By Ruslan C. Pashayev
Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
The Evolution Of The Species 6
Since I touched the Rules subject I would like to share with my reader the extracts from the most historical original ruleset of Lancashire wrestling – the Snipe Inn Rules, of which I write a lot in my Story of Catch. Originally catchers wrestled in spiked shoes, shoes similar to those of the soccer players to get the firm grip of the ground and not to slip accidentally, like I said ground wrestling was undeveloped in the early years of catch and as the famous Wiganer Tom Connor once said “they sparred for the hold for a very longtime and they only knew a couple of standing holds, the throws application of which led to the downfall of their opponent”.
I believe the reader will truly enjoy this time-travel!
THE SNIPE INN RULES, 1850s-60s.
“The usual excellent arrangements of these grounds were adhered to, and good order prevailed. The conditions were that the men should wrestle the best of three back falls, Lancashire fashion, catch as catch can, neither combatant to be rubbed with grease, drug, or resin, all foul acts to be banished, and ten minutes to elapse between each throw.”
“The conditions are two back falls out of three, Lancashire fashion, catch as catch can, in pumps and drawers, the spikes not to exceed a quarter of an inch in length, and not to be used willfully on the person.”
“The competitors to wear drawers and pumps and though spikes were allowed In the latter, they were not to exceed a quarter of an inch in length, not to be willfully used on the body and resin or other ingredient to be applied to the person by either party; the contest to be, catch as catch can.
THE SNIPE INN RULES (references).
“Mr. Nelson Warren, the proprietor, wishes to inform the patrons and professors of wrestling that in any matches which may come off here, on no account will he permit the use of spiked shoes or putting the hang in, &c.” (Bell’s Life in London, May 11th, 1856)
“Mr. Nelson Warren, the proprietor of the Snipe Inn Wrestling Ground, Ashton-under-Lyne, wishes to inform any one making matches to come off on his ground, that he will not allow them to wrestle in spiked pumps attempt to throttle each other, or commit any act of brutality.” (Bell’s Life in London, September 21st, 1856).
A wrestling tournament at the Snipe Inn Wrestling Ground “in the Lancashire fashion, catch as catch can, the first back fail without shoes or using any brutality, catch weight. To wrestle in pairs and the deciding pair to wrestle two back falls out of three for the first prize. “(Bell’s Life in London, September 21st, 1856).
Enoch Walker of Mossley challenges Abraham Buckley of Mill Bottom, near Oldham to wrestle “the best of three back falls Lancashire fashion, to wrestle according to the Snipe Inn Rules” (Bell’s Life in London, December 6th, 1856).
Conditions of the wrestling match between John Matley of Ashton-under-Lyne and Enoch Walker of Mossley: Two back falis out of three, Lancashire fashion, catch as catch can. The conditions are that neither man shall exceed five score 18ib, not to be rubbed with resin, grease, &c, ten minutes to elapse between each throw, and to wrestle either in stockings or barefooted. (Bell’s Life in London, May 8th, 1859).
Conditions of the lightweight championship match between John Matley and William Schora, both of Ashton-under-Lyne: “The conditions of the match were, to wrestle the best of three back falls Lancashire fashion, catch as catch can, all foul acts to be excluded, and neither man to be rubbed with grease, resin, or any kind of pemicious drugs (Sporting Life, August 24th, 1859).
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