Clog Fighting in West Riding, Yorkshire

[RuslanPashayev]

Dear Friends, who has any memories about the clog fighting/shin kicking/purring/pawsing contests in West Riding, Yorkshire please be welcome to share. I will highly appreciate that. Recently I found on BritishNewspaperArchives reports of regular clog fighting matches at Castle Hill, Huddresfield in the 1800's. Thanks in advance. Kind regards, Ruslan

[Nick Wilde]

I have no personal experience of clog fighting but I can recall my mother talking about menfolk having clog fights on Leymoor Top (Golcar, Huddersfield) in the mid 1920's.  And that some used to file the brass on the toe cap in order to draw blood.

[bykerlads]

Never heard of clog fighting, only clog dancing and cock fighting.
But it sounds very plausible.
No doubt either as a way of settling local grudges or for gambling.
Everyone wore clogs right into the early 20thC.
My ancestor Thomas Swires was a clog and patten maker in Holmfirth in the mid 1800's and no doubt did a good trade.

[tomkin]

   https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/clog-fighting-anna-fc-smiths-gallery-oldham-exhibition-reveals-the-history-of-the-lost-british-a6799901.html

[bykerlads]

I've just remembered that for many years Private Eye magazine had a cartoon series called The Cloggies by Bill Tidy.
Ostensibly a clog dancing team, their main aim was to inflict injuries on opposing teams using such arcane manoeuvres as The Triple Arkwright and the Heckmondwyke Reverse Spin. (See Wiki entry.)
No doubt all based on the original clog fighters.

[toby webb]

Very interesting subject especially now I know I had relations from Yorkshire. Armstrong's book Adam Brunskill takes on a new meaning. I certainly can recommend reading it to add some flesh to these old records involving clog fighting. T.

[manonmoor]

I've just seen thisdesribed by  tee actor James Mason
its about 30 mins into this clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4LsSlWzITA