WRESTLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1046, 24 March 1910, Page 13

WRESTLING.

ALEX 8A1N,.. CHAMPION. - WRESTLER. (By Half Nelson.) Alex. Bain, the famous Scotch wrestler, is a splendidly-built athlete, stand ing over 6ft in height, with a chest 51 inches expanded and 47 inches normal. Biceps 17%in thigh 27in, calf 18in, weight 16 stone 71b. Bain has been wrestling for over twenty years, and has met every wrestler of note in the world. His first notable encounter on the wrestling mat was when he defeated James Currie at Glaston games, Currie, at that time, being considered the finest heavyweight in Scotland. At the Plains games he lowered the colours of James Morrison in two . styles, much to the surprise of Morrison, who had never met Bain before, and who had been winning wherever he went. Shortly aftewards he met the world’s famous G. M. Ross in a three style match for the championship of Scot-

land. Bain again proved the victor. Shortly afterwards Bain was challenged by Gunner Nicol (the strongest Scotchman of his time. The match was in three styles, namely, Cumberland, catch-as-catch-can and Greaco-Roman. This proved to be the hardest match Bain had ever wrestled in, it took place in Victoria Hall, Hamilton. Bain won the Cumberland in quick order, Nicol won the catch-as-catch-can and Greaco-Roman, in fairness to Bain it must be stated the decision was disputed by everyone who was present, Bain’s shoulders being against the scenery instead of the mat. Bain expressed a wish to meet Nicol again, but the wish was never gratified. Shortly afterwards Bain beat G. H. Johnstone in a catch-as-catch-can match in Edinburgh. Bain now issued a challenge in an all-round competition. Bain offering to back himself to cover in a long jump 21ft, high jump sft 4in, put the 161 b ball 41ft, throw the 161 b hammer 116 ft, throw the %cwt 26ft and sprint 100 yards inside 11 seconds. Nd one accepted Bain’s challenge, which shows that other athletes respected Bain’s abilities. In 1903 Bain won a tournament for the World’s championship at Edinburgh, defeating Jack Carkeek in the

final. The most notable bouts Bain had in the tournament was with Tom Connors and Charles Green, the English heavyweight champion. Bain afterwards toured all over Great Britain meeting with great success. Bain then went on the Continent and entered the Graeco-Roman tournaments, his first appearance was in the Cassino de Paris, where he ran into seventh place from among 130 wrestlers, he next went to the Apollo Theatre, Paris, and competed there, from there he went to the Cirque Metropole, there he was fifth from among twenty-five selected wrestlers. Then he competed in a tournament in Christiana, Norway, where he won second prize in the consolation tournament. Then he competed in Colongue where he won fourth prize from among sixty wrestlers, he again competed at Dartmurd, running into the prize list, from there he went to Phaymezal, Galacia here he divided second and third prize with Pltlanstshy, then he competed in Leige getting into fifth place, then he returned to Great Britain and travelled two years with Hackenschmidt as wrestling partner. Bain is now in New Zealand and is ready to meet any man for any sum up to £lOO.