Barrow , originally a Lancashire town made the transition to Cumbria. Relwyskow gave us a break and advertised that he promoted in Morecambe , Barrow and Carlisle. Not sure if he took over or was supplying wrestlers to William Little for his Carlisle shows. But what this told me was that he did not seem to be promoting in Workington or Whitehaven. Maybe I will find them another time.
Can I justify Barrow is a Nook and Crannie. Well I have passed by and looked down on the Rugby League town , but I don't recall us mentioning Barrow or having a member that way. Fleetwood and Morecambe threads brought our Heritage fans out so maybe finding Barrow will.
On another thread , I put this find. Truly some effort was being put into Barrow to put Thesz on here. Not that many towns were bestowed this honour.
My understanding is that the Public Hall was the old , small and original Town Hall , the later one a magnificent building , and the old Hall used for the public was a compact 800 seater.
Relwyskow , I think got keen on wrestling here in late 1957.
If you want history , I found Wrestling on with Boxing in 1931 at The Drill Hall.
Hard to believe that Billy Riley would take part in a match with Strangler Harris with Nose Pulling , Ear Twisting and Finger Biting to display All In Wrestling as a Violent Sport , when you consider the comedy here.
In the war and even the late 1940's they had some matches at the Strand Skating Rink.
1948 The Ghoul v Eric Day. and other years Vic Hessle , Jack Atherton , Cordite Conroy , Dave Armstrong and what looks like mainly Lancashire Wrestlers operated here.
But from the Relwyskow era , I have picked out a few bills of note and will show some of what I collected later.
Nearly everyone on the above a champion or billed from another county to project the international Flavour.
And below and especially for Bernard , a Trilogy of Walsh/Marino grudge matches. Virtually pre TV it is looking like this combo was one of the top matches that money could buy at that time. Very high quality. Sorry that I will never be able to see one of these. Thinking maybe Rocco/Jones Quality.
And the following year Marino defending the World Title that he must have swapped and changed with Walsh several times over I bet.
All for now , but more to display later.
Walsh/ Marino just comes across to me as a huge rivalry before it could be captured on tv.
Yes of course there were others. I think what jumps out for me is it's always to do with the World Title. When you bring that into it , it is a massive selling point for the promoters.
Indeed , I am asking Bernard , were they exciting , or was the World Title the best way that the Promoters could sell it.
Just been looking at George Rel. he was married in Barrow in 1937 and certainly living there in 1950. he was a member of Furness Motor Club and drove his Triumph in Motor Trials , frequently making the papers. There is mention that he had a wrestling Field , who knows maybe at the pub. Relwyskow and Green was registered in Leeds where George owned a Coach business. He died there.
Rel and Green applied for the Public Hall in Barrow for wrestling in the autumn of 1957 and quickly got approval.
Now we know that Wrestling in this Nook and Crannie was a cert. I only wonder why it took so long to get it going. No doubt due to bigger shows Thursdays was chosen to do the shows. ironically that was the same day as at Morecambe. At this time Carlisle was Mondays fronted by William Little.
Enjoy some from 1960/61