Cornish Guardian, CCWA benevolent fund for injured wrestlers (1926)

CORNISH WRESTLING. BENEVOLENT FUND FOR COMPETITORS WHO ARE INJURED.

Begging the ring at wrestling tournaments has been a custom that has always been looked upon as objectionable and lowering to the dignity of those taking part. To overcome this, it has been decided that something shall be done to make provision for those injured, and for this purpose the Council of Management of the County Wrestling Association appointed a sub-committee to deal with the question. The scheme they have adopted appears to be a workable one and should meet with the approval of everyone concerned. It has now been decided that a Benevolent Fund shall be established, and that every penny raised for this purpose be paid into a separate account at the bank and that it be only used to assist those who are injured, on the receipt of a doctor’s certificate. It has been decided to grant for a period not exceeding six months the sum of 30s. per week to married men, and 20s. per week to single men. The question arose as to how this fund was to be established and maintained, and it was decided that each affiliated committee should pay the sum of one guinea, each wrestler paying one shilling entrance fee, and 5 per cent. of his prize money. Seeing that every wrestler is admitted free to the majority of tournaments the fee asked for is not a heavy one. Wrestlers will have the satisfaction of knowing that there has been provision made in the event of their meeting with accidents and everyone taking part will be covered, that is where the committees pay their guinea. In the event of a committee not paying their guinea then the wrestlers will not pay any entrance and, where this is not done, naturally there will not be anything from the Benevolent Fund and wrestlers will have to take their own risks. Begging the ring will be prohibited everywhere. At a recent meeting of the wrestlers, they suggested 5 per cent. should be deducted from the prize money, and handed over to the Benevolent Fund, and they were in agreement that a scheme should be formed so that it would be beneficial to their interests. These particulars are being forwarded to the wrestlers and to all the affiliated committees. After the first year it is hoped that through the establishment of this fund there will be no need to make such a call the following year.

WRESTLING RELICS. At a meeting of the Redruth Wrestling Committee, Mr. W. Geo. Tickell (secretary of the County Wrestling Association) announced that he had discovered at Shop, St. Merryn, an old silver cup, on which was the following inscription: “Richard Parkyn, won at Camborne, June 23rd.” Parkyn was the celebrated wrestler who preceded the equally-celebrated Polkinghorne whose centenary is being held this year. He resided at Mawgan and was well-known in the old days as the finest wrestler in the county. Another relic has also been discovered in the form of a championship belt, which was won by the well-known wrestler, Pollard, nearly one hundred years ago.