Lancastrians may argue that their county was the cradle of wrestling civilization. Londoner’s boast that the most significant names of the post war era hailed from their city, men like McManus, Logan, Pallo, Assirati, Marino. The Scots gave birth to the greatest technician of them all, George Kidd, whilst the Welsh name heavyweight greats such as Garnon, Ken and Gwyn Davies amongst their number.
Over the hills from the Lancashire Snakepit there are many who would steadfastly say that no county has made a greater contribution to professional wrestling than Yorkshire.
Had it not been for three Yorkshiremen the wrestling we report with such enthusiasm may well not have existed in the way we know it. Four of the founder members of Joint Promotions, George de Relwyskow, Arthur Green, Norman Morrell and Ted Beresford were all from the county that was, until Prime Minister Ted Heath got out his carving knife, the largest in the country.
Following the disruption and destruction of the second world war professional wrestling was a shadow of its 1930s heyday. The pre-war successes could not easily be re-created. For one thing, that heyday had already begun to wane prior to the war, when the less reputable promoters and wrestlers had brought the business into disrepute. By 1945 the pre-war style of wrestling seemed faded and old-fashioned. Many of the pre-requisites were in place for a small group of visionary promoters, which included Relwyskow, Green, Morrell and Beresford, to bring about a change in professional wrestling that would enable it to evolve into one of the UK’s major spectator sports of the late twentieth century.
If wrestling’s good reputation was to be re-claimed post-war then the sport had to re-invent itself. One of the first steps was to introduce a new set of rules. The blood and glory image of the pre war years had discredited the professional wrestling business, and rumours were rife that contests were pre-arranged. Step forward one of our three Yorkshireman, Norman Morrell, who is credited with writing the Lord Mountevans rules and said to be the most influential man in post war wrestling..
The Yorkshire promoters, with counterparts in the rest of the country, re-organised the wrestling business. With roots firmly established in Yorkshire it is hardly surprising that the county regained its post war reputation as a breeding ground for professional wrestlers.
Those Yorkshire patriarchs were also heads of their own wrestling dynasties.
An aggressive, strong and popular heavyweight known as Barry Douglas, was the son of refereee Douglas de Relwyskow, nephew of promoter George de Relwyskow, and grandson of another George, who was a wrestling gold medal winner in the 1908 Olympic Games.
Promoter and ex-wrestler Ted Beresford’s son Stephen, also found international success as a professional wrestler. Wrestling under the name Steve Clements he was a popular 1960s wrestler before going to Mexico in 1969 where defeated Karloff Lagarde to take the world welterweight title. He later found fame in the United States as Sir Dudley Clements.
One of wrestling’s greatest families hailed from one of Yorkshire’s mining regions. The Doncaster Panther Jack Pye’s career spanned both sides of the second world war. He was one of the great names of the 1930’s style, but later reinvented himself as a master of the post-war freestyle era. Strutting around the ring, arguing with fans, and breaking all the rules Jack continued to infuriate fans right up to his retirement in 1963. Less renowned but just as Yorkshire, were other members of the Pye family, Tommy and Harry.
Not a member of the Pye family, but in the 1960s sometimes billed as one of Jack’s sons, was Sheffield villain Rough-house Harry Bennett, otherwise known as Crafty Casey Pye and Gypsy Benito.
Another famous Yorkshire wrestling family, and one of the most influential in the business, was the oft debated Crabtree family. Many would claim that to say Max, Brian and Shirley each made their mark on the late twentieth century business is a gross understatement. Few could agree whether their legacy was one of good or ill.
Elsewhere Wrestling Heritage has acknowledged the exploits of Doncaster heavyweight, Albert Rocky Wall, heavyweight champion of the 1970s. Another three time holder of the British heavyweight title was Yorkshireman Ernest Baldwin, who later gained television fame as a referee.
Yorkshire has also given us many other heavyweights. Top class performer and one of the fifties and sixties most popular heavyweights, Bradford’s Dennis Mitchell and his lighter brother, Don; and Wakefield’s Ray Steele. Even bigger, but at the other end of the popularity spectrum were some of the biggest villains in the business; Shipley’s blond bomber, Dangerous Danny Lynch, the giant Gargantua, and ex rugby players Don Vines and Mucky Mal Kirk.
Other Yorkshire heavyweights readers might recall include: Alf Rawlings, and his sons Bill and Jim; Barnsley’s Bert Mansfield, Huddersfield’s Don Mendoza, Hull’s Eric Leidermann, Shipley’s Geoff Portz, Farmer George Broadfield, York’s Big John Cox, Bradford’s Cyril Knowles, Wakefield’s Gorilla Reg Ray, and Leeds’ Jim Armstrong.
Among the youngsters readers might remember are Greg and Scott Valentine, Steve Taylor, Dave Taylor, Phil Pearson, and Sid Askins.
Yorkshire influence was not confined to the heavyweight division. Farmer Johnny Allan was one of the great mid-heavyweights. He turned professional, aged 20, in 1951. Growing in skill and size, from middleweight to a stocky, powerful Mid heavyweight, Johnny Allan took the British Mid heavyweight title from Norman Walsh in 1964 and returned it to him in 1965.
Fellow Yorkshireman Walsh had a more rugged style than Johnny Allan. He too gained title honours, not just at national level, but at world championship level also.
Less rugged but as tough as anyone in the business, was one of Yorkshire’s most popular wrestlers, Les Kellett. Top of his profession for over thirty years Kellett’s longevity in the business was matched by few, but one of them was fellow Yorkshireman, the unstoppable Sheffield star, Alan Kilby. Another popular light heavyweight was Barnsley’s Leon Arras. Son of wrestler Charlie Glover Leon Arras went on to gain wider fame as actor Brian Glover. Barnsley can boast a rich wrestling heritage. Others who trained at Charlie Glover's gym behind the Junction Pub included Pedro the Gypsy, Butcher Goodman, Dwight J Ingleburgh, Harry Bennett, Karl Krammer and Bert Craddock. Pedro the Gypsy told us that his first taste of wrestling was when Charlie Glover declared, "This lad does nowt but sit i' t'sun, and draggged me off to his gym."
Other Yorkshire light and mid heavyweigts you might recall include: Leon’s tag partner Bobby Graham, King Ben and his son, Kid McCoy, Derek Collins and the Black Diamond Eric Cutler.
Amongst middlewight Yorkshire campaigners we can include two of the greatest British champions; at heavy middlewight Bradford’s Eric Taylor, and middlweight champion from Barnsely, Vic Coleman. Few of us recall watching Vic Coleman in action, but many remember one of Yorkshire’s strongest and toughest middleweights, Alan Dennison. Other Yorkshire middlweights you might recall include: Alan’s tag partner and ex rugby player Ted Heath; giant-killer Peter Preston; Sheffield’s Danny Hegan; Kellett’s son, Dave Barrie; Mike “The Doc” Stocks, Dewsbury’s Harry Fields, the White Eagle Terry Jowett; Ian Gilmour, Jeff Kaye, Tom Jowett and Middlesborough’s Ron Oakley.
Amongst the two lightest divisions the impact of the white rose county is no less. Wakefield’s Alan Colbeck turned professional shortly after the war, and over the next two decades held British title honours at lightweight, welterweight and middleweight. On one occasion he defeated Londoner Mick McManus by two straight falls. Another frequent opponent of McManus in the post war years was the “Cock o’ the North,” Barnsley’s Carlton Smith.
No record of Yorkshire wrestling influence could miss two of the most successful lightweights. Bradford’s Jim Breaks held the lghtweight and welterweight titles on and off for many years. Al Miquet was another lightweight champion, and son of heavyweight Don Mendoza.
Other Yorkshire lightweights include: Bradford’s Bernard Murray, Maurice Atkinson and Barry Cannon; Leeds’ Mick James, Steve Best and Syd Cooper, and Doncaster’s Tiny Pat Lee.
One man not mentioned so far is a Yorkshire wrestler who was the county lightweight champion at age sixteen. Don Branch was a successful professional in the 1950s and 1960s. After retiring as a wrestler he became referee for Northern promoters Norman Morrell and Ted Beresford. His career ended abruptly in 1972 when he informed News of the World reporter John Lisners who wrote an expose of television wrestling.
Few can deny the contribution of the white rose county to the Mountevans era. Possibly the greatest contribution of all counties, but don’t tell those on the other side of the hills!
Read more.....Yorkshire Promise
Within minutes of publishing this article Heritage reader Dennis Wood had sent us another viewpoint from an old Joint Promotions programme.
Reet Gradely 
