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
SIR,--A paragraph lately appeared in the _Whitehaven
Herald_, stating that Charles Lowdon, of wrestling
notoriety, who resides near Keswick, and is sixty years
of age, would wrestle a match with any individual of
the same age. The veteran William Richardson of
Caldbeck, aged sixty-two years, will be happy to accept
the challenge, and wrestle Mr. Lowdon, the best of five
falls, for £5 or £10 a side. The friends of W. R. will
be happy to meet the friends of his rival, at the house
of Joseph Ray, of the Royal Oak inn, Cockermouth, on or
before the 30th instant, to make the match, and to
settle the other preliminaries usual on such
occasions.--I am, Sir, yours, &c.--J. M.
During the last forty years of Richardson's life, he became noted as a good
farmer on the Netherrow estate; and was remarkably successful in the
breeding and rearing of Herdwick sheep, a class of animals peculiarly
adapted to the mountainous districts of Cumberland and Westmorland, which
are likewise held in high repute for the excellence of their mutton. He
obtained many local prizes for different classes of fell sheep; and
attended the tup fair at Keswick regularly; but though enthusiastic about
his Herdwicks, his conversation, it is said, had at all times a tendency to
"bristle o'er" with feats in the wrestling ring. A tale is told of him
which illustrates this tendency. Arriving at Keswick, according to annual
custom, to exhibit and sell tups, he happened to meet an old crony whom he
had not seen for years. The two sat down, "cheek by jowl," and soon became
absorbed in an animated conversation, in which "nowte but russlers an'
russlin' was h'ard, amang aw t' chang; an' t' tips was niver yance thowt
on, till t' fair was varra nar ower, an' theer was hardly sec a thing as a
buyer to be fund."
Richardson could be either a good friend or a good hater, as circumstances
might call forth. One illustration of his kindly feeling and warmth of
heart towards a struggling neighbour, may be mentioned. An industrious man,
named Jeffreys--a blacksmith at the Caldbeck lead-mines--either occupied a
field of lea grass, or had cut a few carts of peats, high up the fell-side.
During a dreary wet season, when everything was spoiling, Richardson
volunteered the use of a horse and cart to assist in clearing the field on
the first fine day. From some unforeseen cause the horse took fright,
galloped down the mountain brow, and either broke its leg by falling, or
else was unfortunately killed. The accident placed the poor blacksmith in
an awkward position, especially as the horse was a valuable one, estimated
at that time to be worth thirty or forty guineas. He offered, however, to
pay what money he had, and clear off the rest by instalments. "Nay, nay,"
said Richardson, "it was as pure an accident as iver yan h'ard tell on, an'
med ha' happen't to anybody. I'll tak nowte frae thee--nūt a fardin'!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account