I was introduced to the YMCA in1973 by Richard Baraclough a lecturer at North Trafford College; he was also my Judo instructor. I had gained a black belt in Judo and he thought wrestling would improve my ground work. Since then I have never looked back and competed in 3 Olympic Games,3 Commonwealth Games, 3...
Max Shacklady, a member of the YMCA in the 1940’s & 1950’s, is still remembered by many older members for his incredible fitness and championship qualities. Max lost his Olympic boxing match in the 1948 London Olympics under dubious circumstances. Incredibly, up to 20 boxing officials were suspended during the games and a newspaper cutting...
Stef’s list of achievements in freestyle wrestling include: Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982, Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984. British middleweight champion 1981, 82, 84, 85. Stef Kurpas continued to train here at the Manchester YMCA and coached many of the younger wrestlers before he sadly passed away in 2018. Here Stef talks about what it was...
Joey Gilligan by Bernard Desoldato I was first introduced to Joey Gilligan when he was 13 and I was 26. I was doing judo at Denton Judo Club and was asked by Steve Pullen to come to The YMCA to wrestle Joey. I agreed thinking that a 13 year old boy would be no match...
