Match-Fixing in Cornish Wrestling during the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries |
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| Authors: | Michael Tripp |
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| Institution: | 1. Independent Researcher, Penzance, Cornwall, UKtrippm@btinternet.com |
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| Abstract: | AbstractDuring the first half of the nineteenth century, Cornish wrestling, which was distinctive to Cornwall, was the county’s most popular sport, with a large number of wrestlers competing for lucrative prizes at numerous tournaments and watched by thousands of spectators. Its popularity also extended to London, where sporting entrepreneurs, mainly publicans, organized and promoted wrestling in the Cornish style, when the best wrestlers were lured to the capital to compete for large prizes, witnessed by substantial crowds, which often included members of the nobility. During the second half of the nineteenth century, Cornish wrestling suffered a serious decline in popularity with fewer wrestlers, tournaments, and spectators. By 1900 the sport had almost died out and only survived due to the efforts of a small group of talented wrestlers who inspired a minor revival in the years leading up to 1914. One factor that contributed to the decline was the practice of ‘faggoting’, which was a form of match-fixing that involved wrestlers agreeing with opponents to share any prize money. Consequently, the sport developed a bad reputation and became very unpopular with spectators. In order to eradicate the practice, wrestling organizers issued regular warnings to wrestlers or excluded them from tournaments. |
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| Keywords: | Cornwall wrestling faggoting cheating tournaments |
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