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Cornish wrestling
 John Cawley throwing Chris French at Demonstration at Robby Richards Museum Opening - CWA Event 13–14 May 2006. | |
| Focus | Grappling |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Cornwall |
| Creator | Cornish people |
| Olympic sport | No |
Cornish wrestling (Cornish: Omdowl Kernewek[1]) is a form of wrestling that has been established in Cornwall for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"[2][3] in the Cornish dialect of English; historically, this usage is attested by Chaucer,[4] Shakespeare[5] and Drayton.[6]
The referee is known as a 'stickler',[7] and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a 'pedant' originates from this usage.[8]
Cornish wrestling is a national sport of Cornwall, which spread throughout the British Isles and then, along with the Cornish diaspora, to such places as the United States, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa.
It has similarities to Devon wrestling but it was reputed to focus less on foot moves and more on throwing.[9]
- ^ http://www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk/archivedsite/kernewek/kevren.htm Archived 7 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine Omdowl Kernewek Gorsedh Kernow Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ Phillipps, K C: Westcountry Words & Ways, David & Charles (Publishers) Limited 1976, p99.
- ^ Cornish culture steps into the spotlight, The Western Morning News, 14 August 2006.
- ^ Chaucer, Geoffrey: The Canterbury Tales, The Knightes Tale, The Reeves Tale, the Tale of Gamelyn, The Tale of Sir Thopas, etc, 1387-1400
- ^ Shakespeare, William: As you like it, Act III, Scene II, 1599
- ^ Drayton, Michael: Poly-Olbion, 1612, i, 244
- ^ James, Nicholas:Poems on several occasions, Wrestling, Andrew Brice (Truro) 1742, p21-40.
- ^ Hone, William: The Table Book of Daily Recreation and Information, Hunt & Clarke 1827, p663-664.
- ^ Hone, William (1831). The Every-day Book and Table Book: Or, Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in Past and Present Times : Forming a Complete History of the Year, Months, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac : Including Accounts of the Weather, Rules for Health and Conduct, Remarkable and Important Anecdotes, Facts and Notices, in Chronology, Antiquities, Topography, Biography, Natural History, Art, Science, and General Literature : Derived from the Most Authentic Sources and Valuable Original Communications with Poetical Elucidations : for Daily Use and Diversion. Published for T. Tegg.
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