Cornish wrestling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cornish wrestling (or 'wrasslin' as it is sometimes called in Cornish English) is a form of wrestling similar to judo, which has been established in Cornwall (South West of the UK) for several centuries. The referee is known as a 'stickler', and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a 'pedant' originates from this usage.
The wrestlers in the Cornish style both wear jackets enabling them to gain better grips.
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[edit] History
Cornish wrestling has a long history, and Geoffrey of Monmouth suggests Historia Regum Britanniae, of c. 1139 that Corineus wrestled a Cornish giant, Gogmagog.
Cornish wrestlers were more reliably reported to have fought at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The Cornish men who went into battle held a banner of two Cornish Wraslters in a hitch.
Cornish and Breton wrestlers have long taken part in inter-Celtic matches since at least 1402 and these still occasionally continue.
The Cornish Wrestling Association was formed in 1923.
Ashley Cawley (son of Gerry Cawley, a well known Champion Cornish Wrestler) is the current (2005) Heavy Weight Champion of Cornwall.
Ashley Cawley defended his title (Heavy-weight Champion of Cornwall) for the first time in 2006. The tournament was hosted at Lostwithiel on the 16th of July and the final of the tournament was a monumental bout between Ashley and Darrin Richardson lasting an hour long; Ashley finally beat Darrin on "first one to touch ground".
The following Sunday (23rd July) a Interceltic Tournament took place at Wadebrige, where a team of wrestlers from Brittany came over to Cornwall to challege our Champions in relevent classes. Just a week on Ashley Cawley sitll bearing injuries from the Heavyweight Tournament took on his opponent from Brittany and won, becoming the Interceltic and Heavyweight Champion 2006.
[edit] Cornish Wrestling at the Royal Cornwall Show
The Cornish Wrestling Association (CWA) still feature 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.
