Cudgel playing consisted of two players, each armed with a cudgel, trying to draw blood from an opponent’s head, neck or face. A cudgel was a short thick stick that was used as a weapon to attack or defend against the attacker. Umpires would decide whether sufficient blood was drawn. It was a popular spectator sport at the Blandford Horse Races held annually in the 1700 & 1800s at what is now known as Blandford Camp. When the crowds saw blood, they would shout out “a head!” Both combatants, if they were wise, would ‘gaffle up’ that was to pad the less hardy parts of the body before cudgel playing.
17th May 1820 Mr John Newman of Hammoon Died aged 88 Years. He was well known in Dorset and Somerset as champion of all in those counties of Cudgel players or Sword and dagger, and he would play any Man in all England for any Sum. He for many years was so much dreaded and feared that the Somersetshire Men would not attend to play in these parts unless he was prohibited from playing, consequently he was at most places what they called “Cried down”. He was a powerful, athletic Man, upwards of Six feet high, of a cool disposition by which he often had the advantage of his antagonist, he never was known to use any foul play or improper language and was much respected altho’ he delighted in such exercise.
Mr Newman died of a Dropsy and was latterly heard to say that he never felt any thing of the very hard and heavy blows he frequently received from those he had to contend with, which were many of the first rate to endeavour to cut him out of his play and dear earned championship. No Man was ever known to break so many heads in one day nor yet in one man’s time, except his tutor ‘Butcher Matcham’ of Child Okeford who was in his days the best player ever seen or heard of.
Mr Newman had his head broken a few times from showing too much levity and carelessness to others to give them a chance to get some money from the Spectators
Source: https://www.theblandfordexpress.com/2024/06/john-newman-champion-cudgel-player.html and https://www.opcdorset.org/ManstonFiles/HenryKainesJournal.pdf
More info: Cudgel-Playing-Broadsword-Singlestick-G-Sinclair-1800.pdf (swordfight.uk)
