In Hastings Grappling Ron Historyo records that today is the anniversary of the first wrestling tournament in Hastings St Leonards.
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In Hastings Grappling Ron Historyo records that today is the anniversary of the first wrestling tournament in Hastings St Leonards.
Wrestling overseas today, Tom Tyrone (as Paul Harris) was on the losing end of a bout with John "Earthquake" Tenta, in Nagano, Japan, on this day in 1988.
On our TV screens, on this day in 1971:-
Pat Roach v George Gordienko (KO)
Antonio Rocca (1) v Johnny Czeslaw (0)
Josef Molnar (1) v Colin Joynson (0)
Once again a post that I put on the site vanished.
I said that Falkirk had reduced Farmer Johnny Allan to Former boy Allan, but Rex Harrison would not have reduced him.
I have a mystery on my hands.
23 January 2020
Death of Dicky Swales
Read our tribute
Klondyke Bill and Toma Hansom was a frequent match on the opposition - a bit of a blood bath at Preston one night. Of course they were both Don Robinson workers (in and out of the ring) and would surely have shared a car. Imagine sharing a car with Klondyke. As for Gorilla Reg and Cyril Knowles they were glued together.
I agree McManus and Heath would be an interesting one. But what about Tony Charles being put in with Rocky Wall. Not very credible matchmaking there.
Portz would have been a good opponent for Nagasaki. Didn't Portz get the win in Canada? Not in Ipswich I fear.
Our overseas Wrestler today is Giant Haystacks, who was working for All Japan Pro Wrestling on this day, in 1985, beating Yoshihiro Momota in Handa, Japan.
On our TV screens, on this day in 1960, just the one bout: -
Sammy Berg ("Mr Canada") v Bill Robinson
St Leonards Pier as Ron writes certainly seems to have been a cornerstone for Dales' promotions in the thirties.
That pier was considered very plush and there was probably some money around. By the sixties there wasn't a trace of it, unfortunately.
Great research Ron, to place Hastings & St Leonards, with its multiple venues, six at least, as a key wrestling town. DM title bouts in the fifties and sixties; and of course Nagasaki and his WWF title bout at The Pilot Field in 1974.
McManus couldn't get enough of the place. From Brixton, it was just about the easiest and most direct route to the south coast.
I can't imagine Ted Heath giving Mick and easy time, bit of Peter Preston about the original Tough Old Bugger, to quote Johnny Kincaid.
Another night at the Palais(1969) I remember we gave Eric Culter a bit of stick and he called us London xxxxxxx,all in good jest.