Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling
Encyclopedia
Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, also known as Cumbrian Wrestling, is an ancient and well-practised tradition in Cumbria
. It bears enough of a resemblance to Scottish Backhold
, which is practised just north of the border, for them to be classed under the joint heading North Country
style.
and Gouren
styles indicating that it may have developed out of a longer-standing Celtic tradition, and the Fédération International des Luttes Celtique classes Cumberland wrestling as Celtic. Although it could be neither. Firstly the Vikings first came to East Anglia and presumably all Vikings shared common culture, yet such wrestling has not been found elsewhere. Also if it was Celtic, it should also be found in the West Midlands which was also the last to be apparently conquered by Anglo-Saxons yet there is no such thing or in Somerset or Dorset which was also sparsely populated, which you would expect if people shared common across western Britain. Although people across Europe practised Celtic culture despite speaking different languages. Like tartan it might simply be a survival of older culture that died out elsewhere. The Norse shared culture with other Germanic peoples so it wouldnt be unique to the Norse and should be found in other Germanic cultures, the Norse settled elsewhere and it is not found there. However Cumbria is more isolated and it simply survived here more possibly Although Wrestling was found in London, and Anglo-Saxon origins should not be ruled out especially as Scandinavians and AngloSaxons shared common culture and constantly traded even in pre-Viking times, people in the AngloSaxon period wrote culturally little down. Plus wrestling is found in numerous cultures and also they have found Germanic place name elements in Cumbria from the Roman period
The traditional costume consists of long johns and an embroidered vest with a velvet centre piece over the top. Matches are usually decided by the best of three falls.
Competitions were traditionally held during New Years celebrations and on Midsummers day, with the chief bouts known as the Melmerby and Langwathby Rounds. Famous wrestlers when the style became widely known, in the 18th Century, included Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill and Abraham Brown of Bampton school
who was Britain's first middle-class wrestling hero. In the 21st century, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, along with other aspects of Lakeland Sports culture are practised at the The Annual Grasmere Sports and Show, a meeting held since 1852 on the August Bank Holiday
, and which has never been cancelled except during the years of World Wars I and II, and at several other Cumbria
n and Northumbria
n country gatherings such as the Cumberland Show, Westmorland County Show, Wasdale Fair
and Alwinton Border Shepherds Show
.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. It bears enough of a resemblance to Scottish Backhold
Scottish Backhold
Scottish Backhold is a style of folk wrestling originating in Scotland. The wrestlers grip each other around the waist at the back, with the right hand under the opponent's left arm and the chin resting on the opposite right shoulder. When the referee is sure that both wrestlers have taken a firm...
, which is practised just north of the border, for them to be classed under the joint heading North Country
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
style.
Origins
The origin of the North Country style of wrestling is a matter of debate, with some describing it as having evolved from Norse wrestling brought over by Viking invaders, Other historians associate it with the CornishCornish wrestling
Cornish wrestling is a form of wrestling which has been established in Cornwall, an area of southwest Britain 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...
and Gouren
Gouren
Gouren is a style of folk wrestling which has been established in Brittany for several centuries.In today's France, Gouren is overseen by the Fédération Française de Lutte .-History:...
styles indicating that it may have developed out of a longer-standing Celtic tradition, and the Fédération International des Luttes Celtique classes Cumberland wrestling as Celtic. Although it could be neither. Firstly the Vikings first came to East Anglia and presumably all Vikings shared common culture, yet such wrestling has not been found elsewhere. Also if it was Celtic, it should also be found in the West Midlands which was also the last to be apparently conquered by Anglo-Saxons yet there is no such thing or in Somerset or Dorset which was also sparsely populated, which you would expect if people shared common across western Britain. Although people across Europe practised Celtic culture despite speaking different languages. Like tartan it might simply be a survival of older culture that died out elsewhere. The Norse shared culture with other Germanic peoples so it wouldnt be unique to the Norse and should be found in other Germanic cultures, the Norse settled elsewhere and it is not found there. However Cumbria is more isolated and it simply survived here more possibly Although Wrestling was found in London, and Anglo-Saxon origins should not be ruled out especially as Scandinavians and AngloSaxons shared common culture and constantly traded even in pre-Viking times, people in the AngloSaxon period wrote culturally little down. Plus wrestling is found in numerous cultures and also they have found Germanic place name elements in Cumbria from the Roman period
Rules
The starting backhold position involves the wrestlers standing chest to chest, grasping each other around the body with their chins on their opponent's right shoulder. The right arm of each contestant is positioned under his opponent's left arm. Once the grip is taken the umpire gives the signal to start the contest by calling "en guard", then "wrestle". The wrestlers attempt to unbalance their opponent, or make them lose their hold, using methods such as lifting throws known as "hipes", twisting throws such as "buttocks" and trips like the inside click, cross click, back heel or outside stroke. This is known as a "fall". If any part of a wrestler's body touches the ground aside from his feet then he loses. If both fall down at once the last to hit the ground is deemed the winner. If it is unclear which wrestler hit the ground first the fall is disqualified and must be started again. this is known as a "dog fall". A win can also be achieved if either party loses his grip on the other while his opponent still retains his hold.The traditional costume consists of long johns and an embroidered vest with a velvet centre piece over the top. Matches are usually decided by the best of three falls.
Competitions were traditionally held during New Years celebrations and on Midsummers day, with the chief bouts known as the Melmerby and Langwathby Rounds. Famous wrestlers when the style became widely known, in the 18th Century, included Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill and Abraham Brown of Bampton school
Bampton, Cumbria
Bampton is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England, on the edge of the Lake District National Park. The parish had a population of 283 according to the 2001 census...
who was Britain's first middle-class wrestling hero. In the 21st century, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, along with other aspects of Lakeland Sports culture are practised at the The Annual Grasmere Sports and Show, a meeting held since 1852 on the August Bank Holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
, and which has never been cancelled except during the years of World Wars I and II, and at several other Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
n and Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
n country gatherings such as the Cumberland Show, Westmorland County Show, Wasdale Fair
Wasdale
Wasdale is a valley and civil parish in the western part of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Irt flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. A large part of the main valley floor is occupied by Wastwater, the deepest lake in England...
and Alwinton Border Shepherds Show
Alwinton
Alwinton is a village and parish in Northumberland, England. It is about to the west of Alnwick....
.
See also
- Scottish BackholdScottish BackholdScottish Backhold is a style of folk wrestling originating in Scotland. The wrestlers grip each other around the waist at the back, with the right hand under the opponent's left arm and the chin resting on the opposite right shoulder. When the referee is sure that both wrestlers have taken a firm...
- Lancashire wrestlingLancashire wrestlingLancashire wrestling is an historic wrestling style from Lancashire in England. Many consider it the foundation of catch wrestling, professional and amateur wrestling....
- Cornish wrestlingCornish wrestlingCornish wrestling is a form of wrestling which has been established in Cornwall, an area of southwest Britain 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...
- Devon wrestlingDevon wrestlingDevon wrestling is a type of wrestling that waspopular in the nineteenth century. The Devonshire fashion of wrestling allows hardened footwear to be worn and kicking intended to disable the opponent....