British-Wrestling-Logo-Horizontal-500-100-WhiteBritish-Wrestling-Logo-Horizontal-500-100-WhiteBritish-wrestling-white-mobile-logo-65-transparent-500px
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Coaches
    • Officials
    • This Girl Can Wrestle
    • Awards
  • Clubs
    • Club Finder
    • Club Affiliation
    • Club Support
  • GBR Wrestling
    • Build for Birmingham Squad
    • Performance Pathway
    • Selection
  • Events
    • Courses
    • Competitions
    • Results
  • About
    • Governance
      • Annual General Meetings
      • Board
    • Policies
      • Diversity
      • Safeguarding
        • Dealing with concerns, disclosure or allegations about staff/volunteers
        • Dealing with concerns, disclosures or allegations outside the British Wrestling setting
      • Anti-Doping
    • Insurance
    • The Team
      • Board Members
      • Association Personnel
    • British Wrestling Academy
    • History of Wrestling
      • Lists of past Champions
      • Legends of British Wrestling
        • Herbie Hall
        • Ken Richmond
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • Membership
    • Join British Wrestling
    • Benefits
    • Membership Categories

Burns Night

25/01/2021

This month we shine a light on a key calendar date for one of our Home Nations – Scotland. Burns Night is a celebration of the life and work of Robert Burns, Scotland’s most famous poet. Robert Burns produced hundreds of poems and songs, including one that many of us sing (or at least hum) on New Year’s Eve – Auld Lang Syne.

The 25th of January marks the official day of celebration for the poet because it is his birthday. The celebration began as a remembrance for the poet among his friends and family but evolved over the years into a national day of celebration. Scottish tradition underpins the Burns Night celebrations so foods like haggis, neeps and tatties, Cullen Skink Soup, shortbread are likely to be within reach that evening.

The pandemic will no doubt have put a dampener on the typical Burns Night celebrations this year, but we spoke with a few of our Scottish wrestlers to find out how they planned to adapt their Burns Night celebrations this year.

Finlay ‘Finn’ Marshall

Finn MarshallFinn Marshall has been wrestling for over 20 years and has represented Team Scotland and Team GB from School boys to Seniors. He has won 9 British championships and 13 Scottish Championships and credits wrestling for helping to manage childhood hyperactivity. Burns Night is extra special for Finn as it also coincides with his birthday so in previous years he would have celebrated at home with extended family or attended a Ceilidh – or traditional gathering with folk music and dancing.

‘This year will be very different as I will have less family around due to the lockdown restrictions. I luckily have the day off from my job in the Scottish Ambulance Service, so I will start the day home schooling my two boys with Robert Burns Poems which the school has provided and then celebrate at my home with wife and children enjoying haggis and birthday cake’.

Abbie Fountain

Abbie Fountain

Abbie has been wrestling for 7 years and is the current Scottish champion. Abbie started wrestling out of curiosity when her local gym started offering sessions and progressed to the national talent squad and U23s team.

Abbie would typically spend Burns Night at her gran’s house with the rest of her extended family where they would wear tartan, eat haggis and potatoes, and read poems. Her school usually encourages participation in Burns Night celebration by encouraging students to wear a piece of tartan to raise money for charity. 

‘This year I will be celebrating with some of my family at home and although it will be very different, I’m sure we’ll make the most of it’.

Max Freyne

Max FreyneMax Freyne started his wrestling career in a traditional form of wrestling called Scottish Backhold Wrestling. This type of wrestling is normally seen at traditional Scottish festivals called the ‘Highland Games, takes place outside on grass and wrestlers compete in kilts. During his career he has placed second at the European Celtic Wrestling championships (74kg), won the Icelandic adult championships (81kg), won the Scottish Open (74kg) and placed 4th in the English Open 2020.  

Although the pandemic has affected his training and other parts of his life he is grateful that has been able to be with his family during the difficult times. ‘My normal traditions for Burns night won’t be changing due to the pandemic, I will be having a traditional dinner of Haggis, neeps and tatties with my family and spending some quality time with them’. 

Slàinte mhath!

Share

READ MORE

  • 01/01/2021

    This Girl Can Wrestle – British Wrestling Partners with Wrestle Like a Girl


    Read more
  • Birmingham 2022 Competition Schedule Update Now Live
    26/02/2021

    Birmingham 2022 Unveils Biggest Ever Competition Schedule


    Read more
  • 20/02/2021

    Graeme English – The Passing of a British Wrestling Legend


    Read more
  • 18/02/2021

    Call for Diversity and Equality Champions


    Read more
  • 04/02/2021

    Coronavirus February Update


    Read more
  • 03/02/2021

    Launch of BWA | 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Assistant Coaching


    Read more

NEWS ARCHIVE

  • 2021
    • January 2021
    • February 2021
  • 2020
    • January 2020
    • February 2020
    • March 2020
    • April 2020
    • May 2020
    • June 2020
    • July 2020
    • August 2020
    • September 2020
    • December 2020
  • 2019
    • January 2019
    • March 2019
    • April 2019
    • May 2019
    • June 2019
    • July 2019
    • October 2019
    • November 2019
    • December 2019
  • 2018
    • January 2018
    • February 2018
    • March 2018
    • April 2018
    • May 2018
  • 2017
    • January 2017
    • February 2017
    • March 2017
    • April 2017
    • May 2017
    • June 2017
    • July 2017
    • August 2017
    • September 2017
    • October 2017
    • November 2017
    • December 2017
  • 2016
    • January 2016
    • February 2016
    • March 2016
    • April 2016
    • May 2016
    • June 2016
    • July 2016
    • August 2016
    • September 2016
    • October 2016
    • November 2016
    • December 2016
  • 2015
    • January 2015
    • March 2015
    • April 2015
    • May 2015
    • June 2015
    • July 2015
    • August 2015
    • September 2015
    • October 2015
    • November 2015
    • December 2015
  • 2014
    • January 2014
    • February 2014
    • March 2014
    • April 2014
    • May 2014
    • June 2014
    • July 2014
    • August 2014
    • September 2014
    • October 2014
    • November 2014
    • December 2014
  • 2013
    • January 2013
    • February 2013
    • March 2013
    • April 2013
    • May 2013
    • June 2013
    • July 2013
    • August 2013
    • September 2013
    • October 2013
    • November 2013
    • December 2013
  • 2012
    • February 2012
    • April 2012
    • May 2012
    • June 2012
    • July 2012
    • August 2012
    • September 2012
    • October 2012
    • November 2012
    • December 2012
  • 2011
    • January 2011
    • February 2011
    • March 2011
    • April 2011
    • May 2011
    • June 2011
    • July 2011
    • August 2011
    • September 2011
    • October 2011
    • November 2011
    • December 2011
  • 2010
    • January 2010
    • February 2010
    • March 2010
    • April 2010
    • May 2010
    • June 2010
    • July 2010
    • August 2010
    • September 2010
    • October 2010
    • November 2010
    • December 2010
  • 2009
    • January 2009
    • May 2009
    • June 2009
    • July 2009
    • August 2009
    • September 2009
    • October 2009
    • November 2009
    • December 2009

TAGS

#BlackHistoryMonth  #BHM  #BlackOlympians  #BritishWrestling  #wrestling  #freestylewrestling  #FitzWalker  #NoelLoban #wrestlelikeagirl #thisgirlcanwrestle Abbie Fountain bjj Bonfire Night Burns Night celebration club coach coaching covid Covid19 development Divali Diwali education festival festival of light Finn Marshall fire crackers fireworks Glasgow 2014 Gold Coast 2018 greece Guy Fawkes’ Night Hindu lights Max Freyne mma November olympic Olympics Olympic Wrestling ReActivateWrestling return to the mat Scotland Scottish Backhold Wrestling Scottish Wrestling sparklers survey tartan tradition wrestle wrestlers wrestling

Quick Links


  • → FAQs
  • → Contact Us
  • → Site Map
  • → Terms & Conditions
  • → Accessibility

The British Wrestling Association Limited

The British Wrestling Academy
41 Great Clowes Street Salford, Greater Manchester M7 1RQ
Registered in England & Wales company no: 04190868

Find us on social media


Do you have questions?
Contact us now

Telephone Number: 01618352112

© 2019 British Wrestling. All Rights Reserved