The British wrestling magazines of the time covered wrestling news & names from around the globe, which was smart as quite a lot of those names did end up visiting the UK.

Beaumont was also the champion on Dick Rogers' shows in the 1950's. Not sure where the belt came from but Jack was photographed with it. You do make an interesting point about Beaumont and Foley coming from different camps.

Thanks Hack, I have made these amendments in my file.

Here's what I have - feel free to question or confirm: November 20th, 1957 – Grimsby, England: Thesz v Baldwin – seems erroneous December 11th, 1957 – London, England [Royal Albert Hall]: Lou Thesz d Dara Singh in a World Heavyweight title match December 13th, 1957 – Liverpool, England: Lou Thesz bt Jack Pye; December 14th, 1957 – Brighton, England: Thesz bt Verna; December 16th, 1957 – Leeds, England: Lou Thesz bt Dai Sullivan; December 17th, 1957 – Hull, England [Madeley Street Baths]: Lou Thesz bt Jack Pye; December 18th, 1957 – Grimsby, England: Lou Thesz vs Ernie Baldwin for International Title December 19th, 1957 – Nottingham, England [Victoria Baths]: Lou Thesz bt Norman Walsh to retain the World Heavyweight title December 20th, 1957 – Rotherham, England: Lou Thesz drew Sandy Orford; December 21st, 1957 – Middlesbrough, England: Lou Thesz bt Norman Walsh December 22nd, 1957 – Brighton, England: Lou Thesz bt Bill Verna – seems erroneous December 23rd, 1957 – Hanley, England: Lou Thesz 1-1 Mike Marino December 24th, 1957 – Leicester, England: Lou Thesz d Geoff Portz (1-1, 15 five minute rounds) Date unknown, December, 1957 – Liverpool, England: Lou Thesz drew Great Bolo   February 7th, 1958 – Leicester, England [Cossington St Baths]: Lou Thesz (c ) vs Geoff Portz for the World heavyweight title February 8th, 1958 – Newcastle, England: Thesz bt Sandy Orford; February 11th, 1958 – Hull, England: Thesz v Portz; February 15th, 1958 – Middlesbrough, England: Lou Thesz bt Geoff Portz February 18th, 1958 – Bournemouth, England: Thesz kod Sandy Orford   Look Like I am missing these ones from your lists: 12/12/1957 Blackburn Norman Walsh M&B 13/02/1958 Barrow Norman Walsh Relwyskow & Green Promotions 25/02/1958 Aberdeen Bill Verna Relwyskow & Green Promotions

For me it's about filling in the gaps, and people have been doing it a long time (newspapers printing results, collectors & historians compiling them) so it makes sense to continue the work. Although I agree a wrestling result means very little without context. The best context is people's memories. But not everything sticks, but that too can help tell the story. However, almost every week I'm approached by people for results, so it must have some use. I agree about titles, etc. For me they are promotional tools and that's what I find interesting about them. In regards to the UK, on a personal level, I enjoy finding wrestlers who may have had a fairly unremarkable career otherwise, being given the chance to be a champion in the 1950's or earlier. Promoters weren't thinking about 5 years in the future, let alone 60 or 70 years.

Well put.

That's really interesting, thanks!

They called it professional wrestling, often times just wrestling. I can post a Dale Martin promotional booklet from 1952 if there's interest.

Not missing any point Ruslan: * The magazine recognised Jack Dale as British Middleweight champion, then mentioned title switch to Harry Fields. * Harry Fields was then said to have been awarded the Arena belt as well as being recognised as the British middleweight champion. * We haven't found images of Jack Dale with a belt. * We haven't found images of Harry Fields with an Arena belt. * Arena was a magazine published by Dale Martin promotions.

Some photos.

This is what I can write about Arena: * It followed on from Combat magazine, a mixture of wrestling, boxing and physical content, Charles Mascall was editor * Unlike Combat, Arena was published directly at 313 Brixton Road i.e. Dale Martin promotions print shop * The back page ad was reserved for Dale Martin advertising. Similar to how MAT magazine reserved the back page for Norman Morrell promotion advertising * There were at least 9 issues. I don't have them all but issue 9 is the latest I have. In total I have six but am missing at least the other 3 known issues. * In Issue 3 they mention that they would present 3 champions with Arena Gold Belts. There were no pictures or physical descriptions of these belts. * The three weight classes they recognised were light heavyweight, middleweight (Jack Dale), and welterweight (Mick McManus, having defeated Eddie Capelli was mentioned in the magazine). Later they mentioned Harry Fields held the middleweight title and Arena Gold Belt (again, no picture of such). * They did mention Alan Colbeck was the Mountevans champion at welterweight. * In the magazine they also mentioned Jack Quesick was the Southern Area welterweight champion. * The magazine seems to have a short run from 1950 to late 1951 (they describe the opening of the 1951-1952 season). I will add some photos to follow.

Dave Cameron shared a couple of stories of visiting Dale Martin for a try out and working out with various wrestlers on the mat there. Mick McManus even came down from his office and once worked out with him. This would've been late 50's or early 60's.

Dale Martin had champions, but they were a lot less interested in featuring championships and physical belts in their promotional behaviour. Jack Dale was a champion for years, did he ever wear a belt? If so I've not seen a picture. Whereas in the North it seemed to be very important thing. (Oh dear, i've gotten involved in the North vs South discussion) The promoters in Portsmouth had belts. But their championships didn't seem to carry across to the other Dale Martin towns in the 50's. Later on in the 1960's DM got more interested in promoting their Southern Area champions (from time to time), but again, not a lot in the way of physical representation through belts etc. Perhaps all the drama around Assirati and Baldwin convinced them further to avoid that sort of thing?

https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=13369

I also find the use of the word interim to make the whole situation more interesting. Such interim champions are found in today's UFC (MMA) promotion. It's usually a way to promote another champion while the first one is out injured or suspended by the athletic commission. What's new is old.

Les Herbert / Les Herberts:

Here he is. I'll put another photo in the names to faces topic (provided that doesn't ruffle any more feathers).

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Dave had so many great memories of his time in the UK, the wrestling scene there, and the many wrestlers he befriended.

The reason there was no tournament held in 1957 or 1967 is that the RAH Wrestling season began after summer each year and concluded as summer began the following year. The 1956 tournament and second 1966 tournament took place during the 1957 & 1967 wrestling "seasons" respectively.

Hi Chris, I think that was a listing I posted elsewhere. I managed to add a few more details. Here you go: ROYAL ALBERT HALL TROPHY YEAR             WINNER                                            DEFEATED 1956               DENNIS MITCHELL [GBR]            Jose Olivera              29th Feb 1957               no tournament held 1958               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                Bill Verna                   21st May 1959               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                John Da Silva           27th May 1960               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]    Ray Hunter or Ray Apollon 18th May 1961               BILLY ROBINSON [GBR]               Joe Cornelius           24th May 1962               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                Bruno Elrington        10/20 Jun 1963               JOHN DA SILVA [NZL]                   Josef Zaranoff          17th April 1964               GORDON NELSON [CAN]             Steve Veidor             17th June 1965               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Bruno Elrington        9th June 1966               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Ian Campbell            13th April 1966 (Dec)    TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                Bruno Elrington        14th Dec 1967               no tournament held 1968               WOLFGANG STARCK [GER]       Jim Hussey               17th April 1969               BRUNO ELRINGTON [GBR]         Tibor Szakacs           2nd April 1970               GEORGE GORDIENKO [CAN]     Bruno Elrington        22nd April 1971               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Mal Kirk                      28th April HRH PRINCE PHILLIP TROPHY aka INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT TROPHY 1963               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                John Da Silva           22nd May VIEWSPORT TROPHY 1972               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Tibor Szakacs           26th April WORLD OF SPORT TAG TEAM TROPHY 1972               IGNATIUS BORG & TONY BORG           Zoltan Boscik & Peter Szakacs                                                                                                     26th April Other KO tournaments: 1954 also an 8-man tournament on April 28th with BERT ROYAL defeating STEVE LOGAN in the final (middleweights?) 1969 also a 4-man tournament on Dec 10th, with SEAN REGAN defeating BRUNO ELRINGTON in the final 1978 also a 6-man tournament on January 18th, with LEE BRONSON defeating JOHN WILSON in the final 1981 also a 4-man tournament on April 22nd, with MARK ROCCO defeating MARTY JONES in the final (1 fall)