A NEW heavyweight Cornish wrestling champion of the world was crowned near St Columb Major.

Michael Edwards, aged 28, from Roche, took the title after a hard-fought competition at Castle an Dinas.

The centuries-old sport is played between two players who both wear jackets with four pins in the back. The aim is for an opponent to be thrown flat so as many of those pins as possible hit the ground. The game is refereed by sticklers, and a Back is achieved when all four pins make contact. If no Back is awarded, the winner is the wrestler with the most points within the time limit.

Mr Edwards, who is supported by the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), is a gold medal winning judoka who has recently moved into Cornish wrestling.

He said: “The first fight was a tough 10-minute bout against the former light-heavyweight champion via points,” said Michael. “My next bout was against another judoka from Bournemouth who I beat by scoring a Back.

“I fought a much larger European wrestling champion from Scotland in the final. After two very tough ten-minute rounds, a split decision amongst the sticklers declared me as the winner.

“I’m very grateful to GSF for the support they provide with my training enabling me to access any Better facility throughout the UK free of charge. That’s a huge help.”

Karen Edmond, GLL community sports manager, said: “To be crowned Cornish wrestling’s heavyweight champion of the world is fantastic.

“Many congratulations to Michael on his truly amazing win.”

Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that runs nine leisure centres in Cornwall on behalf of the council. In 2025, 144 Cornwall-based athletes, representing 23 sports, received GSF support worth £92,150.

Online applications for 2026 GSF awards run from December, 20 2025 to February, 20 2026. For more information, visit: www.gllsportfoundation.org/how-to-apply