The following is as complete a list of the winners of the wrestling at Melmerby Rounds, as we have been able to collect. The local newspapers were carefully ransacked for intelligence, but being found singularly barren in this respect, our information had to be gathered in almost every instance from aged fell-side chroniclers, who had either been frequent or occasional attenders at these meetings, the principal of whom was Mr. John Dodd of Broadmeadows, Melmerby.
About 1788 Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill, won several years.
About 1798, James Fawcett, miner, Nenthead.
" 1799, " " "
" 1800, " " "
" 1801, " " "
" 1802, " " "
" 1803, " " "
" 1804, " " "
" 1809, Thomas Golightly, miner, Alston.
This wrestler afterwards removed to the West Cumberland mining district; and in February, 1819, was killed by the fall of part of a roof in one of the Whitehaven coal pits.
About 1810, Robert Rowantree, shepherd, Kingwater.
About 1815, Andrew Armstrong, farmer, Sowerby Hall.
About 1816, Thomas Peat, farmer's son, Blencow.
" 1817, John Dobson, Cliburn.
" 1818, John Robley, Scarrowmannock.
" 1819, " "
Robley emigrated to America several years after this date.
About 1820, Isaac Maughan, Alston.
" 1821, " "
Maughan settled in Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he died during the cholera of 1832.
About 1823, J. Spottiswoode, miner, Alston.
" 1825, John Weightman, husbandman, Hayton.
About 1826, John Weightman, husbandman, Hayton.
Weightman won two years, and received a guinea and the belt each time, these being the usual awards to the victor at that date.