WRESTLING.—The Rival Champions.—The Amateurs of this ancient and truly noble sport, may expect soon to have one of the greatest treats ever experienced in this or any other part of England, in a contest between the renowned Devonshire Champion Abraham Cann, y’clept the Nonpareil, and the no less celebrated Polkinghorn, of Cornwall. “St. Thomas, near […]
WRESTLING. To Mr. ABRAHAM CANN, St. Thomas’s, Exeter. SIR, Although you did not answer mine of Sept. 20th, nor accept the proposals with respect to time, place, and amount of stake——I see yours of the 10th inst., in the Devon Freeholder, dated Dec. 2, wherein you now assert your readiness to try the championship of […]
WRESTLING.—At Morchard Grand Wrestling Match, yesterday and to day, for 12 Sovereigns, the Champion A Cann was thrown by the younger Dartmouth, by an unlucky fall, after 35 minutes severe play. Mr. Wreford carried off the first prize, and James Cann won the second; during the play A Cann’s shoe was thrown out by the […]
WRESTLING—We this week present our readers with verbatim copies of the answer of Polkinhorne to Abm. Cann‘s letter, inserted in our paper of the 25th instant, together with the rejoinder of the latter:—comment from us is almost wholly unnecessary, the letters will bear pride for themselves; but we cannot avoid the strong impression we have, […]
WRESTLING—We this week present our readers with verbatim copies of the answer of Polkinhorne to Abm. Cann’s letter. To Mr. ABRAHAM CANN, St. Thomas, Exeter. SIR,—I acquainted you that my answer letter of Sept. 26, now near three months past, was laid before the stewards of the Champion Belt, at Bristol, and published in the […]
Portrait of Abraham Cann, whole length, standing outdoors, directed slightly to left, making wrestling moves; wearing half-open jacket fastened with strings, breeches and stockings; top hat lying on the ground at his foot at left. Lithograph Printed by: Thomas Bayly Published by: J Penny Published by: John Dickinson – https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0612-1077 Inscription content: Lettered below image with the […]
Lithograph in the British Museum (1943,0410.2111), by Maxim Gauci: Portrait of James Polkinhorn; whole length, standing in three-quarter profile to right, leaning slightly forward, with arms folded, his left foot placed in front, wearing short jacket fastened with cord; impression had been folded for posting. 1826 Lithograph on chine collé © The Trustees of the […]
The Wrestling and other sports at Dartmouth on Tuesday and Wednesday next, are expected to be well attended.
WRESTLING. TO be WRESTLED FOR, at PAIGNTON, on Thursday & Friday the 22d & 23d of June, a PURSE of 20 SOVEREIGNS; Of which, the Best Man will receive, Six Pounds,—Second Ditto, Four,—Third, Three,—Fourth, One. Sixteen Standards will be made, all of whom will have a Dinner. Fair Play, which commences at Ten o’Clock precisely, […]
WRESTLING. THE ANNUAL GRAND WRESTLING MATCH FOR 20 SOVEREIGNS, Will take place at BROADCLYST, on Tuesday and Wednesday the 11th and 12th days of July next.—Particulars of which will be expressed in a future advertisement. Dated Broadclist, 8th June, 1826. WRESTLING. TO be WRESTLED FOR, at PAIGNTON, on Thursday & Friday the 22d & 23d […]
ASHBURTON ANNUAL WRESTLING will be on Monday and Tuesday, the 17th and 18th of July, for a Prize of TWENTY FIVE SOVEREIGNS, when every encouragement will be given to deserving Players. June 20th, 1826. CREDITON WRESTLING. THE Sum of TWENTY-FIVE GUINEAS, will be Wrestled for at Crediton, on Wednesday and Thursday the 5th and 6th […]
WRESTLING. THE amateurs of athletic performances were gratified towards the end of last month, with an exhibition of the old national feat of wrestling. Several matches were played between Devonshire and Cornwall men, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, at the Eagle Tavern green, in the City Road.—The science displayed on the occasion shows, that […]
WRESTLING.—The Paignton match commenced on Thursday last. The single play on the first day passed off rather laggingly, serving, however, to shew the strength of the muster, and enlightening the spectators by the promise it gave of capital work for the next day. At 2 o’clock, on Friday, the double play commenced, it was South […]
EXETER GRAND WRESTLING MATCH WILL take place on MONDAY & TUESDAY, the 28th and 29th of AUGUST instant, in a commodious Field adjoining the Black-Boy Turnpike Gate, at the Head of ST. SIDWELL’S, when 30 SOVEREIGNS Will be divided as follows: The Best Man, 10 Sovereigns; Second Best, 7 ditto; Third Best, 5 ditto; Fourth […]
WRESTLING.—The Okehampton Grand Match commenced on the 16th inst. Twenty four men got share, and the double play brought with it some of the richest turns that have ever been witnessed; the men all fresh from their native hills displayed a strength and vigor almost superhuman, as they were stripped they seemed very Atlases. Woolaway […]
WRESTLING. Yesterday afternoon, the grounds of the Eagle Tavern were filled with spectators (paying each) to witness the exertions of some of the best wrestlers that could be collected from Devonshire and Cornwall, two of the most noted Counties in England for this species of gymnastic exercise. The sport commenced about two o’clock, by two […]
WRESTLING.—The Exeter, the grand Metropolitan Match, commenced on Monday morning, at eleven o’clock, in the spacious ring in St. Thomas. The Champion entered the ring at six o’clock; he entered with the band playing “See the conquering Hero comes.” No time was lost, and stout, young, and prime as was his opponent, in two minutes […]
The St. Sidwell’s Grand Wrestling Match also commenced on Monday morning; and as a proof of the interest now taken in promoting this manly sport, the city has this week presented the singular spectacle of two Grand Wrestling Matches, both got-up, excellently arranged, and each attended by the primest men in the world, going on […]
WRESTLING.—The prize of ten Sovereigns for the thrown men at the Exeter Wrestling last week, was won,—the first prize of four Sovereigns by Mr. Wreford; the second of two Sovereigns by J. Bolt; and the third of one Sovereign by Horwill.—James Frost of Aveton Gifford, appeared in the ring, at the close of the play […]
WRESTLING.—A. Cann, the Champion of England, and Polkinghorne.—Perhaps there never was more evasion practised, or so much idle chaffing as on the subject of a match between these men. “My Dear Sir, In answer to your Letter bearing date the 13th inst I beg to state, that it would have been an agreeable surprise, had […]
WRESTLING.—Yesterday, about two thousand persons were assembled in the bowling-green of the Eagle Tavern, in the City-road, to witness the conclusion of the Cornish wrestling. The sport was finished by Warren, a Cornishman, and Abraham Cann, the Devonshire Champion, who contended for the first prize, ten sovereigns, which was won by Cann. He is a […]
Grand Devonshire & Cornish Wrestling Match, in London. A very interesting match has been played between the Cornish and Devonshire men in London, which was decided on Thursday at the Eagle Tavern, City Road. WEDNESDAY, (Third Day.)—Of four and twenty men who entitled themselves to enter the lists for the double play, 14 were Devonshire […]
THE LONDON MAGAZINE, 1826. WRESTLING. THE amateurs of athletic performances were gratified towards the end of last month, with an exhibition of the old national feat of wrestling. Several matches were played between Devonshire and Cornwall men, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, at the Eagle Tavern green, in the City Road. The variety of […]
WRESTLING.—MOYLE AND HEAD.—Moyle the Cornwall man, wrestled his match with Head, the Devonshire man, on Thursday evening, at the Eagle Tavern, City-road. They both played Devonshire fashion, and for that purpose were padded. Moyle was the favourite at starting, and justified the confidence of his friends. The match was to be decided by the first […]
The interest excited by the forthcoming wrestling match at Devonport is very great, and it is understood that persons from every part of the two counties and even from a greater distance are preparing to attend it.
WRESTLING.— Grand Match between the Champions at Devonport.—Expectation is wound to its highest pitch for the issue of this match, and the numbers preparing to move towards Devonport from both counties are very great; the Devonporters have entered into the business with an energy that reflects on them the highest credit, and we can most […]
- Date: October 23, 1826
- Type: Picture
[WRESTLING]. Pair of Hand-Colored Portraits of Famous British Wrestlers who Faced Each Other in the Ring. Including: [CANN, Abraham, subject]. “The Wrestling Champion of England, Abraham Cann. Who challenges all the World for 100 Sovereigns…” [Exeter: Geo. Rowe, Aug. 10th, 1826]. Hand-colored full-length portrait of Cann in profile outdoors, with caption. 12 ¾ x 9”. […]
Line drawing of the wrestling venue for the famous Abraham Cann versus James Polkinghorne challenge match, The Alfred – West of England Journal – General Advertiser, 24th October 1826.
Wrestling at Devonport: THE RIVAL CHAMPIONS, CANN and POLKINHORN. Anxious at all times to give the fullest and most impartial intelligence of all public events, our Reporter was sent specially to Devonport to attend the great Match at Wrestling between the Rival Champions at that place,—the following is a correct account of the whole proceedings:— […]
- Date: October 26, 1826
- Type: Picture
Created by the British engraver Richard Gilson Reeve. The print commemorates the historic, highly-publicised inter-county wrestling match that took place on October 26, 1826, between the Cornish champion James Polkinghorne and the Devonshire champion Abraham Cann. The event drew over 10,000 spectators and remains one of the most famous encounters in the history of traditional […]
