BRADFORD, near TAUNTON, SOMERSET, May 8, 1780. TO BE PLAYED for at SWORD and DAGGER. (Somerset against the World.) On MONDAY, the 22d of MAY, To be PLAYED for at SWORD and DAGGER, at the Black-Lion Inn, in Bradford, near Taunton, Somerset, A Subscription Purse of Guineas. TUESDAY the 23d will be PLAYED for at […]
AN EXTRAORDINARY WRESTLER.—Mr. Wreyford, aged 82, lately died at Orchard Lake, in the parish of Cheriton Bishop—about forty years since one of the first men in the wrestling ring in the Western counties, if not in all England. Mr. Wreyford was totally blind from eight years of age, and was familiarly known in the ring […]
DEVON WRESTLING. “ARGUS,” NO. II. It is said Mr. Edward’s “History of Crediton,” which will incidentally deal with the principle feats in wrestling of Abram Cann and James Stone, will forthwith be published. Some of the old players now refuse to put in an appearance till the sports are a week old, as they know […]
DEVON WRESTLING. BY ARGUS.—NO. III. It is now many years since Cann made all Devonians proud of his splendid wrestling bouts, not only in this County, but in Leeds, London, and other places. Since his time many others have been brought into notice, perhaps none more prominently than the late Thomas Cooper, who being several […]
DEVON WRESTLING. By “Argus.”—No. 4. PIKE AND BAKER. Bow, neighbouring parish to Colebroke, once noted for its wrestling aspirants, has, during the past ten years, produced some very good wrestlers—the most notable of whom are Richard Pike, Robert Baker, Thomas Baker, and Samuel Battishill. Richard Pike is held by many to be the real champion […]
DEVON WRESTLING. By “Argus.”—SAMUEL OLIVER is well-known in most wrestling rings, having been in the ranks for more than twenty years. His earliest bouts gave much promise, and for many years his success was somewhat remarkable. He has contested many times with T. Cooper, but was unable more than play second fiddle, though his determined […]
BOXING AND WRESTLING. SPORTS CLUB FOR HONITON. A public meeting was held at the Dolphin Hotel, Honiton, in connexion with the formation of an Amateur Athletic Club. The Mayor (Alderman H Banfield) presided. It was suggested that the Club should be formed, and they thought best to start in a small way, and confine themselves […]
OLD DEVON SPORT Wrestling and Boxing Matches at Crediton. Great interest was manifested Saturday night in a wrestling match for £5 a side between Walter Roach and Bob Yeoman. Roach was formerly the light-weight champion of Devon. The rules were Devonshire style, and the referee Bill Chamberlain (Cheriton) and the sticklers George Greenslade (Land Farm) […]
“West-country Wrestlers” — subject dealt with by Percy Longhurst in a current publication. He says it is 300 years since one old writer declared there was not a 12-year-old boy in Cornwall who could not give a stranger, curious of the style of wrestling, a fall or, at foil. But the game still goes on […]
The eyes of all classes of politicians are now on the pretty town of Tiverton, but we believe it is not generally known that there is now residing among us the greatest of living wrestlers. We allude to that respectable old yeoman, Mr. William Wreford, who may be truly said to be the hero of […]
DEATH OF A RENOWNED DEVONSHIRE WRESTLER.—On Sunday last the veteran William Wreford died after a very short illness at the house of one of his children, in the metropolis. Mr. Wreford bore a name familiar to all the lovers of wrestling, both in the provinces and the metropolis. Born at Morchard Bishop, near Crediton, at […]
EXETER GRAND WRESTLING MATCH. This match was resumed yesterday at three o’clock. The first men called in Class B were Atkins (Exeter) and Skinner (St. Austell). The former was thrown in 20 minutes. Pike (London) and Burley (Exeter) were then matched in Class A. Pike threw Burley in 10 minutes. Oliver and Back (Class A) […]
THE EXETER GRAND WRESTLING MATCH FOR FIFTY GUINEAS (Open to the World) WILL COMMENCE on MONDAY, July 27th 1874. For further particulars see future advt.
EXETER AND EXWICK WRESTLING MATCHES. The present is the first attempt in this hamlet at anything extensive in the way of wrestling. The prizes, including the championship, amount to twenty guineas. The field opposite Bailer’s Arms has been selected for the trials. Moore, of Bow, and Stone, Crediton, however, to the appearance of the gathering, […]
DEVON WRESTLING: ITS DECLINE. That this once famous sport is rapidly dying out, no one who has watched it for the past ten years can for a moment doubt. Various reasons are given as the cause, and of course the competitors come in for large share (perhaps deservedly so) of blame. But those well acquainted […]
Wrestling.—Devon and Cornwall—The friends of this manly sport were gratified by the sight of some first-rate play at Copenhagen House, on Easter Monday and Tuesday. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, Mr. Garratt, the proprietor, gave the annual treat. The play was under the judicious management of Mr. F. Oliver. Upwards of fifty of […]
CORNWALL AND DEVON WRESTLING at Copenhagen House. In consequence of the unfavourable weather last week, Mr. Garratt, the spirited host of Copenhagen House, again gave prizes to be Wrested for last Monday, when some first-rate play was displayed, before a highly respectable and numerous company. For the next round the first set-to was between the […]
HORNSEY-WOOD TAVERN — Wrestling in the Devon and Cornish style will take place in the enclosed grounds upon Easter Monday and Tuesday. The proprietor will give £10 in prizes to be wrestled for; there will also be Single-stick, Rifle and Pigeon Shooting for a chased silver cup and a handsome silver snuff box. This being […]
EXETER. The Devonshire Wrestling Champion.—Mr Langdon, of the Bull Inn, Exeter, assisted by other gentlemen, has succeeded in obtaining £180 for the veteran wrestling champion, Abraham Cann. After much deliberation it has been decided to purchase an annuity in the Norwich Insurance Office, and yesterday the proposal was effected and £200 paid. The champion wrestler […]
Wrestling.—The Cornwall and Devon Wrestling Society have resolved to divide the £100 to be given away on Friday, April 18, and at Easter, as follows:—Four money prizes for wrestling, open to all the world, for men under twelve stone, when several of the best men from the two counties have promised to come up and […]
WRESTLING. DEVON AND CORNWALL WRESTLING SOCIETY. This great annual carnival will take place at Hackney Wick Grounds (Victoria Park station). The committee have voted the liberal sum of £100, to be contended for by men under 12st, which will be apportioned in twenty money prizes. The committee have also secured the valuable services of R. […]
PEDESTRIANISM. METROPOLITAN RACE GROUNDS, HACKNEY WICK. THE CORNWALL AND DEVON WRESTLING SOCIETY’S ANNUAL MEETING. The customary annual meeting of the above-named society was held at the popular grounds of Mr. J. C. Baum, at the White Lion, Hackney Wick, on Whit-Monday and Tuesday; and terminated in a complete success, the enclosure being absolutely crammed with […]
DEVON AND EXETER WRESTLING MATCH FOR FORTY SOVEREIGNS — THE BLUE BALL, HEAVITREE. Whit-monday this match commenced. Stone and Wm. Bolt commenced.—Stone was laid on a side fall in the early part of the contest; no sooner gained his legs than he began with kicking, which was returned by his antagonist without flinching, and terminated […]
GRAND WRESTLING MATCH. On Monday last a numerous and respectable company assembled at the Blue Ball, Heavitree. Jordan and Wolland.—This contest was one of the most striking of the day, from the contrast of the men—Jordan, being several inches above six feet, and Wolland not many more above five feet—and the length of time which […]
THE EXETER WRESTLING MATCH. On Friday the play was continued—Bond threw Bolt, Pengelley threw Chappie, Walters, and Bray. The sport throughout was excellent, and excited the admiration and applause of hundreds of enthusiastic spectators. Monday.—Chappie (D) threw Bond (D); Thresize (C) gave Holt (D) a fore-hipper. Then came the grand match, Bray vs Miller—Miller with […]
SOUTH ZEAL, In the Parish of SOUTH TAWTON, DEVON. A GRAND WRESTLING MATCH will take place at the Kings Arms Inn, on TUESDAY, the 11th of July, and following days, for THIRTY POUNDS, Which will be played for the old Devonshire style, and open to all Players, with the exception of Messrs. Gundry and Chappel. […]
CORNWALL AND DEVONSHIRE WRESTLING. BRECKNOCK ARMS, CAMDEN TOWN. The sports began by Verron, of Birmingham, who threw C. Retford, of Devon, twice. Jeffery, a new arrival from Cornwall, then downed D. Radford (D.) in superior style. Trimblett (D.) and Paul (Somerset) played two spirited bouts, Trimblett finally hiping Paul in consummate style. TUESDAY. Ayres (D.) […]
James Cane, champion of the Devon wrestling ring, died, 1849.
Shortly after two o’clock the ground was opened, and lots were drawn to determine which men should oppose each other, there being exactly 13 Cornishmen, 13 Devonshiremen, 1 Irishman, and 1 Cumberland man as double players. The men entered the ring in the following order: Randall and Batstone, the former was quickly thrown; Trewicke and […]
Early in the month of October, 1828, a wrestling-match took place at the grounds of the Eagle Tavern in the City Road, between Olver and Finney, the former a noted wrestler from Cornwall, who has floored all who opposed him since his arrival in London, and the latter an Irishman. Finney accidentally, but fairly, threw […]