The annual Bodmin Riding custom was held at

Bodmin Bodmin () is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated south-west of Bodmin Moor. The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character. It is bordere ...

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, England, UK, on the Sunday and Monday after 7 July (St

Thomas Becket Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then ...

's Day). Accounts over its long history vary, but it involved a horseback procession around the town, carrying two large garlands, and probably originated as a Guild Riding custom. The earliest documentary evidence of the custom is in the Bodmin Parish Church rebuilding accounts of 1469-72, and it ceased in the early 19th century, but was revived in 1974 and now forms part of Bodmin Riding and Heritage Day Festival.

Cornish wrestling Cornish wrestling ( kw, Omdowl Kernewek) is a form of wrestling that has been established in Cornwall for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"Phillipps, ...

tournaments have always been an intrinsic part of Bodmin Riding. Historically, there were significant prizes.Munn, Pat: ''Bodmin Riding and Other Similar Celtic Customs'', Bodmin Books Limited 1975.Collins Tony, Martin John, Vamplew Wray: ''Encyclopedia of Traditional British Rural Sports'', Routledge (Abingdon) 2005, p45-46.Brand John, Hazlitt W Carew: ''Popular Antiquities of Great Britain'', John Russell Smith (London) 1870, p252-255. ''Bodmin Riding'' may also refer to the folk song (also known as St Ives Well Procession) still played at the Riding. Helliers

Charles II

In July 1646, during the

Wars of the Three Kingdoms The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were a series of related conflicts fought between 1639 and 1653 in the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland, then separate entities united in a pers ...

, the Duke of Cornwall, the future Charles II, visited Bodmin on his way to the Isles of Scilly from whence he would go into exile. Whilst in Bodmin he joined in with the celebrations, described as sports and pastimes, and became a Brother of the Society.

Helliers

2019 Helliers

* David Anthony * Dan Coad * Tom Coleman * Merran Coleman * Jordan Collins * George Featherston * Harry Featherston * Tom Kenyon * Jacob Price * Tom Price * Rikky Sweet * Kyle Sykes * Benjamin Watts

References

External links

Official website
Cornish culture Festivals in Cornwall July events Bodmin {{Cornwall-stub