in 1845.''Wrestling'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 1 June 1845, p4. He later managed many wrestling matches and tournaments in London and tended to open the events with a shout of "A hat! A hat!".''Cornwall and Devon wrestling society: the championship'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 16 April 1868, p4. He was also a boxer and was one of the founders of the Patriotic Club at
Clerkenwell Green Clerkenwell () is an area of central London, England. Clerkenwell was an ancient parish from the mediaeval period onwards, and now forms the south-western part of the London Borough of Islington. The well after which it was named was redisc ...
. * William Chapple from
Bishop's Nympton Bishop's Nympton is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England, about three miles east of South Molton. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 932. The electoral ward has the same name but covers the ...
,''Attempted murder in Devonshire'', Sun (London), 16 November 1841, p3. was champion of Devon in 1841,''Wrestling'',Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 18 September 1841, p3. 1844,The Era, 13 October 1844 1845''Grand Wrestling Match'',Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 16 August 1845, p3. and 1847.Morning Herald (London), 25 May 1847Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 23 May 1847 He was champion of England in 1842Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 10 April 1842Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 2 April 1842 and 1847. * William Davy May (1817-1842) was champion of England in 1841.''Death of May, the wrestler'', North Devon Journal, 25 June 1829, p3. During his career, he threw the best men of Devon and Cornwall, including the Gundrys, Ellicombe, Matthews, Chapple and Upton.''North Devon'', Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 19 February 1842, p3. * John Slade, known as 'Jack Slade', held the Devon title for many years in the mid 19th century. He won the Prince of Wales Cup and the Duke of Cornwall Cup and a large number of tournaments and matches.''Jack Slade's wrestling and boxing competitions'', Sporting Life, 7 February 1887, p3. He was all weights champion of England in 1860.''Wrestling'', The Sportsman, 17 February 1885, p4. * Thomas Cooper (1823-1875), born at Sampford Courtenay, won many tournaments and was the four Western counties champion in the 1860s through to 1870.''Champion Wrestler's Belt'', Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 12 August 1870, p6. He was champion of West of England in 1859,The Cornish Telegraph, 23 June 1858 1869''Wrestling at Exeter'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 13 August 1869, p4.Western Morning News, 11 August 1869 and 1870. and reported to be champion of England in 1869. He was champion of Devon in 1852,Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 8 August 1852 1858, 1870,Western Times, 9 May 1870 1873Western Times, 15 August 1873 and 1874.Western Times, 30 July 1874 He had a brother John, 3 years his senior, who had some tournament success and who lived on the farm where Abraham Cann was born. * Frank Hutchings from
Moreton Moreton may refer to: People Given name * Moreton John Wheatley (1837–1916), British Army officer and Bailiff of the Royal Parks Surname * Alice Bertha Moreton (1901–1977), English sculptor, draughtsman and artist * Andrew Moreton, a p ...
was Cornish wrestling champion of England in 1877, beating Phil Hancock.''Items of News'', The Cornish Telegraph, 12 June 1877, p4.Western Morning News, 5 June 1877 * Robert Baker (1847''The great Cornwall and Devon wrestling match between Baker and Pike for the championship'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 13 September 1879, p9.-?) of Bow''Devon wrestling'', Western Times, 7 February 1879, p3. was champion of England in 1879, throwing Pike in the 10th round of the second day.''Champion wrestling match'', Cornish & Devon Post, 13 September 1879, p2. He was also Devon champion in 1879. He had a brother Thomas who also had some success.''Wrestling notes: Thomas Baker'', Western Times, 13 January 1880, p2. * Richard Pike (1850-?) of Bow was a champion wrestler in the 1880s and 1890s and was referred to as the "great Pike". He was about 6 feet 2 inches high and weighed 244 lbs. He was champion of Devon in between 1878 and 1881.''Devon Wrestling'', Western Times, 6 February 1879, p6.The Sportsman, 22 July 1880Western Times, 1 November 1887 He was champion of England in 1882.''Grand wrestling tournament'', Western Daily Press, 29 May 1882, p8. He was world champion in 1894.''Wrestling'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 16 November 1894, p2.''Champion wrestling at Plymouth'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 15 November 1894, p4. He was West of England champion for 17 years.''Champion wrestler at Cardiff'', Star of Gwent, 20 September 1895, p9. * John Stentiford (1862-?) from
Drewsteignton Drewsteignton is a village, civil parish and former manor within the administrative area of West Devon, England, also lying within the Dartmoor National Park. It is located in the valley of the River Teign, west of Exeter and south east of ...
''Local News'', Western Times, 24 May 1888, p2. was in the
Royal Marine Light Infantry The history of the Royal Marines began on 28 October 1664 with the formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot soon becoming known as the Admiral's Regiment. During the War of the Spanish Succession the most historic achi ...
, weighed 14 stone 4 lbs and was 5 feet 9 inches high. He won many first prizes in tournaments towards the end of the 1800s in Devon and Cornwall, including beating John Capell. He lost a title match for the world championship in 1888 against Jack Pearce after wrestling over two days. * Samuel Battershill of Bow was champion of Devon from 1885 through to 1887.''Cornish wrestling'', Morning Post, 12 April 1887, p3.''Carkeek'', Cornishman, 31 March 1887, p4.


Egypt

* Mustapha Hambdi was an Egyptian wrestler who competed in Cornish wrestling competitions in Britain in the 1920s.''Cornish Wrestling'', Western Morning News, 11 August 1927, p3.''Wrestling at Camborne'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 20 August 1927, p2. He was middleweight champion of the world in catch as catch can wrestling.''Cornish wrestlers challenged'', Cornish Guardian, 18 August 1927, p4.


England (excluding Devon)

* Rev Richard Stevens (c1670-1727),
fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...
of
King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the cit ...
and proctor of the university (1691), was a well known Cornish wrestler in the 17th century. * Sir Thomas Parkyns (1664-1741) learnt his Cornish wrestling in
Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and W ...
in London before writing one of the first books giving detailed instructions on hand-to-hand combat using Cornish wrestling techniques. Sir Thomas Parkyns: ''The Inn-play or Cornish Hugg Wrestler'', J Bailey (London) 1713, p18-19. * Richard Rowe, originally from Cornwall, took up his residence at Cambridge University in 1740. Both he and his son were famous wrestlers and botanists.Tregoning Hooper, ''Cornish Wrestling'', Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol II, Part 2, 1954, p88-97. * Charles Layton was the Norfolk champion from 1817 to 1827.''Wrestling'', Morning Chronicle, 17 April 1827, p4.''Devonshire Wrestling'', Morning Advertiser, 17 April 1827, p3. * Clargo (also spelt Claggo in the newspapers)''Cornish Wrestling Match'', Globe, 7 June 1827, p3. claimed to be the Berkshire Cornish wrestling champion in 1828.''Cornish Wrestling'', Morning Advertiser, 2 July 1828, p2. * William Matthews was champion of Dorset in 1841 and in 1842.''Wrestling at Tiverton'',Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 10 April 1842, p4. * John Goodman of the Blues was the London champion in 1845.''Devon and Cornwall Wrestling Matches'', Sun (London), 16 May 1845, p2.''Devon and Cornwall Wrestling Matches'', Morning Advertiser, 15 May 18455, p3. * Tom Cannon was a world champion Greco-Roman wrestler, who wrestled in Cornish wrestling matches in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.''Wrestling at Cardiff: Cannon vs. Pike'', South Wales Daily News, 27 September 1895, p6. * Tom Waters claimed to be the Cornish wrestling champion of the North of England in 1884. * 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. * Joe Faulkner was 12
stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
champion of the world in 1895.''Wrestling'', South Wales Daily News, 15 October 1895, p6. * Charles Cawkell was a member of Britain's first international
judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...
team who, along with Tani, competed in Cornish wrestling tournaments in the late 1920s, but with limited success.''Ju Jitsu exponent beaten'', Cornish Guardian, 13 October 1927, p9.


Estonia

* Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (the "Russian lion" weighing over 25 st, or about 160 kg) defeated the Australian Cornish wrestling champion, Delhi Nelson (three times)''Cornish Wrestling'', The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 3 February 1905, p6. and the South African Cornish wrestling champion Grotz, in 1905. Hackenschmidt was a champion of many wrestling styles.''Cornish Wrestling'', The Bendigo Independent (Vic), 6 February 1905, p3.


Finland

* Karl Lehto, from Finland, competed in Cornish wrestling matches and tournaments in America in the early 1900s.''Finnish wrestlers expect to make good showing against Chris Person'', The Calumet news, 21 January 1910, p3.


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.''Wrestling'', The Era, 30 June 1844, p12. * Henri was a noted French wrestler in the mid-1800s.''Wrestling'', The Cornish Telegraph, 21 June 1854, p3. * Piere Maison fought in Cornish wrestling matches in London in the mid-1800s.''Wrestling'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 5 February 1854, p7.''Wrestling'', New York Clipper, 4 March 1854, p1. * M Bazar lost to Sam Rundle, in Paris, in a Cornish wrestling match in 1876. He was wrestling champion of France at the time and weighed 300 lbs.''England vs France'', New York Clipper, 13 May 1876, p53. * Dubois was a French wrestler who weighed nearly 22 stone, who was beaten by Sam Rundle.''Sam Rundle'', Boxing World and Mirror of Life, 6 July 1904, p6.


Germany

* Herman was a German who competed in Cornish wrestling matches in Australia in the 1870s with some success.''The wrestling match'', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic.), 28 December 1875, p2. * Fisher was a German who competed in challenge matches in America involving Cornish wrestling. For example, he beat M J Dwyer in 1898, but lost the return match in the same year.''Dwyer beats Fischer'', The Saint Paul globe, 9 April 1898, p5. * Hillebrand, the "German Samson", was a strongman who toured America at the start of the 1900s and participated in some high-profile Cornish wrestling matches with the likes of Sid Varney.''Challenge is accepted'', Bisbee daily review, 7 July 1904, p5. * Joe Ziehr, from Germany,''Michigan'', Cornishman, 3 September 1908, p3. fought mostly in the United States and held the world Cornish wrestling heavyweight title between 1906''Strong boys contesting in a series of bouts for the championship'', The Minneapolis journal, 22 July 1906, p3. and 1911.''Cornish wrestling in America'', The Cornish Telegraph, 14 October 1909, p7. In 1902 he was the heavyweight champion of the United States. Prior to this he had been a professional ice hockey player and played for the Calumet Miners.''Ziehr defeats Ed. Tremberth'', Camulet News, 03 January 1911, p7.''Wrestling in the limelight, just now'', The Minneapolis Journal, 19 August 1906, p28.


Greece

* Dr John Theodore Hatzopulos, known as "Greek George", was a champion wrestler of many styles including Cornish wrestling. He was 6 ft 2 inches high and weighed 188 lbs when in condition.''Athletics'', Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic), 17 November 1896, p2. He wrestled throughout the world.''Land and water'', Otago Witness, 6 July 1899, p36.''GREEK GEORGE" AGAIN'', Referee (Sydney, NSW), 25 April 1900, p7. * Bill Demetral was Greek, who fought in Cornish wrestling tournaments in Michigan in the early 1900s.''The wrestlers'', Cornishman, 28 October 1915, p3.


Holland

* Dutcher was a wrestler of "some importance" from
Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...
that wrestled in Cornwall in the 1890s.


Ireland

* Saffney was champion of Ireland in 1826 and fought with Cann in 1826.''Wrestling'', Trades' Free Press, 24 September 1826, p6.''Wrestling'', Globe, 25 September 1826, p3. * Philip Gaffney, the "Irish giant", was an Irish champion in the early 1800s.''Wrestling at Haigh Park'', Globe, 11 April 1828, p3. He was champion of Ireland in 1827.''Wrestling'', Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 29 September 1827, p3.''Wrestling'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 28 September 1827, p2. He was London champion in 1828.''Wrestling'', Weekly Dispatch (London), 23 November 1828, p5. * Finney was a tall Irish champion in the early 1800s who at least once defeated Abraham Cann. Egan, Pierce: ''Book of Sport, No XXI The Wrestlers'', T T & J Tegg, 1832, p321-336. * Larkins was the Irish champion in 1827.''Wrestling'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 1 April 1827, p3. * Moorish of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards was 5 ft 5in high and competed at the highest level in the early 1800s.''wrestling'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 12 July 1828, p4. * Simon Finn (1812 won the all-weights championship belt at the first annual meeting of the Devon and Cornish wrestling Society at Lambeth in 1849.''Wrestling'', Sporting Life, 29 April 1887, p3. He was the Irish champion in 1847''Wrestling near Bristol'', Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 1 August 1847, p3. and in 1849.''Wrestling'', Morning Advertiser, 30 May 1849, p3. * Flyn was a highly regarded Irishman that wrestled in Cornish wrestling tournaments in London in the mid-1800s.''Cornwall and Devonshire wrestling'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser - Friday 11 June 1847, p2. * McMahon was the Irish champion who fought in America in the 1870s. * Molly Russell, was Lady Cornish wrestling champion of the world in 1904.''Wrestling at the Winter gardens, Plymouth'', Cornishman, 12 May 1904, p7. She was a crack shot, fencer and fought in other wrestling styles.''Dublin born girl's versatility'', Dublin Daily Express, 21 July 1915, p5. * Pat Connolly was an Irish champion that fought successfully in Cornish wrestling tournaments in Michigan in the early 1900s.''Butte city, Montana'', Cornishman, 18 November 1915, p3.


Italy

* Charles Salotti was an Italian Cornish wrestler that fought in America in the early 1900s and won various tournaments.''Michigan - Cornish wrestling plans'', Cornishman, 12 August 1915, p3.''Ahmeek wrestling tournament big sucess'', Cornishman, 7 October 1915, p3.


Japan

*
Yukio Tani was a pioneering Japanese jujutsu and judo instructor and professional challenge wrestler, notable for being one of the first jujutsu stylists to teach and compete outside of Japan. Biography The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu trainin ...
(1881-1950) was a famous Japanese
ju-jitsu Jujutsu ( ; ja, link=no, 柔術 , ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu, is a family of Japanese martial arts and a system of close combat (unarmed or with a minor weapon) that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subd ...
and
judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...
wrestler who competed in Cornish wrestling competitions in Britain in the late 1920s.''Cornish Wrestling'', Western Morning News, 8 December 1926, p12."Cornish wrestling: Fred Richard's feat against Tani", Cornish Guardian, 26 November 1926, p4."Wrestling: Effect of feats by Cornishmen", Western Morning News, 23 December 1926, p10."Wrestling at Redruth", Cornish Guardian, 10 June 1927, p15.


Mexico

* Don Pardo, originally from France''A Cornish wrestler in Mexico'', The Cornish Telegraph, 14 July 1892, p5. and known as the "great Pardo", was a noted Mexican Cornish wrestler in the late 1800s. He was a world famed bicyclist''Death of Richard (Schiller) Williams'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 27 August 1892, p7.''Success of a Cornish wrestler in Mexico'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 28 May 1892, p8.''Schiller Williams'', Cornishman, 21 July 1892, p7. * Professor Willie, originally from San Francisco - 6 feet high and weighing 176 pounds, was a noted Mexican Cornish wrestler in the late 1800s.


New Caledonia

* Philip Trenberth was the Cornish wrestling champion of New Caledonia in 1878.The Wallaroo Times and Mining Journal (Port Wallaroo, SA), 2 March 1878 .


New Zealand

* Richard Cox was the Westland Cornish wrestling champion in 1868.''Wrestling for the championship of Westland'', WEST COAST TIMES, ISSUE 712, 4 JANUARY 1868, p2. * Francis Griffiths (1844-1910) was the Cornish wrestling champion of the West coast of New Zealand for several years.''Once a champion'', The Sun (Sydney, NSW), 22 October 1912, p10.''Death of Mr Frank Griffiths'', Western Champion (Parkes, NSW), 24 October 1912, p20. * Edward Blackburn (1844-?), born in Cumberland, 5 feet 7 inches high and weighing 182 lbs, had much success in New Zealand Cornish wrestling tournaments. He also competed successfully in Australia.''The Caledonian sports'', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic), 27 December 1881, p2. He was originally a catch as catch can wrestling champion in England before emigrating. He drew a Cornish wrestling match with Sam Rundle in 1874.''Wrestling'', Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic), 20 June 1883, p2. * Thornton was the Cornish wrestling champion of New Zealand in 1882.''More Wrestling'', WEST COAST TIMES, ISSUE 4120, 29 JUNE 1882, p2.''Wrestling'', GREY RIVER ARGUS, VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 4313, 29 JUNE 1882, p2. * Coghlan was champion wrestler of New Zealand in 1887.''Black Point sports'', NANGAHUA TIMES, 30 DECEMBER 1887, p2. * Duncan C Ross was the Cornish wrestling champion of New Zealand in 1891.''Wrestling Championship'', LYTTELTON TIMES, VOLUME LXXV, ISSUE 9310, 13 JANUARY 1891, p5. * Robert James Scott, Cornish wrestling champion of New Zealand defeated Australian champion Delhi Nelson in 1905 to become the Cornish wrestling champion of Australasia. Note that he was arrested after this match for deserting his wife.''Wrestling'', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic), 14 August 1905, p8. He was 6 ft 3 inches and weighed over 14 stone.''CORNISH WRESTLING. Melbourne, Sunday'', Zeehan and Dundas Herald (Tas) 14 August 1905, p3.''Wrestling'', Leader (Melbourne, Vic), 29 July 1905, p17. * Harry Pearce was Cornish wrestling champion of Australasia in 1908.''Wrestling'', NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 16 September 1908, p5.


Poland

* J Rogers of Polish extraction fought in Cornish wrestling competitions in Australia in the 1890s.''Mount Morgan'', The Daily Northern Argus (Rockhampton, Qld), 7 February 1890, p3.


South Africa

* Bill Irwin (1855-?)''Wrestling in South Africa'', Cornishman, 9 June 1904, p5. was heavyweight champion of South Africa from 1897''Cornish Wrestlers un Johannesburg'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 29 April 1897, p5. before losing the title to Phil Mitchell in 1905.''Cornish Wrestling in South Africa'', The Cornish Telegraph, 11 May 1905, p6. He also fought in Britain, for example losing a match to Jack Pearce.''Sharpshooting around Camborne'', Cornishman, 26 July 1894, p3.''Wrestling at Truro'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 20 July 1894, p5. * Phil Mitchell, born at East End, Redruth and weighing 197 lbs, was a famous heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.''Cornish Wrestling in South Africa'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 04 January 1906, p4.''Cornish Wrestling in South Africa'', Cornishman, 9 February 1905, p4. He was the heavyweight Cornish Wrestling champion of South Africa in 1904 and 1905.''Wrestling in South Africa'', The Cornish Telegraph, 2 February 1905, p8.''Wrestling tournament in Fordsburg S.A.'', Cornubian and Redruth Times - Saturday 11 February 1905, p10. * William Prynne (?-1931), Originally from
St Stephen-in-Brannel St Stephen-in-Brannel (known locally as ''St Stephen's'' or ''St Stephen'') ( kw, Eglosstefan yn Branel) is a civil parish and village in mid Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. St Stephen village is four miles (6.5 km) west of St Austell ...
and known as "Bill", was the Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.''Some Old Time Champions'', Cornish Guardian, 19 September 1919, p3. He won 4 silver cups, a silver rose bowl and 2 cases of cutlery amongst other smaller prizes in South African tournaments.''Mr W Prynne St Stephen-in-Brannel'', Cornish Guardian, 29 October 1931, p10. * "Nick" Hocking, weighing 147 lbs, was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905.''Lightweight champion of South Africa'', The Cornish Telegraph, 12 January 1905, p8. * Grotz was Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905.''Wrestling'', Sporting Life, 17 June 1905, p1. * Tit Wills, originally from Lanner and weighing 140 lbs, was the middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1906.''Lanner'', Royal Cornwall Gazette - Thursday 18 October 1906, p4.''Lanner wrestler in South Africa'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 12 October 1906, p8. * James Henry Triggs (1873-1949), weighing 220 lbs, born at Four Lanes and known as "Jim",''Cornish Wrestling'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 15 June 1935, p8. was the heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905''Famous Cornish wrestler'', Western Morning News, 10 April 1919, p7. and 1906.''Cornishmen in the Transvaal'', Cornishman, 1 February 1906, p7.''The Cornish Sport'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 31 July 1924, p2. He was champion of Australia in 1905 and won many matches in the US. He held the heavyweight title for Cornwall in 1904 and was instrumental in setting up the CWA. He was also a regular manager and stickler for the Cornish contingent in Brittany.''Well known Cornish wrestler'', Cornishman, 17 March 1949, p2. He also wrestled in Norway. * Almond Giles (1872-?), weighing 125 lbs, was trained by Jack King''A noted Cornish wrestler home from South Africa: The career of Almond Giles'', Cornish Guardian, 12 July 1907, p3. and was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa, England and America in 1907.''How Rand Cornishmen spent Christmas'', Cornishman, 24 January 1907, p4. He was 1905 lightweight champion of South Africa.''St Dennis wrestlers in South Africa'', Cornish Guardian 10 November 1905, p2. He was born in St Dennis, Cornwall.''Wrestling'', Coolgardie Miner (WA), 12 March 1907, p4. He won many tournaments in England and America.''Wrestling tournament in South Africa'', Cornishman, 11 October 1906, p4. He was champion lightweight wrestler of Montana. * Jack Rudd, weighing 152 lbs, was the middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa in 1905 and 1907. He was one of the best Cumberland wrestlers.''A St Dennis wrestler in South Africa'', Cornish Guardian, 14 April 1905, p5. * Sam Ham (1880-1946), weighing 165 lbs, who was born in Condurrow near Camborne, was the 1910 middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.''Our South African Letter'', Cornishman, 13 October 1910, p8.''Mr S Ham'', Cornishman, 31 October 1946, p2. * W Littlejohn, originally from
Gunnislake Gunnislake ( kw, Dowrgonna) is a large village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth Gunnislake is in the civil parish of Calstock and is close to C ...
and weighing 220 lbs,''Wrestling on the Rand'', The Cornish Telegraph - Thursday 15 March 1906, p6. known as 'tiny', was heavyweight champion of the Transvaal in 1910. * Prynne Stevens, was the 1916 Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.''In South Africa, Amateur tournament in Johannesburg'', Sporting Chronicle, 2 October 1916, p3. * B Gregor was the heavyweight champion of South Africa in 1926.''South Africa's new champion'', Cornish Guardian, 14 January 1927, p3.''Cornwall on the Reef a day with the wrestlers'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 8 January 1927, p8. * Cecil Coombes, originally from Redruth and weighing 197 lbs, regained the heavyweight title of South Africa in 1927, winning it for the fourth time.''Redruth mans success in South Africa'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 6 January 1927, p7. * J Ocliffe was the lightweight champion of South Africa in 1927. * T H Gregor (1894-1964)''Wrestling champion of the Rand'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser,5 November 1964, p16. originally from Highway, Redruth arrived in South Africa in 1913 and won many Cornish wrestling trophies in South Africa. In 1953 he was still the undefeated heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of South Africa.''Home from South Africa, where her husband is wrestling champion'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 1 October 1953, p12.


Sri Lanka

* The Imajah was middleweight champion of Ceylon in 1894 and also competed in Cornwall.''Wrestling at Callington'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 26 July 1894, p7.


Sweden

* Emil Anderson, known as the "terrible Swede", fought in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. He had a famous match, for the world title, with Rowett in 1899.''Rowett still champion'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 30 March 1899, p5. * Ole Olson from Sweden, wrestled in the United States and beat John Tippett in a well known match in 1904.''St Austell'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 28 January 1904, p5.''Other Upper Peninsular sports'', The Minneapolis journal, 4 February 1906, p5. * Charles Dufstrom, also known as the "terrible Swede", fought in the United States and claimed the world Cornish wrestling title in 1912.''Cornish wrestling will be feature'', The Tacoma Times, 25 April 1912, p2.


Turkey

* Hali Adali, the great Turkish wrestler weighing 263 lbs, had some success in Cornish wrestling at the turn of the 20th century including defeating Tom Harrington, Joe Ziehr and Jack O 'Neill in 1899.''Threw four men'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 8 June 1899, p7. However, he was defeated in a Cornish wrestling match by Jack O'Neill during a visit to the United States in 1903.''Wrestling'', The Minneapolis journal, 11 June 1903, p8. * Ahmed Madrali, the famous Greco-Roman wrestler known as the "Terrible Turk", tried his hand at Cornish wrestling and was defeated by Earnest Small.''Links with sport'', Cornishman, 4 October 1922, p4.


United States

* Joseph Taylor Williams (1830-?) was born in
St Erth St Erth ( kw, Lannudhno) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England. St Erth takes its name from Saint Erc, one of the many Irish saints who brought Christianity to Cornwall during the Dark Ages, and is at the old crossing point of t ...
and fought in tournaments in Cornwall, Devon and California during the 1850s and 1860s.''Grass Valley'', Cornishman, 25 July 1907, p3.Daily Transcript, 3 July 1861. "He had not an equal in his day at anywhere near his weight." He was champion of the Pacific coast. He was known as "little" Joe Williams or "Shiers" Williams. He was also lightweight champion of Cornwall in 1873.''Letters from the Transvaal'', Cornishman, 13 May 1948, p4.''The annual wrestling'', The Cornish Telegraph, 13 August 1873, p3.Royal Cornwall Gazette, 9 August 1873. He repeatedly beat Sam Rundle in the 1870s.''Wrestling'', The Cornish Telegraph, 14 July 1875, p4. * Thomas Eudy (born in St Austell) was the California State Cornish wrestling champion in 1861.''Wrestling in America'', Western Morning News, 13 November 1861, p2.''Cornish Wrestlers in America'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 15 November 1861, p8. * Joseph Lawrence came second in the Grass valley tournament in 1866.Sacramento Daily Union, 14 June 1866. He was convicted of second degree murder in 1868.''Cornish Wrestlers in America'', Sacramento Daily Union, 11 January 1868, p3. * 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.''Bill Pellew's Death'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 28 May 1908, p3. * George Harvey (1843-?) was the Michigan Cornish wrestling champion in the 1870s. He was 5 feet 11 inches high and weighed 195 lbs.Delbridge, James: ''Delbridge's guide on grab hold, or Cornish style of wrestling'', (Michigan), 1879, p1-28. * James H Williams (1845-1906) from Walkerville, Michigan and better known as "Belmont", was famous as a Cornish wrestler.''Walkerville, James Williams dead'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 25 August 1906, p3. * William Alfred Williams (1850-1903) from Centreville, Michigan held the middleweight Cornish wrestling champion of the Pacific coast for years.''Grass Valley'', Marysville Daily Appeal, 19 March 1903, p3. * James Delbridge (1851-?) was the Michigan lightweight Cornish wrestling champion in the 1870s. He was 5 feet 7 inches high and weighed 145 lbs. * Tom Carkeek, born in Plain-an-Gwarry, Redruth''Cornish wrestlers in America'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 1 September 1898, p8. was said to weigh 17 stone,''Wrestling in California'', Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, 8 December 1866, p8. was a champion of Cornish wrestling in the 1860s''Jack Carkeek the Cornish wrestling wonder'' Cornubian and Redruth Times, 05 August 1905, p3. and was the world Cornish wrestling champion in 1875.''Evening Star'' (Washington DC), 7 May 1926, p41. It was said that he won 528 consecutive wrestling matches without defeat and won 88 prizes. He was champion of the Lakes in 1878.''Cornish wrestling in the United States'' Cornish & Devon Post, 5 October 1878, p8.''Wrestling in California'' The Cornish Telegraph, 12 December 1866, p3. * John Blydh (1854-?) born in
Linkinhorne Linkinhorne (in Cornish ''Lanngynhorn'') is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at and is approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Callington and seven miles (1 ...
and weighing 186 lbs, beat Tom Carkeek in a celebrated match in 1878.''Wrestling in the United States, A Cornish champion'', Cornishman, 3 October 1878, p6. * James Gerry (1858-?) born in
Linkinhorne Linkinhorne (in Cornish ''Lanngynhorn'') is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at and is approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Callington and seven miles (1 ...
, weighing 180 lbs and being 5 feet 11 inches high, beat the best men of America including Tom Carkeek. He also had some success in Cornwall, drawing a match with Sam Rundle.''The wrestling championship of Cornwall'', Cornishman, 21 June 1883, p6. * Johnny Smith, from Virginia City, claimed to be the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1884.''Boxing and wrestling'', Daily Alta California, 9 August 1884, p1. * James Pascoe claimed to be the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1884''Wrestling'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 1 July 1888, p41.''Championship of the world wrestling match'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 24 June 1887, p6. and 1890.''Gilbert won the match'', The Anaconda standard, 25 May 1890, p5. In 1990 he claimed the title of champion of America in the Cornish style.''The field of sport'', The Anaconda standard, 2 November 1890, p7. He was 5 styles wrestling champion of the world. *Peter Carlyon (?-1926), from
Breage Breage or Breaca (with many variant spellings) is a saint venerated in Cornwall and South West England. According to her late hagiography, she was an Irish nun of the 5th or 6th century who founded a church in Cornwall. The village and civil pari ...
,''Wrestling at Penzance'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 27 August 1886, p7. was the world lightweight Cornish wrestling champion in 1876, having defeated Tom Carkeek. In 1886''Wrestling'', Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 18 December 1886, p5. and 1887''Cornish wrestling matches'', The Cornish Telegraph, 5 May 1887, p1.''Political matters'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 6 May 1887, p7.''Cornish wrestling matches'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 7 May 1887, p7. he was the lightweight champion of America. He also came to compete in the UK. * Durham Ivey (1854-1894) was the Colorado Cornish wrestling champion in 1886.''Carkeek wins a match'', Daily Alta California, 19 April 1886, p5.''Singular death of Durham Ivey, A Cornish wrestler'', Cornishman, 20 December 1894, p6. He died in a mine accident and was also a catch-as-catch-can wrestler. * Richard Varcoe (1855-1910) was a Cornish wrestler with some success, that wat was murdered by James Scopacesa in
Ishpeming, Michigan Ishpeming ( ) is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,470 at the 2010 census, less than it was in the 1950s and 1960s when the iron ore mines employed more workers. A statue of a ...
. His son John was also a "clever wrestler".''Cornish wrestler murdered'', Cornishman, 17 February 1910, p8.''Richard Varcoe murdered'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 17 February 1910, p10. * Andrew Bearle was the Cornish wrestling champion of America in 1887.''Chasewater wrestling'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 2 September 1887, p5. * Frank Joslin was the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1894.''Wrestling in Michigan'', Cornishman, 27 September 1894, p3. * J W Jefford of Sonoma was the Pacific coast Cornish Wrestling champion in 1898.''Mining Fair'', The record-union (California US), 25 February 1898, p41. * Louis Morgan was the champion Cornish wrestler of the North West in 1898.''Tallywarren Notes'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 22 September 1898, p7. In 1899 he was champion lightweight Cornish wrestler of the world.''Wrestling match'', The Aspen Tribune, 18 April 1899, p4. * "Jim" Jeffords of Grass valley was the Cornish wrestling champion of America in 1899.''Wants to fight Sharkey'', The San Francisco call, 30 May 1899, p5. * John Carkeek (1861-1924), known as "Jack", 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,''The Wrestling Championship of the world'', Cornish & Devon Post, 09 July 1887, p3. Bragg''Wrestling match at Plymouth Carkeek vs Bragg'', Cornishman, 25 August 1887, p5. but drew with Hancock in a title match)''The Wrestling Championship'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 6 August 1887, p5. and again in 1889 (beating Hancock and Pearce)''The championship of the world'', The Cornish Telegraph, 4 July 1889, p5.''Wrestling'', The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW), 20 August 1887, p411.''The wrestling championship contests at Redruth'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 4 July 1889, p7. through to 1901,''Wrestling that disables'', Boxing World and Mirror of Life, 5 June 1901, p14. 1904 (beating Tom Bragg) and 1905.''Great Wrestling match at Ishpenning Michigan'', Cornishman, 2 October 1890, p3.''News from foreign mining camps'', Cornishman, 16 November 1905, p3. He regularly wrestled in Britain and the USA. He also wrestled in Australia. He was born in Rockland, Michigan, died in Havana and was buried in New York. He also won the Pacific coast championship.''Wrestling Challenge - A wrestling challenge to whom it may concern'', West Briton, 30 November 1886.''Wrestler Jack Carkeek'', The Sunday Leader, Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, 21 December 1890, p7. He officially retired from wrestling in 1891,''Sports of all sorts'', The Anaconda Standard 29 March 1891, p9. however was involved in competitions after this date.''Jack Brady won'', The Wheeling Register 22 December 1893, p1. He was the son of Tom Carkeek and his mother was first cousin to the actor
Sir Henry Irving Sir Henry Irving (6 February 1838 – 13 October 1905), christened John Henry Brodribb, sometimes known as J. H. Irving, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility ( ...
.''Jack Carkeek, the Cornish wrestling wonder'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 5 August 1905, p3. He was the champion of America in 1887,''Carkeek'', Cornishman, 21 July 1887, p4.''Cornish wrestling'', Cornishman, 21 April 1887, p4.''Cornwall'', Royal Cornwall Gazette, 17 June 1887, p5. 1888 and 1900.''Wrestling match at Southport, Apollo v Carkeek'', Boxing World and Mirror of Life, 5 December 1900, p6. In the US, he was originally trained by Thomas White from St Just. In 1888 he was arrested in Chicago for swindling a man out of several hundred dollars by means of a fake contest.''Wrestler Carkeek in trouble'', Daily Alta California, 5 November 1888, p8. In 1910, while using the name of Jack Fletcher, he was arrested in
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
as part of the Maybray gang involved with match fixing.''Jack Carkeet arrested'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 23 September 1910, p8.''Serious charge against famous Cornish wrestler'', Cornishman, 22 September 1910, p8. In 1913 he pleaded guilty to attempted swindling.''Wrestler Carkeek in trouble'', The Sun (Sydney, NSW), 11 March 1913, p9. * Robert Gilbert, from Anaconda, Montana was a heavyweight champion Cornish wrestler. In 1891 he was heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of both Colorado and Montana.''The Montana man is Cornish champion of Colorado'', The Anaconda Standard, 8 November 1891, p1. * Captain Jack King, from Houghton County,''Michigan: Jack King to wrestle'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 21 April 1906, p3. held the world championship from 1895 to 1898 and was known as the Iron Mountain Butcher.''Jack Rowett is still champion'', Camulet News, 10 January 1911, p7.''Over the Northwest'', Camulet News, 30 July 1898, p8. He was arrested for robbing a train in 1893.''The robbery of 70,000 dollars from a train'', Cornishman, 19 October 1893, p7. He was champion of America before going to jail.''Peninsula News'', The L'Anse sentinel, 29 January 1898, p1.''The Michigan train robbery cleared of all mystery'', The Iola register (Iola, Kan.), 29 September 1893, p6. * John H Rowett, born in St Austell, was known as Jack and the " Bessemer Giant" and 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.''Rowett still champion'', Diamond Drill, 25 December 1909, p4.''Michigan'', Cornishman, 14 April 1910, p6.''Michigan'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 23 June 1899, p8. Rowett regained his title in 1914''Can He Come Back'', Iron Country news, 02 May 1914, p1. and 1915. He was champion of America in 1897,''Cornishmen will wrestle'', The Madison daily leader, 20 July 1897, p1. 1898,''Champion Cornish wrestler of America: Jack Rowett won the title in Michigan'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 17 February 1898, p5. 1899''Big wrestling match Friday eve'', Bisbee daily review, 29 June 1904, p8. and 1909.''Butte city, Montanna'', The Cornish Telegraph, 9 December 1909, p6. He was a game warden.''Cornish wrestlers in America'', The Cornish Telegraph, 25 November 1909, p3. * William Jones beat Jack Rowett twice in large stand alone matches in 1899,''Jones was declared the victor over Rowett'', The Anaconda standard, 10 December 1899, p8.''Cornish Wrestling'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 12 October 1899, p6. thereby claiming the championship of the world.''New World's Champion'', The Anaconda standard, 21 September 1899, p10. Note that he had lost to Rowett in 1897.''On Cornish Wrestling'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 12 October 1899, p3. * James Rodda was that champion of California in the Cornish style from 1889 through to 1902.''Cornish wrestling notes'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 20 July 1929, p7.''Celebrities I have seen'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 17 August 1935, p7.''Cornish folk abroad'', Cornishman, 10 July 1902, p3. He was arrested on a charge of attempted murder after a gunfight with Robert Chase in 1902. * Tony Harris was an USA Cornish wrestling Champion in the 1900s (coming from Butte, Montana), of which it was claimed that he was "the best man to ever wear a restlingjacket". He was champion of the North West in 1896''Cornish wrestling in Michigan'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 30 July 1896, p6. and 1903.''Cornishmen Abroad'', Cornishman, 2 July 1903, p3. * Prof Mike J Dwyer, from
Hancock, Michigan Hancock is a city in Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is across the Keweenaw Waterway from the city of Houghton on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The population was 4,634 at the 2010 census. The Weather Channel has consistently rank ...
''News from foreign mining camps'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 11 August 1898, p6. and known as "Sonny" Dwyer,''With the wrestlers'', Waterbury Democrat, 16 August 1902, p7. claimed the world Cornish wrestling title in 1902.''With the wrestlers, the Cornish style will attract much attention'', Waterbury Democrat, 14 February 1902, p7. He had the distinction of teaching Cornish wrestling to the US president,
Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
. *
Frank Gotch Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1877 – December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler. Gotch was the first American professional wrestler to win the world heavyweight free-style championship, and he is credited for popularizing professi ...
(1877 - 1917) beat Jack Carkeek in a Cornish wrestling match, while Jack claimed to have the world Cornish wrestling title.''News from foreign mining camps'', Cornishman, 5 October 1905, p2. Gotch was a champion of many wrestling styles. * Jack O'Neill, beat Jack Carkeek and Hali Adali in the very early 1900s. * Husson, was the Cornish wrestling champion of Arizona in 1904.''Arizona Weekly News'', Arizona silver belt, 29 December 1904, p2. * Coon, was the Cornish wrestling champion of Arizona in 1904, after beating Husson in their return match. *
Martin Burns Martin Burns (February 15, 1861 – January 8, 1937), nicknamed Farmer Burns, was an American catch wrestler, wrestling coach, and teacher. Born in Cedar County, Iowa, he started wrestling as a teenager and made money traveling around the Midw ...
(1861-1937), born in Cedar County and known as "Farmer" Burns, beat Rowett in 1899 and lost to M J Dwyer in a Cornish wrestling match in 1905.''Boxing'', Bryan morning eagle, 26 November 1905, Image 6, p6. He was a famous catch wrestler.''Old "Farmer" Burns comes back and shows splendid condition'', The Minneapolis journal, 21 January 1906, p3. * Fred Roeber was champion of America in 1907. * John Tippett (1876-1910),''St Austell man's shocking death'', Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 28 January 1910, p6. known as Jack, lived in Butte, Montana, but was originally from St Austell and weighed 186 lbs. He was champion of Canada and Michigan.''St Austell man's success in America'', St. Austell Star, 13 April 1905, p4. He claimed to be Cornish wrestling champion of America in 1908.''Cornish Wrestling in America'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 12 March 1908, p10.''Grass Valley California'', Cornishman, 19 March 1908, p3. He also had some wrestling success in Cornwall.''Burnt to a cinder'', Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 28 January 1910, p2. He died in a cabin fire in
Park City Park City may refer to: a city in Utah. Places * National Park City, London, England, UK; see parks and open spaces in London in the United States * Park City, Illinois * Park City, Kansas * Park City, Kentucky * Park City, Montana * Park City, ...
.''Cornishman burnt to death'', Cornishman, 3 February 1910, p3. * Tim Harrington (1873-?)''Cornish wrestling champ is dying in Montana'', Daily Kennebec journal, 14 August 1908, p4. claimed the world Cornish wrestling middleweight title in 1903 and retained it until his death.''Sporting Gossip Today'', The Butte inter mountain, 22 January 1903, p8.''Gotch Wins Handily'', The Morning Astorian, 12 April 1904, p1.''Harrington the Champion'', The Cornish Telegraph, 29 July 1903, p3.''Michigan'', Cornishman, 6 August 1903, p2. In 1902, Tim was arrested on the charge of insanity. It took 5 policemen to subdue him.''Famous Cornish wrestler crazy'', The Butte inter mountain, 28 October 1902, p1. He had a brother Peter, who also has some wrestling success.''Tim Harrington wins first prize'', The Butte inter mountain, 6 July 1903, p8. Tim beat Frank Gotch in a Cornish wrestling match.''Jap throws all white opponents'', The Ogden standard, 8 April 1910, p8. He had brother, Peter, who had some tournament success.''Tim Harrington wins first prize'', The Butte inter mountain, 6 July 1903, p8. * William Martin (1875-1910''Death levies toll in sport'', The Daily Missoulian, 1 January 1911, p9.), 'Billy' weighing 140 lbs, from Calumet, Michigan, was the lightweight world Cornish wrestling champion from 1898''The Calumet boy versus the champion'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 29 September 1898, p6. until he died of pneumonia''Michigan'', Cornishman, 10 February 1910, p6. in 1910.''B William versus Rowett'', Camulet News, 21 February 1910, p8. In 1902 he was the middleweight champion of the United States. He also wrestled in Norway.''Michigan USA'', Cornish Post and Mining News, 28 September 1899, p3. In 1905 he was champion lightweight Cornish wrestler of Michigan.''Martin and Ziehr May wrestle on Good Friday'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 22 April 1905, p5. * John Rowe was Sheriff of Gogebic County, City Marshal of Bessemer and in 1910 was the undefeated world champion of Cornish-style wrestling.Dr Todd, Arthur Cecil : ''The Cornish Miner in America'', D Bradford Barton Ltd (Truro), 1967, p139-141.Johns, Christopher, ''Cheer like mad for Cornwall, the story of Cornish wrestling'', Map X Visuals, 1995, p18-19. * Thomas Young was the 1911 Cornish wrestling champion of Arizona.''Splendid program at Lowell club'', Bisbee daily review, 9 April 1911, p10. * Sid R Varney, born in
Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
, claimed the world Cornish wrestling title in 1921. He fought Ahmed Madrali in 1898 and 1899. He was a blacksmith and a champion in other wrestling styles.''Sid Varney was good wrestling coach'', Oredigger (US)— 4 April 1921 p3. * Dick Johns, from Marquette was the lightweight Cornish wrestling champion of the world in 1921.Rydholm, Fred: ''Harlow’s Wooden Man'', Winter 1984. * Tom Richards, originally from Old Pound, Nanpean, was the 1926 middleweight champion of America.''Cornish wrestlers at Honiton'', Cornish Guardian - Friday 03 September 1926, p6.


Wales

* John Rowe was a Welsh champion Cornish wrestler from the 1870s.''Crediton Wrestling Contest'', Western Times, 22 April 1872, p3. * Jack Lamnea, known as "Swansea Jack" and "Lemm" became all England Cornish style wrestling champion in 1903.''Swansea Jack'', Liverpool Echo, 6 July 1985, p7. * Nancy Jones, was Lady Cornish wrestling champion of Wales in 1904.''Female Wrestlers'', Cornubian and Redruth Times, 14 May 1904, p8.


Cornish wrestling throws

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


Championships

The following Senior Championships are fought annually in competitions across the Duchy, overseen by the CWA: 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 Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in ...
and Grass Valley, California following the miners and
gold rushes A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, New Ze ...
. 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.


See also

* Cornish Wrestling Throws *
List of topics related to Cornwall The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Cornwall: Cornwall – ceremonial county and unitary authority area of England within the United Kingdom. Cornwall is a peninsula bordered to the north and wes ...
* Collar-and-elbow * Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling *
Devon wrestling Devon wrestling is a type of wrestling that was popular in the nineteenth century. The Devonshire fashion of wrestling allows hardened footwear to be worn and kicking intended to disable the opponent. It has similarities to Cornish wrestling b ...
* Gouren * Francis Gregory * James Polkinghorne * Richard Parkyn *
Scottish Backhold Scottish Backhold is a style of folk wrestling originating in Scotland. The wrestlers grip each other around the waist at the back, with the right hand under the opponent's left arm and the chin resting on the opposite right shoulder. When the re ...


References


External links


The Official Cornish Wrestling Association
* ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/1108228.stm Cornish Wrestling by the BBCbr>Another article, from a reconstructionist web site

article by Michael Tresillian
{{Folk wrestling Folk wrestling styles
Wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...
Wrestling in the United Kingdom European martial arts Historical European martial arts