Wrestlers from Belfast

[vinnym]

I think it may have been a marquee / tent on waste ground

Thanks for your reply BB.

[TheWrestlingNick]

Whipper watson lived across the road from me in dhu varren park.he worked in mackies and was deaf and dumb and also got blinded in one eye in an accident at work. He was a lovely bloke.

I've heard of Whipper Watson. Is he still about?

If not, I wonder would anyone have contact info for any family members of the likes of himself or Tiger Joe Moore or Dave Mac (I think his surname was McQuitty)?

Kindest regards
Nick

[JackM]

Have spoken to Boxer 1949 on here several times in the past discussing Boxing that took place in Belfast, Boxer informed me that there was a “Ring” at Peter’s Hill and was possibly run by Ma Copley, looks like this May be confirmation.

On reflection this is not the `Whipper Watson` from Dhu Varren who worked in Mackies. If the news article is from 1940 and presuming Whipper turned Pro at 20 years old, then he would have been born in 1920. No way was the `Whipper`from Dhu Varren born in 1920.
I am 80 years old and I believe the Whipper from Dhu Varren is younger than me, if he's still living. I don't think the Whipper who worked in Mackies ever turned Pro but stayed an Amateur all his wrestling days.

I believe people are getting mixed up with the real `Whipper Watson`, who also wrestled in Belfast as part of the wrestling circuit of the time.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiqpbf-t9HpAhWaRBUIHe5oA80QFjAAegQIDxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FWhipper_Billy_Watson&usg=AOvVaw3phX4OzHDDKwxLeWKqIsr-

[Jimmy Patterson]

Jack you are right the whipper from dhu varren definatley wasn't born in 1920 the last time I seen billy was on the woodvale he looked a bit forlorn I think he was living on his own.he was a really nice bloke.

[JackM]

Jack you are right the whipper from dhu varren definatley wasn't born in 1920 the last time I seen billy was on the woodvale he looked a bit forlorn I think he was living on his own.he was a really nice bloke.

Thanks Jimmy. Yes you are correct Whipper was a lovely fella. I used to see him fairly often when I lived off the Springfield Road. He would walk down Workman Avenue up the Springfield Road, up West Circular Road, down the Ballygomartin Road, into Woodvale Park and home again. He did that regularly in the Summer months. I always remember him as a sharp dresser.

Must be quite a few years now, since I last saw him. 

[vinnym]

I think it may have been a marquee / tent on waste ground

I have just perused the 1943 Street directory shows Rialto Boxing Club at 78a Peters Hill. Maybe that was a venue also?

[Bread Basket]

Another Whipper 🧐🤨

[Bread Basket]

I've heard of Whipper Watson. Is he still about?

If not, I wonder would anyone have contact info for any family members of the likes of himself or Tiger Joe Moore or Dave Mac (I think his surname was McQuitty)?

Kindest regards
Nick

This article mentions Whipper Dave Mack.  the bottom clipping states that Dave Mack was the referee.

[Bread Basket]

[TheWrestlingNick]

Yes both "Whipper" and "Dropkick" would have been regularly reused monikers for wrestlers of the time.

Dave Mack appears to have wrestled likely in the 1930s, definitely the 1940s, likely the 1950s and retired from wrestling that decade
In the 60s to the 70s and maybe even early 80s he served as MC at wrestling shows

His long tenure in pro wrestling, 38 years at least (wrestled on a card in 1941, was MC in 1979) makes him a very interesting figure.
Would be very beneficial coming across a relative.

Info on a fellow called Cliff Donaldson who wrestled as Butcher Donald would be great too.He was a taxi man in Belfast I believe.

Kindest regard, Nick

[sweenytodd]

Lads if it is any help Wipper Watson Used to do a lot off Modelling at Hairdressing Competions and i can tell you his age Today would be about 76, A lovely Guy

[TheWrestlingNick]

Lads if it is any help Wipper Watson Used to do a lot off Modelling at Hairdressing Competions and i can tell you his age Today would be about 76, A lovely Guy

Hi. I've done some digging since and unfortunately Billy Watson seems to have passed away in 2017. He was 80 years old. First wrestled in 1955 when he was 18, and retired about 1969. His name "Whipper Watson" was in homage to a famous Canadian wrestler of the same name. Cheers for hairdressing competition info!

Hoping to find some takers on info on other wrestlers called Dave Mack, Harry Brown (The Black Owl), Joe Moore (Tiger Joe Reynolds) Sean Montgomery (Seanie Rivers), Billy Shields (Buster Shields) and the Rodgers brothers (Billy, Jimmy and Ronnie). I believe the Rodgers might have been from Bangor but the rest were all Belfast men.

[Bread Basket]

[Bread Basket]

[TheWrestlingNick]

Hi Bread Basket. Cheers for the stuff. Have researched myself up. Currently trying to track down any living relatives of the old wrestlers who have passed on (though possibly Montgomery & Shields are still alive).

Harry / the Owl passed in 1972.