U.K.: WOMEN'S WRESTLING MATCH UPSETS THE WOMEN OF PORTSMOUTH

Record ID: 634895

  • Title: U.K.: WOMEN'S WRESTLING MATCH UPSETS THE WOMEN OF PORTSMOUTH
  • Date: 4th April 1966
  • Summary: 1. LV GIRLS WRESTLING IN RING 0.05 2. CU SUGAR PIE THROWN TO FLOOR 0.10 3. SV SUGAR PIE 0.21 4. LV DITTO 0.26 5. SV SPECTATORS 0.29 6. CU SUGAR PIE THROWN THEN BUTTED 0.55 7. LV SUGAR PIE GRABS JANNY 0.58 8. CU JANNY PINNED TO FLOOR 1.03 9. LV FINISH OF CONTEST. SUGAR PIE DECLARED WINNER 1.11 10. SV JANNY BEING INTERVIEWED 1.15 11. CU SOF STARTS: "HOW DO YOU FEEL..." SOF ENDS: "...SCREAMING, WOULDN'T THEY?" 1.41 TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 11: REPORTER: "HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A LADY WRESTLER? DOES IT EMBARRASS YOU AT ALL?" JANNY: "No." REPORTER: "HOW DO YOU ANSWER PEOPLE THE INEVITABLE - PEOPLE WHO MUST CRITICISE YOU, CRITICISE LADIES WRESTLING? WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER TO THEM ALL?" JANNY: "I THINK THEY'RE JUST IDIOTS, COMPLETE IDIOTS." REPORTER: "WHY" JANNY: "WELL, WHAT'S WRONG WITH GIRLS GOING IN THE RING? IT'S NOT AS IF WE GO IN THE NUDE, IS IT?" REPORTER: "CERTAINLY NOT." JANNY: "THEY'D START SCREAMING THEN, WOULDN'T THEY?" Initials RM/V/WH/SA SPORT: WOMEN'S WRESTLING Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 19th April 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PORTSMOUTH, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, U.K.
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAA2KIGX2N0D71VPN6GCVP5XKQU
  • Story Text: TWO HEFTY AND BRAWNY GIRLS HAVE UPSET THE WOMEN OF THE ENGLISH TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH. THEIR DECISION TO WRESTLE EACH OTHER TRIGGERED SCORES OF PROTESTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS LEARNED THAT THE REFEREE WOULD BE A CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIEST. THE SOUTH COAST TOWN'S ANGRY WOMEN PROTESTED TO THE AUTHORITIES, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE MATCH WENT ON. BUT THE REFEREE BACKED OUT FOR FEAR OF EMBARRASSING PARISHIONERS.

    IN ONE CORNER, THERE WAS 17-YEAR-OLD SUGAR PIE HARLEM, A COLOURED GIRL WHOM THE PROMOTERS DESCRIED AS FROM NEW YORK DESPITE THE FACT SHE SPEAKS WITH A DISTINCT NORTHERN ENGLAND ACCENT. IN THE OTHER CORNER - JANNY PEEL, FROM YORKSHIRE AND THE HEAVIER OF THE TWO.

    DESPITE THE WEIGHT DISADVANTAGE, MISS HARLEM WON THE CONTEST. IT WAS ONLY JANNY'S FOURTH DEFEAT IN 40 BOUTE. ON FILM, SHE TAKES A BATTERING, BUT COMES BACK TO PIN BIG JANNY TO THE FLOOR.

    MEANWHILE, THE PROMOTERS PLAN A WHOLE SERIES OF WOMEN'S WRESTLING MATCHES ALONG THE SOUTH COAST - NO MATTER WHAT THE SEASIDE LADIES SAY.
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