The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-29 00:00:00

WRESTLING.

The annual gathering of the wrestlers of Devon and Corn-
wall commenced on Monday last at Chalk Farm, and termi-
nated late on Thursday night, after three days' play, the
finest perhaps ever witnessed. The liberality of the noble-
men and gentlemen of Cornwall and Devon, and other pa. rons
of the sport, had enabled the Committee to procure the most
celebrated wrestlers from distant parts of the respective coun-
ties, and also to give prizes so as to attract the "crack" men
resident in the metropolis and suburban districts to enter the
ring in competition. The Committee had anticipated the pre-
sence of the famous Devonshire champion, Abraham Cann, as
" tryer," and which certainly would have given eclat to the
meeting, but the veteran, by the pressure of business, was
prevented from attending. The arrangements, however,
were wry complete, and everything passed off in the most
satisfactory manner, the only damper to the sports being the
unpropitious state of the weather on Tuesday, but this was
amply compensated for by the fineness of Monday, Wednes-
day, and Thursday, which doubtless was the means of at-
tracting a great portion of the spectators, among whom on
each day we noticed several noblemen and gentlemen of dis-
tinction connected with Devon and Cornwall, and a number
of well-known sporting characters. The ring was formed in
the inclosure attached to Chalk Farm. To prevent any ill-
feeling among the competitors, it was distinctly stated that
the rules of the Club would be strictly adhered to, and the
play to be in the Cornish style, without shoes.
Among the new men from Cornwall, whose travelling and
other expenses were to be discharged by the Committee, were
W. Hodge, J. Hodge, Bray, Bennett, and Lanyon, all first-
rate men.

AlONDAY.—Umpires and a referee having been chosen, and
the customary preliminaries arranged, the play commenced
with a match between Truscott, a Devonshire man, and Bray,
from Cornwall, the first of two back falls, which, after two
hours of severe and scientific play, terminated in the defeat
of the latter.

The single play was opened by Richard Dyer and Bath,
both of Cornwall, and after some very pretty play Bath was
thrown.

Some capital struggles then ensued between Gill, Williams,
Lucas, Cocking, and Chapman, all of Cornwall, and several
others.

TUESDAY.—In consequence of the rain the play was de-
ferred till—

WEDNESDAY.—The play this day was first-rate, the com-
petitors including W. Snell, Devon ; W. Hodge, Cornwall ;
G. Snell, Devon ; Bennett, Cornwall ; Webber, Devon ; Lan-
yon, Cornwall, whose family have been wrestlers for the last
three centuries ; Toogood, Devon ; J. Hodge, Cornwall ;
Gaynor, Ireland; Hutchins, Devon; Bray, Cornwall; Wil-
liams, Cornwall ; J. Dyer, 3ornwall ; Truscott, Devon ; and
Twing, Cumberland.
At the close of the day there were nineteen " standards,"
thirteen Cornish men to six Devonshire men, consequently
the odds were greatly in favour of Cornwall, which were
freely laid by the natives of that county, and as freely taken
by the men of . Devon
_ _ _

THURSDAY.—The double play commenced to-day between
W. Hodge and Gaynor, and the latter yielded to his ad-
versary.

Lanyon then, after one of the finest bouts of the three days,
threw Toogood in first •rate style.
Snell, likewise, after a good tussle, threw Bennett.
Hutchins yielded to J. Dyer.
• Webber, after a capital bout, floored R. Dyer.
Truscott defeated George (Cornwall), Chapman floored
Twing, and Bray tumbled Lucas.
G. Snell being absent when called forfeited to J. Hodge.
Williams (odd man).