Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting — John Shaqi
Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger BaitingRobinson, Jacob
History
Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting
Robinson, Jacob
Wrestlers; Wrestling
Sometimes disputes would arise--for northern blood at sports and fairs is
soon up--and then probably a punishing fight ensues. This, however, rarely
happens. When it does take place, it is a fair stand up fisty-cuff fight. A
very severe contest occurred at the Stone Carr meeting, which from the
amazing stature and strength of the combatants, is deserving of record. Mr.
Andrew Huddleston--an enthusiastic admirer of rustic sports--threw up the
belt as a competitor. The country people for miles round about his own
neighbourhood gave him the _sobriquet_ of "Girt Andrew," from his
giant-like stature and great strength. He came against one Thomas Harrison
of Blencow, another Titanic specimen of humanity. Probably no two of like
Herculean proportions ever stood together to take hold. "Girt Andrew" got
grassed with a tremendous thud, and directly offered to fight his opponent.
Harrison, no ways backward, accepted the challenge, and both prepared for a
set-to. An unexpected interference occurred. A Presbyterian preacher, then
stationed at Penruddock, persuaded them to desist, and apparently seemed to
have got the burly combatants to depart home peaceably without a resort to
blows. The feud, however, proved to be glossed over, and not healed, for
even after jointly partaking of a friendly glass, Mr. Huddleston again
threw down the gauntlet, and again it was taken up. The fight was obstinate
and terrific, both receiving fearful punishment. In the end Harrison
triumphed. In after years they continued good neighbours, without any
manifestation of ill feeling.
Thomas Harrison had a brother named Launcelot, residing at Penruddock, who
followed the occupation of a blacksmith. This man also possessed amazing
strength, and was of gigantic stature. When dead, his remains were taken to
Greystoke, and buried there. Some years after, the grave digger, in making
another grave, dug into Launcelot's. He took out the jaw bone, and it
proved to be half as big again as the sexton's, who was a stout six feet
man.[7]
Another Penruddock champion died in 1791, at the age of four score and six
years, who was styled at that date, "the last of the northern giants." This
was Matthias Nicholson, who, through a lengthened period, stood unrivalled
at all the wrestlings and other athletic exercises and manly sports, which
took place in the neighbourhood. His height was six feet two inches, and
his bulk in proportion.
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