This article is a list of practitioners of Cornish wrestling, as well as the related martial art Devon wrestling.
Historically, there were simultaneous claimants to world, national and regional titles in Cornish wrestling. This was driven, at least in part, by there not being agreement concerning the definitive governing bodies in the sport until the 1920s.
Some of these wrestlers also competed in other wrestling styles, or in matches where multiple styles were used.
British Isles Cornwall Stanton became the Cornish wrestling champion of Cornwall at a tournament in Penzance, in the fifteenth century.Stanton, Western Daily Press, 19 February 1875, p1. It is said that the wrestler was named this after chants at the tournament of "Stand-to-un, boy!"Stanton for Stroud, Western Daily Press, 16 February 1875, p1. John Goit was a friend of Richard Carew who states that during the reign of Elizabeth I, he had a claim to be the best wrestler in Cornwall.Richard Carew (antiquary): The Survey of Cornwall, 1602, p76. The Vicar of Lanteglos-by-Fowey was described in 1586 as "the best wrastler in Cornwall."Coate, Mary: Puritan Survey of 160 parishes in Cornwall, 1586Cornish wrestling, Cornish Guardian, 30 July 1936, p14. Lyttelton Weynorth wrestled several times before Charles II, being introduced by the Earl of Radnor.CORNISH WRESTLING, The Advertiser (Adelaide) 9 October 1928, p14.Rev Polwhele, R: History of Cornwall, Michell & Co (Truro) 1816, p67-68. He was the champion wrestler of all England.Hamilton Jenkin, A K: The Story of Cornwall, Thomas Nelsom and Sons Ltd 1934, p119-121.Dr Whetter, James: Cornish People in the 18th Century, Lyfrow Trelyspen, The Roseland Institute, Gorran 2000, p50-56. Thomas Hosken of Cubert defeated Lyttelton Weynorth and was described as "the strongest man in the county." James Harris, of St Agnes, was commonly called "Skinner" and "beat all and sundry" and was the court wrestler of Charles II.Cornish wrestling revival, Western Morning News, 20 September 1923, p2. He "shortened his days by the sport". William Nott from St Gorran was a farmer who had much competition success at the end of the 1600s and was known as the "philosopher". Charles Dawe from St Gorran was referred to by Thomas Tonkin (1678–1742) as being without equal in the early 1700s.Cornish folk in times past, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 12 January 1959, p2. William Pascoe (1722–1808), the parish clark of Sithney for 60 years, was the champion of Cornwall for many years.Matthew's great day, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 25 August 1994, p77.One hundred years ago, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 26 March 1908, p6. Thomas Pearce, wrestled throughout Britain in the mid-1700s.Wrestling match, Derby Mercury, 14 October 1757, p4. Abel Werry (?-1824), from Liskeard was for many years the champion wrestler of Cornwall.Lamentable occurrence, Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 30 June 1824, p5. Absalom Bennetts from Probus is described as having won well over 42 gold laced hats during the 18th century. He won the Probus tournament seven years running.Gymnastics, Saint James's Chronicle, 16 June 1808, p1. John Truscott (1766–1848), from Roche, was a champion Cornish wrestler, competing with an 'East Cornwall' style. He won a famous match with the Giant Jordan in 1813. His brothers, George (known as the 'Big Truscott')Wrestling, Star (London), 5 August 1826, p4. and Diggory (known as 'Young Truscott'), were also well known wrestlers.Cornish Wrestlers, Western Morning News, 22 August 1944, p6. John Lander was a noted wrestler during the late 1700s and early 1800s. He was landlord of the Fighting Cocks Inn in Truro and was the father of the famous explorers John Lander and Richard Lander.Hedgecoe, John: A L Rowse's Cornwall, Weidenfeld and Nicolson (London), 1988, p74-75 Richard Jolly (1782–1848) from Penscawen, St Enoder, was a successful wrestler between 1808 and 1816.Lover of Cornish wrestling, Late Rev L V Jolly, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 30 May 1963, p6.Western Morning News,7 September 1944
Richard Parkyn (1772–1855), weighing 16 and a half stone, was a champion wrestler from St Columb Major and was known as The Great Parkyn. He was champion of Cornwall in 1806 and it was said that he was undefeated 20 years thereafter.Mawgan wrestling - champions present and past, Cornish Guardian, 28 July 1927, p13.Fair play and gentlemanly conduct is key to ancient sport's enduring appeal, The Western Morning News, 9 September 2014. He was dominant from 1795 through to 1811.Cornish Wrestling, Cornishman, 9 March 1927, p2. Jacob Halls (1782–1876), born on the Biscovallick estate, St Austell was a very powerful farmer who won many gold laced hats in his youth.Death of an old farmer, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 30 March 1876, p5. John Collings (1783–1869) from St Minver was a celebrated wrestler in his early life.Death of a Cornish wrestler, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 17 December 1869, p4.Death of a wrestler, Western Times - Tuesday 21 December 1869, p6. He also had a famous wrestling brother called Thomas.Death of a Cornish wrestler, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 18 December 1869, p5.
James Polkinghorne (1788–1851)Deaths, Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 19 September 1851, p5. born at St KevernePascoe, Harry, Cornish wrestling, Tre Pol and Pen The Cornish Annual, 1928, p63-69. was a champion wrestler who had a number of famous contests against Devon fighters, including Flower, Jackman (1816)Cornish wrestling champion of 150 years ago, Cornish Guardian, 17 March 1966, p10. and Abraham Cann (1826), which drew very large crowds of spectators (c17,000).The great wrestling match, Globe, 26 October 1826, p3. Simon Searle Lanyon was a member of the Cornish Yeomanry Cavalry and was famed for his athleticism. It was said that Polkinghorne could not stand up to him.The Lanyon Family, The West Briton, 2 January 1890, p10. Abraham Bastard (1789–1868), born in St Teath, beat Polkinghorne in a famous match at St Kew in the 1820s.Historic venue for wrestling in St Kew, Cornish Guardian, 16 August 1956, p9. He later became a preacher.Samuel Ley Thorne,The Converted Wrestler; or the Life of Abraham Bastard, 1877 Francis Olver had much success in the early 1800s, including at least once beating Abraham Cann, James Cann and Finney.Wrestling: James Cann and Olver, Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 22 June 1828, p3. HIs brother also wrestled. James Warren (1786Warren a St Just Hero, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 28 October 1943, p4.-1842Warren, Joseph. Died 1842, St. Austell Gazette and Cornwall County News, 9 February 1926, p3.) from St Just was a famed Cornish wrestler, who became champion of Cornwall. He was known as 'Little Jem Warren' or 'Little Hercules' due to being 5 feet 7.5 inches high or 'Great Jem'James Warren, Cornish Times - Saturday 16 May 1857, p1. from having prodigious strength.Mining Intelligence, Cornish Times, 16 May 1857, p1.'Howitt, William: Rural Life of England, Longman (london), 1840, p536-538. He distinguished himself in the rescue of survivors when the East Indiaman ship, "Kent" caught fire.Cornish Wrestling down the ages, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 4 January 1954, p1. Henry Cuttance (1807-?), from St Keverne, was a champion Cornish wrestler who the initiator in rallying the local people to assist in the rescue of the crew of the Norwegian schooner, the Elizabeth of Bergen, when it ran aground in 1846.Heroic collection under the hammer, The West Briton, 23 February 2017, p54. Proctor Grose from St Kew was considered the strongest man in Cornwall and won many wrestling prize in Devon and Cornwall in the early 1800s.The late Mr W Grose of St Kew, The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 1 February 1877, p4. Thomas Nicholas (1816Wrestling match, Weekly Dispatch (London), 18 March 1838, p12.-?) was 3 feet eight inches high and weighed about fifteen stone and was considered champion of the West of Cornwall and perhaps of all of Cornwall between 1835 and 1838.Cornish Wrestling Match, Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 11 October 1835. He trained Gundry and was known as "Tom Pike". Tom Magor from Breage was for some time All England Champion in the early 1800s.Tom Gundry, Cornishman, 1 November 1888, p3. He trained Gundry and was a miner at Wheal Vor. Captain Thomas Gundry (1816-1888Gleanings, Birmingham Daily Post, 25 October 1888, p7.), of Wendron, was 5 feet 9 inches high, weighed 178 lbs and was a very famous champion wrestler in the 1830s and 1840s. His father was "Boxer" Gundry and his mother was from the Giddles wrestling family. He was trained by Tom Magor and Tom Nicholas. His wrestling record comprised at least 25 tournament wins and 5 second placements from tournaments in Cornwall, Devon and London. He was 7 times Cornish champion.Cornish Wrestling returns to Sithney, West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 03 June 1982, p41. He was the champion wrestler of all England.Wrestling Matches at Redruth, Cornishman, 28 August 1884, p6. He was called champion wrestler of the world in 1847.Cornwall and Devon Wrestling, Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 6 June 1847, p3. He was married four times.Fish, Tin and Copper, Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times, 22 May 1880, p4.West of England gleanings, Weston Mercury, 27 October 1888, p2. In 1870, along with a wrestler called White, Tom rescued six or seven lives from a raging sea.Wrestliana, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 12 February 1870, p4. James Dyer was champion of Devon and Cornwall in 1843.Wrestling, The Era, 17 September 1843, p11. John Roberts (1820–1892)Death of a Cornish wrestler, Cornishman, 17 March 1892, p4. known as "Johnnah" or "John-a" and born at Newtown, Ludgvan, was a famous champion heavyweight wrestler in the 1840s and 1850s, that more than once beat Gundry.A reminiscence of Johnna Roberts and Harry Williams, Cornishman, 31 March 1892, p7.Wrestlers of the past, Cornishman - Thursday 28 January 1904, p5. After one such occasion, at the Penzance tournament, he was marched from one end of the town to the other accompanied by the mayor, several dignitaries and a band. He was subsequently the "quiet and unobtrusive" landlord of the "Old Inn" at Gulval for 30 years.Death of a famous Cornish wrestler, Cornish Post and Mining News, 19 March 1892, p6. Charles Bowden was lightweight champion of Cornwall in 1851.The wrestling at Copenhagen House, The Observer, 21 April 1851, p8. William Delbridge (1823–1886) was originally from St Agnes and was lightweight champion of Cornwall in 1857.Morning Advertiser, 6 June 1857. He then emigrated to Australia, where he was a respected stickler at many tournaments.Death of Mr W Delbridge, Cornishman, 4 March 1886, p7. He became the owner of a well known vineyard. Captain Joseph Hodge (1824–1909) was champion of Cornwall in 1839Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 26 May 1839Morning Advertiser, 21 May 1839 and London champion in 1848.The Era, 25 June 1848The late capt. Joseph Hodge, a striking career, The Cornish Telegraph, 21 October 1909, p7. William Couch Jeffery (1826–1899),Death of a Cornish wrestler, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 3 November 1899, p5. from Long Rock was champion middleweight of Cornwall for a quarter of a century including the 1840s and 1850s.Wrestling at Redruth, The Cornish Telegraph, 15 May 1884, p8.Wrestling at Redruth, Cornishman - Thursday 15 May 1884, p5.Death of a manly wrestler, Cornishman, 9 November 1899, p2. He won many prizes in Cornwall as well as London. He was initially a miner and then a market gardener and fisherman. He spent some time in Australia and it was said that he had beaten the Australian champion wrestler, who was an Irishman after walking 160 miles to the match.Death of a Cornish wrestler, and respected man, Cornishman - Thursday 02 November 1899, p5.