Exeter Flying Post, Morice Town Fair: Polkinghorne throws Flower; Jordans and Cann win prizes (1816)

The sports at Morice-Town Fair, Plymouth-Dock, last week, afforded much amusement. On Thursday the wrestling matches began, in which 22 standards, comprising the best players in Devon and Cornwall, among others the two Jordans, Jackman, Polkinghorne, Flower, Cann, Cowling, Webber, &c. &c. maintained the character of their respective counties with matchless strength and dexterity. The candidates drew lots for contending. Polkinghorne for Cornwall was matched against Flower, for Devon, who, after a most severe and protracted struggle, was thrown. The next grand contest took place between Polkinghorne and Jackman, a Devonshire hero, but in consequence of a misunderstanding whether a fall given to the latter was a back or not, the business remained undecided until Friday morning, when the grand prize of ten guineas was assigned to Jackman. Polkinghorne was asserting that he had fairly thrown his opponent, and therefore refusing to meet him again under such circumstances. After this decision five of the principal Devonshire players sprung into the ring, and throwing down their hats in defiance, offered to wrestle with any five Cornish players who would come forward, and for any sum they might propose. The crowds that flocked every day to the scene of these diversions were numberless, and every thing passed off with the greatest harmony; owing to the indefatigable exertions of the umpires or sticklers, whose impartial conduct during the several contests was entitled to the highest praise. The holiday sports on the Hoe, Plymouth, during the last week, have excited a degree of interest, little if at all inferior to that attendant on the games at Morice Town. The Jordans won the two first prizes in wrestling, and Cann the third—all Devonshire heroes.