1 00:00:07,877 --> 00:00:15,450 ♪ 2 00:00:15,493 --> 00:00:23,023 ♪ 3 00:00:23,066 --> 00:00:30,595 ♪ 4 00:00:30,639 --> 00:00:33,163 Good evening. I'm Helen Mirren. 5 00:00:33,207 --> 00:00:38,081 And you're watching "Documentary Now!" Season 53. 6 00:00:38,125 --> 00:00:41,998 In a small Welsh village, two men enter a ring. 7 00:00:42,042 --> 00:00:44,609 But instead of doing battle with their fists, 8 00:00:44,653 --> 00:00:46,742 they throw stones at each other. 9 00:00:46,785 --> 00:00:52,052 And actually, it's not a ring, it's a sheep pen. 10 00:00:52,095 --> 00:00:56,665 I give you the 1996 classic sports documentary 11 00:00:56,708 --> 00:00:59,059 "How They Threw Rocks." 12 00:01:01,148 --> 00:01:04,803 [ Laughter ] 13 00:01:04,846 --> 00:01:06,631 [ Indistinct conversation ] 14 00:01:06,675 --> 00:01:13,682 [ Singing in Welsh ] 15 00:01:13,725 --> 00:01:17,902 ♪ 16 00:01:17,947 --> 00:01:20,123 [ Welsh accent ] Yes, I'm back. 17 00:01:20,167 --> 00:01:21,690 Others tell me I've changed, but I haven't. 18 00:01:21,733 --> 00:01:23,908 I'm still the champ, and I don't take too well 19 00:01:23,953 --> 00:01:26,042 to somebody going around saying otherwise. 20 00:01:26,086 --> 00:01:29,914 [ Singing continues ] 21 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,918 [ Chuckles ] 22 00:01:32,962 --> 00:01:33,963 [ Crowd cheering ] 23 00:01:34,006 --> 00:01:35,878 Bring a smile to your face. 24 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:40,970 ♪ 25 00:01:41,013 --> 00:01:43,581 Now, I know what you've all been saying, lads and ladies. 26 00:01:43,625 --> 00:01:45,583 He's bigger than me. He's younger than me. 27 00:01:45,627 --> 00:01:47,890 And yet not one of you have said 28 00:01:47,933 --> 00:01:49,674 he's better-looking than me. 29 00:01:49,718 --> 00:01:52,112 So at least on that count, I know you're being honest. 30 00:01:54,418 --> 00:01:56,985 Announcer: He's the hero, and he's the man! 31 00:01:57,029 --> 00:01:59,249 He's the one they've come to see. 32 00:01:59,293 --> 00:02:02,818 ♪ 33 00:02:02,861 --> 00:02:04,298 Reporter: Do you have a girlfriend, Sior? 34 00:02:04,341 --> 00:02:06,735 [ Welsh accent ] Do I have a girlfriend? 35 00:02:06,778 --> 00:02:11,435 A gentleman never -- what's the expression? 36 00:02:11,478 --> 00:02:15,352 A gentleman never has a girlfriend. 37 00:02:15,396 --> 00:02:17,659 You say he's big. You say he's mean. 38 00:02:17,702 --> 00:02:19,922 But I'm the hottest shot you've ever seen. 39 00:02:22,011 --> 00:02:24,535 Announcer: He's certainly not the people's favorite. 40 00:02:24,579 --> 00:02:26,624 "Get your hair cut," the crowd say. 41 00:02:26,668 --> 00:02:28,017 ♪ 42 00:02:28,060 --> 00:02:29,279 Man: Olly!Group: Oi! 43 00:02:29,323 --> 00:02:30,628 Olly!Oi! 44 00:02:30,672 --> 00:02:33,457 Olly! Olly! Olly!Oi! Oi! Oi! 45 00:02:33,501 --> 00:02:35,633 ♪ 46 00:02:35,677 --> 00:02:37,591 They thought he was burnt out and pastured. 47 00:02:37,635 --> 00:02:39,420 They thought he was way too old. 48 00:02:39,463 --> 00:02:42,466 But this here, lads, it's people's champ. 49 00:02:42,510 --> 00:02:44,555 He was about to weave gold 50 00:02:44,599 --> 00:02:47,863 [ Birds chirping, sheep bleating ] 51 00:02:49,038 --> 00:02:52,259 [ Speaking Welsh ] 52 00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,831 There she is. I wouldn't be what I am without her. 53 00:02:59,875 --> 00:03:01,311 Formidable, but I'll tell you what. 54 00:03:01,355 --> 00:03:03,095 One tough cookie. 55 00:03:03,139 --> 00:03:05,924 You have a cross word with Ma Lewis-Ifans, 56 00:03:05,968 --> 00:03:09,189 be prepared for anything up to and including single combat. 57 00:03:09,232 --> 00:03:10,320 I can tell you. 58 00:03:11,539 --> 00:03:13,236 Love her. 59 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,806 Alwyn Lewis-Ifans was the most charismatic, skillful, 60 00:03:17,849 --> 00:03:23,159 and brutal craig maes fighter that I have ever seen. 61 00:03:23,203 --> 00:03:25,814 [ Crowd shouting, applauding ] 62 00:03:25,857 --> 00:03:28,512 Announcer: It's an absolute bloodbath 63 00:03:28,556 --> 00:03:30,993 as Lewis-Ifans and Rhys-Thomas 64 00:03:31,036 --> 00:03:34,039 go back and forth, back and forth! 65 00:03:34,083 --> 00:03:37,173 Teale-Griffith: Craig maes, or "field rock," 66 00:03:37,216 --> 00:03:41,699 is a sport unique to the Welsh village Llagoelwyn on Wrst, 67 00:03:41,743 --> 00:03:46,095 in which two men enter a sheep pen divided in half. 68 00:03:46,138 --> 00:03:49,011 Each fighter has a pile of rocks, 69 00:03:49,054 --> 00:03:51,274 a pile they have personally collected 70 00:03:51,317 --> 00:03:52,884 from the surrounding field. 71 00:03:52,928 --> 00:03:55,017 And during each three-minute round, 72 00:03:55,060 --> 00:03:56,801 they take these rocks 73 00:03:56,845 --> 00:04:00,283 and hurl them at one another...[ Crowd shouting ] 74 00:04:00,327 --> 00:04:01,806 ...with great force. 75 00:04:01,850 --> 00:04:03,721 Announcer: Down goes Rhys-Thomas! 76 00:04:03,765 --> 00:04:06,115 Down goes Rhys-Thomas![ Bell rings ] 77 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:13,296 Allie, as he was known locally, was a folk hero in Llagoelwyn. 78 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:15,298 Announcer: Oh, there's an Allie Whirlie! 79 00:04:15,342 --> 00:04:17,995 Teale-Griffith: He'd won the Golden Stones as an amateur 80 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,521 and then went pro at 17. 81 00:04:20,564 --> 00:04:22,087 And when he announced 82 00:04:22,130 --> 00:04:24,264 he was going to attempt to win back his title 83 00:04:24,307 --> 00:04:27,005 in his hometown of Llagoelwyn on Wrst -- 84 00:04:27,049 --> 00:04:31,488 in his first fight in over five years, no less -- 85 00:04:31,532 --> 00:04:34,230 well, it was a national event. 86 00:04:34,274 --> 00:04:35,971 [ Mid-tempo music plays ] 87 00:04:36,014 --> 00:04:44,719 ♪ 88 00:04:44,762 --> 00:04:49,071 Teale-Griffith: These people, this town, they loved Allie 89 00:04:49,114 --> 00:04:52,857 because they believed he fought for them. 90 00:04:52,901 --> 00:04:54,598 Davies-Gruffudd: The problem was 91 00:04:54,642 --> 00:04:58,341 Allie had never fought anyone like Sior Strawboss. 92 00:04:58,385 --> 00:04:59,995 [ Mid-tempo music plays ] 93 00:05:00,038 --> 00:05:03,607 Strawboss didn't dance. He didn't strategize. 94 00:05:03,651 --> 00:05:06,697 He simply threw a rock harder than anyone on earth. 95 00:05:06,741 --> 00:05:08,830 [ Bell rings, crowd cheering ] 96 00:05:10,179 --> 00:05:11,789 Strawboss: Yes! 97 00:05:11,833 --> 00:05:14,401 Teale-Griffith: I once wrote, "When Strawboss strikes 98 00:05:14,444 --> 00:05:18,622 another man with a stone, even God winces." 99 00:05:19,580 --> 00:05:22,191 I was quite pleased with that one. 100 00:05:22,234 --> 00:05:24,193 Davies-Gruffudd: There was a feeling amongst many of us 101 00:05:24,236 --> 00:05:27,588 that this fight for Allie was a mistake. 102 00:05:27,631 --> 00:05:29,503 Man: Are you worried, Allie?Am I worried? 103 00:05:29,546 --> 00:05:32,288 No, I'm not worried at all. 104 00:05:32,332 --> 00:05:34,377 Aye, Sior Strawboss is a nasty character, 105 00:05:34,421 --> 00:05:37,511 but let's not forget, now, lads, I've just come out of prison. 106 00:05:37,554 --> 00:05:40,818 And, uh, next to the boys I spent the last five years with, 107 00:05:40,862 --> 00:05:43,778 Strawboss is as timid as your dear old aunt. 108 00:05:43,821 --> 00:05:45,909 [ Laughter ]Not your Aunt Dorissa. 109 00:05:45,954 --> 00:05:47,347 I wouldn't want to scuffle with her. 110 00:05:47,390 --> 00:05:48,652 How's she doing? She all right? 111 00:05:48,696 --> 00:05:50,393 Man: She's good now.Lovely. 112 00:05:50,437 --> 00:05:52,830 Davies-Gruffudd: You see, they didn't just love him 113 00:05:52,874 --> 00:05:54,136 as a fighter. 114 00:05:54,179 --> 00:05:55,920 They loved him because in their minds 115 00:05:55,964 --> 00:05:57,922 he had gone to prison for them -- 116 00:05:57,966 --> 00:06:00,534 which one could argue he had. 117 00:06:00,577 --> 00:06:02,449 Turner: There were a lot of sheep stolen 118 00:06:02,492 --> 00:06:04,538 up and down the valley in the spring of 1969. 119 00:06:04,581 --> 00:06:09,499 So we set up a sting operation and caught Die John red-handed. 120 00:06:09,543 --> 00:06:13,111 Well, the problem was Die John's father was Tom the Milk, 121 00:06:13,155 --> 00:06:14,678 chairman of the farmers union. 122 00:06:14,722 --> 00:06:16,680 There wasn't much more of a powerful man in the valley 123 00:06:16,724 --> 00:06:18,247 than Tom the Milk. 124 00:06:18,290 --> 00:06:20,989 So he pulled a few strings, and he got Die off 125 00:06:21,032 --> 00:06:23,992 with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. 126 00:06:24,035 --> 00:06:27,299 Well, of course, Allie was having none of it. 127 00:06:27,343 --> 00:06:30,128 Do we not pay our taxes?Group: Yeah! 128 00:06:30,172 --> 00:06:32,479 Do we not deserve protection?Group: Yeah! 129 00:06:32,522 --> 00:06:36,134 Now, I'm no vigilante, but I won't stand by and do nothing. 130 00:06:36,178 --> 00:06:38,354 The farmers of this village are like family to me. 131 00:06:38,398 --> 00:06:40,312 And you don't want to see what happens 132 00:06:40,356 --> 00:06:41,792 when you steal from my family. 133 00:06:41,836 --> 00:06:43,620 Would you steal a car?Group: No! 134 00:06:43,664 --> 00:06:45,579 Would you steal a child?Group: No! 135 00:06:45,622 --> 00:06:49,582 It's the exact same thing! You would not steal a sheep! 136 00:06:49,626 --> 00:06:54,283 That farmer wakes up in the morning, he's a sheep shy. 137 00:06:54,326 --> 00:06:56,154 He has lost a child. 138 00:06:56,198 --> 00:06:59,462 Or that sheep wakes up, doesn't know where it is. 139 00:06:59,506 --> 00:07:00,942 It's full-on emigrated. 140 00:07:00,985 --> 00:07:02,378 It goes to the other sheep, "Oh, hello." 141 00:07:02,422 --> 00:07:03,858 They go, "Sorry. No, you're a mountain sheep. 142 00:07:03,901 --> 00:07:05,555 We're sheep sheep." "Well, but --" 143 00:07:05,599 --> 00:07:07,427 "No, you're a mountain sheep. We're sheep sheep." 144 00:07:07,470 --> 00:07:09,167 Now, all of a sudden, you've got a mountain sheep 145 00:07:09,211 --> 00:07:13,476 in a sheep sheep pen confused, lonely, scared, traumatized. 146 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,218 Now, you think about that!Group: Yeah! 147 00:07:16,261 --> 00:07:19,482 I know why he did what he did. 148 00:07:19,526 --> 00:07:21,919 In many ways, I wish I'd done it myself. 149 00:07:21,963 --> 00:07:23,878 Judge: Now, I want to make clear 150 00:07:23,921 --> 00:07:26,924 that whilst you have not been prosecuted for sheep theft, 151 00:07:26,968 --> 00:07:29,057 you arebanned from ever entering this village again. 152 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:31,494 Have you anything to say? 153 00:07:31,538 --> 00:07:34,584 I wouldn't step foot in this filthy town again if I --Man: He's got a rock! 154 00:07:34,628 --> 00:07:36,499 Don't you say another word, you louse! 155 00:07:36,543 --> 00:07:38,545 You keep your filthy mouth shut! 156 00:07:38,588 --> 00:07:40,590 [ Indistinct shouting ] 157 00:07:40,634 --> 00:07:41,896 An arrest tonight, 158 00:07:41,939 --> 00:07:44,420 where craig maes champion Alwyn Lewis-Ifans 159 00:07:44,464 --> 00:07:48,119 has been accused of putting a sheep thief in a coma by -- 160 00:07:48,163 --> 00:07:51,949 no surprises here -- hitting him on the head with a rock. 161 00:07:51,993 --> 00:07:54,865 Turner: Allie was at the peak of his craig maes career 162 00:07:54,909 --> 00:07:58,826 but was willing to throw it all away in the name of justice. 163 00:07:58,869 --> 00:08:01,437 Forgive them, Mum, for they know not what they do. 164 00:08:01,481 --> 00:08:02,960 It should have been me. 165 00:08:03,004 --> 00:08:06,355 Yet I was the man who had to arrest him. 166 00:08:11,316 --> 00:08:12,666 Sorry. 167 00:08:12,709 --> 00:08:15,233 There was no avoiding jail after that. 168 00:08:15,277 --> 00:08:16,974 Five years. 169 00:08:17,018 --> 00:08:22,284 And so yes, he came out older, slower, and thicker. 170 00:08:22,327 --> 00:08:24,025 But the people loved him 171 00:08:24,068 --> 00:08:26,027 more than they'd ever loved him before. 172 00:08:26,070 --> 00:08:27,985 [ Crowd cheering ] 173 00:08:30,771 --> 00:08:34,121 How do you feel about fighting an ex-convict, Sior? 174 00:08:34,164 --> 00:08:36,080 He may have just got out of jail, 175 00:08:36,124 --> 00:08:38,909 but after the fight, he'll want to go back in jail -- 176 00:08:38,953 --> 00:08:41,346 where I can't get to him, see? 177 00:08:42,609 --> 00:08:44,611 'Cause of the jail bars. 178 00:08:44,654 --> 00:08:47,222 If it was a battle of verbosity, 179 00:08:47,265 --> 00:08:49,616 Allie wasn't going to have any trouble. 180 00:08:49,659 --> 00:08:51,705 But, you see, it wasn't. 181 00:08:51,748 --> 00:08:53,097 And to see Strawboss train 182 00:08:53,141 --> 00:08:55,535 was to doubt he could ever be bested. 183 00:08:55,578 --> 00:08:57,275 Man: Here's the one![ Grunts ] 184 00:08:57,319 --> 00:09:00,627 [ Men cheering, applauding ] 185 00:09:02,411 --> 00:09:05,196 And that's, of course, when I coined the name 186 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,503 the fight would forever be known as -- 187 00:09:07,547 --> 00:09:11,159 "The Melon Versus the Felon." 188 00:09:11,202 --> 00:09:13,074 Davies-Gruffudd: Well, I didn't care for it. 189 00:09:13,117 --> 00:09:15,816 Yes, Allie was a felon. 190 00:09:15,859 --> 00:09:17,905 But Sior wasn't a melon. 191 00:09:17,948 --> 00:09:20,298 He threw rocks at melons. 192 00:09:20,342 --> 00:09:22,170 I suppose it should have been 193 00:09:22,213 --> 00:09:26,870 "The Felon Versus the Man Who Throw Rocks at Melons." 194 00:09:26,914 --> 00:09:29,351 And I told that to anyone who'd listen. 195 00:09:29,394 --> 00:09:31,527 Well, he was jealous, wasn't he? 196 00:09:31,571 --> 00:09:33,442 No one liked his name for the fight. 197 00:09:33,485 --> 00:09:38,055 I wanted to call it "The Quarrel at the Corral." 198 00:09:38,099 --> 00:09:39,448 I mean, it's all well and good, 199 00:09:39,491 --> 00:09:42,103 but that's not how you pronounce "corral." 200 00:09:42,146 --> 00:09:45,236 You can't just change the word to make it rhyme with "quarrel." 201 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,977 You simply can't. 202 00:09:47,021 --> 00:09:50,807 I mean, it's -- it's like saying "sqaurrel" for "squirrel." 203 00:09:50,851 --> 00:09:53,418 Lewis-Ifans: I'm in a bit of a foul mood today, ladies and gentlemen. 204 00:09:53,462 --> 00:09:58,032 I went down to the grocer to buy some melon, and they'd run out. 205 00:09:58,075 --> 00:10:01,296 Apparently, my opponent's been using them as sparring partners. 206 00:10:01,339 --> 00:10:02,645 [ Laughter ] 207 00:10:02,689 --> 00:10:03,864 It's funny, really. 208 00:10:03,907 --> 00:10:05,605 He's training with fruit, 209 00:10:05,648 --> 00:10:07,955 and it's my intention to turn him into a vegetable. 210 00:10:07,998 --> 00:10:11,306 [ Laughter ]Davies-Gruffudd: His wit was as sharp as ever. 211 00:10:11,349 --> 00:10:14,309 But there were worrying signs as to his fitness. 212 00:10:14,352 --> 00:10:15,484 Okay. Enough. 213 00:10:15,527 --> 00:10:17,138 Locals stopped by every day 214 00:10:17,181 --> 00:10:19,531 bringing him food both sweet and savory. 215 00:10:19,575 --> 00:10:21,446 Time for me to take my medicine. 216 00:10:21,490 --> 00:10:24,711 Davies-Gruffudd: Welsh cakes, pasties, sausage rolls. 217 00:10:24,754 --> 00:10:27,670 I never saw him turn one down. 218 00:10:27,714 --> 00:10:31,021 He was heavier, which is problematic for a fighter 219 00:10:31,065 --> 00:10:33,676 whose style was to be elusive. 220 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,286 He would go for runs, 221 00:10:35,330 --> 00:10:38,986 and the children in the town would run along with him. 222 00:10:39,029 --> 00:10:41,597 But after a while, the children would pass him. 223 00:10:41,641 --> 00:10:43,686 And then he'd try to catch up with them, 224 00:10:43,730 --> 00:10:45,340 and he wouldn't be able to. 225 00:10:45,383 --> 00:10:47,472 He'd laugh as though he were pretending. 226 00:10:47,516 --> 00:10:51,825 But, uh, you could tell he was deeply unfit. 227 00:10:51,868 --> 00:10:53,261 [ Mid-tempo music plays ] 228 00:10:53,304 --> 00:10:55,698 ♪ 229 00:10:55,742 --> 00:10:59,484 Davies-Gruffudd: He was drinking too much, eating too much. 230 00:10:59,528 --> 00:11:03,445 More troubling than that was the gambling. 231 00:11:03,488 --> 00:11:05,360 We'd only see the small stuff, 232 00:11:05,403 --> 00:11:09,669 like "How many cashew nuts are there in the jar?" 233 00:11:09,712 --> 00:11:12,236 ...445... 234 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,064 446... 235 00:11:14,108 --> 00:11:16,284 [ Men groaning ] 236 00:11:16,327 --> 00:11:19,026 You've only been counting the halves, Jan, haven't you? 237 00:11:19,069 --> 00:11:21,332 I never claimed counting was my strong point, gents. 238 00:11:21,376 --> 00:11:22,638 Count it, Godwin. 239 00:11:22,682 --> 00:11:24,205 Davies-Gruffudd: He just loved to wager 240 00:11:24,248 --> 00:11:27,208 on how many of a thing was in any given place. 241 00:11:27,251 --> 00:11:29,297 Man: ...80, 81, 242 00:11:29,340 --> 00:11:31,386 82 sheep in the field! 243 00:11:31,429 --> 00:11:33,257 Aw! Allie. 244 00:11:33,301 --> 00:11:34,911 I could've sworn there were 100. 245 00:11:34,955 --> 00:11:37,566 Davies-Gruffudd: This was when the whispers started 246 00:11:37,609 --> 00:11:40,743 that Allie was deeply in debt to his bookmakers, 247 00:11:40,787 --> 00:11:45,530 and people began to worry that the fight might be fixed. 248 00:11:48,446 --> 00:11:51,841 [ Up-tempo music plays ] 249 00:11:51,885 --> 00:11:53,582 Teale-Griffith: Now, the day before the fight 250 00:11:53,625 --> 00:11:54,931 is the collection. 251 00:11:54,975 --> 00:11:56,628 From sunup to sundown, 252 00:11:56,672 --> 00:11:58,413 each fighter is allowed to gather 253 00:11:58,456 --> 00:12:02,286 as many stones as they can for their match pile. 254 00:12:02,330 --> 00:12:04,941 Sior was single-minded that day. 255 00:12:04,985 --> 00:12:07,030 He walked through the field with purpose, 256 00:12:07,074 --> 00:12:09,772 picking up every stone he lay eyes on. 257 00:12:09,816 --> 00:12:13,515 He built an opening pile more impressive than I'd ever seen. 258 00:12:13,558 --> 00:12:16,170 Allie, on the other hand, seemed distracted, 259 00:12:16,213 --> 00:12:18,389 as if his mind were somewhere else. 260 00:12:18,433 --> 00:12:20,087 In fact, I wrote, 261 00:12:20,130 --> 00:12:23,133 "He had the air of a man looking for a dropped wedding ring 262 00:12:23,177 --> 00:12:25,962 he wasn't sure he wanted to find." 263 00:12:26,006 --> 00:12:27,659 [ Chuckles softly ] 264 00:12:27,703 --> 00:12:29,879 I liked that one quite a bit. 265 00:12:29,923 --> 00:12:32,752 ...516, 517...Davies-Gruffudd: In a normal match, 266 00:12:32,795 --> 00:12:35,755 each fighter collects about the same number of rocks. 267 00:12:35,798 --> 00:12:37,321 ...519. 268 00:12:37,365 --> 00:12:40,150 That was not the case on this day. 269 00:12:40,194 --> 00:12:43,327 ...35, 36, 37. 270 00:12:43,371 --> 00:12:48,419 Strawboss 519, Lewis-Ifans 37. 271 00:12:48,463 --> 00:12:50,770 Lewis-Ifans: Remember, though, lads. 272 00:12:50,813 --> 00:12:52,380 It's not about the number of rocks you've got. 273 00:12:52,423 --> 00:12:54,208 It's how you throw them. 274 00:12:54,251 --> 00:12:56,950 I don't imagine I'd need more than 10 to get the job done. 275 00:12:56,993 --> 00:12:59,822 And, uh, well, I'll pass the rest out as souvenirs. 276 00:12:59,866 --> 00:13:02,129 [ Chuckles ] 277 00:13:04,087 --> 00:13:07,569 Larger in person than what I thought he'd be. 278 00:13:07,612 --> 00:13:09,005 You seen him?[ Whispering indistinctly ] 279 00:13:09,049 --> 00:13:10,050 You fucking told me. 280 00:13:10,093 --> 00:13:12,095 [ Dramatic music plays ] 281 00:13:12,139 --> 00:13:17,100 ♪ 282 00:13:17,144 --> 00:13:23,585 ♪ 283 00:13:23,628 --> 00:13:29,634 ♪ 284 00:13:29,678 --> 00:13:33,725 [ Crowd cheering, announcer speaking indistinctly ] 285 00:13:33,769 --> 00:13:36,250 Announcer: ...for the big event of the afternoon. 286 00:13:36,293 --> 00:13:39,688 Entering the pen is Alwyn Lewis-Ifans 287 00:13:39,731 --> 00:13:41,385 and Sior Strawboss. 288 00:13:41,429 --> 00:13:43,735 Group: [ Chanting ] Alwyn! Alwyn! 289 00:13:43,779 --> 00:13:46,042 Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, let's join together 290 00:13:46,086 --> 00:13:49,002 and sing our national anthem. 291 00:13:49,045 --> 00:13:52,527 [ Group singing "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" ] 292 00:13:52,570 --> 00:13:59,839 ♪ 293 00:13:59,882 --> 00:14:01,928 Davies-Gruffudd: There is nothing 294 00:14:01,971 --> 00:14:03,973 quite like the tension you feel 295 00:14:04,017 --> 00:14:07,890 before the opening bell rings in a craig maes match. 296 00:14:07,934 --> 00:14:10,588 And never more so than on that day. 297 00:14:10,632 --> 00:14:12,852 Teale-Griffith: You couldn't believe Allie had a chance. 298 00:14:12,895 --> 00:14:15,202 Referee: Okay. Let's have a fair match here. 299 00:14:15,245 --> 00:14:17,117 Teale-Griffith: But to see that smile 300 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,511 was to think... "Maybe he cando it." 301 00:14:20,555 --> 00:14:23,036 Announcer: Once those shirts are coming off, 302 00:14:23,079 --> 00:14:25,690 that shows that these lads mean business. 303 00:14:25,734 --> 00:14:27,431 Seconds away, then, from the start. 304 00:14:27,475 --> 00:14:29,999 Olly! Olly! Olly!Group: Oi! Oi! Oi! 305 00:14:30,043 --> 00:14:31,348 Olly!Oi! 306 00:14:31,392 --> 00:14:32,523 Olly!Oi! 307 00:14:32,567 --> 00:14:35,222 Olly! Olly! Olly!Oi! Oi! Oi! 308 00:14:35,265 --> 00:14:39,617 [ Chanting ] Alwyn! Alwyn! Alwyn! Alwyn! 309 00:14:39,661 --> 00:14:42,925 Davies-Gruffudd: Allie had told us he would dance. 310 00:14:42,969 --> 00:14:45,275 He showed us howhe would dance. 311 00:14:45,319 --> 00:14:50,106 And yet at the opening bell, he grabbed his largest rock 312 00:14:50,150 --> 00:14:51,978 and went for the kill! 313 00:14:52,021 --> 00:14:53,370 [ Bell rings ]Announcer: The bell has gone. 314 00:14:53,414 --> 00:14:54,806 There goes Allie! 315 00:14:54,850 --> 00:14:56,896 Oh, it's Allie with a Whirlie! 316 00:14:56,939 --> 00:15:00,421 And yet Strawboss didn't blink. 317 00:15:00,464 --> 00:15:02,510 [ Crowd shouting ] 318 00:15:02,553 --> 00:15:04,773 Davies-Gruffudd: And in that first round, 319 00:15:04,816 --> 00:15:09,430 Allie just unloaded on him, rock after rock after rock. 320 00:15:09,473 --> 00:15:14,478 Strawboss didn't move until right before the bell rang. 321 00:15:14,522 --> 00:15:17,307 Announcer: Oh! That must have hurt! 322 00:15:17,351 --> 00:15:19,614 [ Bell ringing ] 323 00:15:19,657 --> 00:15:22,225 Teale-Griffith: In fact, when the round ended, 324 00:15:22,269 --> 00:15:25,011 Strawboss just glared, as if to say, 325 00:15:25,054 --> 00:15:28,188 "If that was your best, it wasn't enough." 326 00:15:28,231 --> 00:15:30,799 And I turned to Garth, and I remember I said, 327 00:15:30,842 --> 00:15:34,803 "Strawboss is the nail that cracked the hammer." 328 00:15:35,935 --> 00:15:38,546 And I'll never forget what Garth said to me. 329 00:15:38,589 --> 00:15:42,028 He said, "Owen, that's enough." 330 00:15:42,071 --> 00:15:43,420 Bloody typical of him 331 00:15:43,464 --> 00:15:45,161 to remember all these years, isn't it? 332 00:15:45,205 --> 00:15:47,294 Andto bring it up in public. 333 00:15:48,164 --> 00:15:49,470 Yes. 334 00:15:49,513 --> 00:15:51,515 Man: He's not used to this. 335 00:15:51,559 --> 00:15:53,648 Teale-Griffith: He drank a pint of bitter, 336 00:15:53,691 --> 00:15:56,825 which wasn't uncommon for him between rounds. 337 00:15:56,868 --> 00:15:59,132 But then he also gestured for a scotch. 338 00:15:59,175 --> 00:16:02,178 Davies-Gruffudd: His eyes betrayed a man 339 00:16:02,222 --> 00:16:03,788 who knew he had met his match. 340 00:16:03,832 --> 00:16:05,573 [ Crowd cheering ] 341 00:16:05,616 --> 00:16:08,228 [ Bell ringing ]Announcer: Here we go, then. Next round. 342 00:16:08,271 --> 00:16:10,447 Will we see a little bit more from Alwyn? 343 00:16:10,491 --> 00:16:12,580 Teale-Griffith: And when the next round started, 344 00:16:12,623 --> 00:16:15,322 he adopted the turtle. 345 00:16:15,365 --> 00:16:17,585 Announcer: My goodness. What's going on here? 346 00:16:17,628 --> 00:16:19,761 [ Rock thuds ]Oh, my goodness! 347 00:16:19,804 --> 00:16:22,764 He's standing there like a turtle! 348 00:16:22,807 --> 00:16:24,461 Turtling is a craig maes technique 349 00:16:24,505 --> 00:16:26,724 where the fighter turns his back to his opponent 350 00:16:26,768 --> 00:16:28,248 to protect his head and face. 351 00:16:28,291 --> 00:16:31,164 Now, it is useful to avoid a knockout 352 00:16:31,207 --> 00:16:33,035 if the fight is winding down 353 00:16:33,079 --> 00:16:35,559 and you think you might win by decision. 354 00:16:35,603 --> 00:16:38,084 But to do it this early in a fight 355 00:16:38,127 --> 00:16:42,001 against someone like Strawboss was suicide. 356 00:16:42,044 --> 00:16:45,569 The way Allie hung there, like a rag doll, 357 00:16:45,613 --> 00:16:46,962 you thought he might be dead. 358 00:16:47,006 --> 00:16:48,877 Announcer: What on earth is going on? 359 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,270 What is happening? 360 00:16:50,313 --> 00:16:53,708 And yet he would turn and taunt Strawboss. 361 00:16:53,751 --> 00:16:55,318 [ Shouting indistinctly ] 362 00:16:55,362 --> 00:16:57,407 Davies-Gruffudd: He'd say, "Are you still here? 363 00:16:57,451 --> 00:16:58,713 I thought you had left." 364 00:16:58,756 --> 00:17:01,063 And this enraged Strawboss, 365 00:17:01,107 --> 00:17:03,065 who kept throwing harder and harder. 366 00:17:03,109 --> 00:17:04,675 [ Bell rings ] 367 00:17:04,719 --> 00:17:07,329 Meanwhile, the pen was getting smaller and smaller. 368 00:17:07,374 --> 00:17:10,550 Announcer: Once again, they, uh, narrow the arena, 369 00:17:10,594 --> 00:17:13,249 giving the guys less room.[ Bell rings ] 370 00:17:13,292 --> 00:17:15,077 Out they come, then, for round 3. 371 00:17:15,121 --> 00:17:16,905 The crowd will be expecting a little bit more from Allie. 372 00:17:16,948 --> 00:17:19,603 Davies-Gruffudd: The next two rounds, it was the same thing -- 373 00:17:19,646 --> 00:17:22,214 Allie just getting punished by Strawboss. 374 00:17:22,258 --> 00:17:26,609 It was almost masochistic. 375 00:17:26,654 --> 00:17:28,699 [ Grunts ]Announcer: Oh! That caught him! 376 00:17:28,743 --> 00:17:31,702 He's taking all the punishment! 377 00:17:31,746 --> 00:17:34,183 I mean, it really was impressive that he hadn't gone down 378 00:17:34,227 --> 00:17:37,360 but so deeply sad that it was going to end this way -- 379 00:17:37,404 --> 00:17:40,233 a champion, well, basically conceding 380 00:17:40,276 --> 00:17:41,930 that he had no way to win. 381 00:17:47,022 --> 00:17:49,851 Announcer: The crowd, they're stunned, they're surprised. 382 00:17:49,894 --> 00:17:51,461 This is not the Allie they know and love. 383 00:17:51,505 --> 00:17:54,508 Group: [ Chanting ] Alwyn! Alwyn! Alwyn! Alwyn! 384 00:17:54,551 --> 00:17:59,948 And then...he recited a poem. 385 00:18:01,167 --> 00:18:05,084 Teale-Griffith: "And Father Time will knock at my door. 386 00:18:05,127 --> 00:18:08,957 Yet he shall not find me there. 387 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,481 Look as he may in every room 388 00:18:11,525 --> 00:18:14,615 'neath floorboard and under stair." 389 00:18:14,658 --> 00:18:16,356 [ Woman singing in Welsh ] 390 00:18:16,399 --> 00:18:19,663 "For I will have left a day before 391 00:18:19,707 --> 00:18:22,710 to spare myself his embrace. 392 00:18:22,753 --> 00:18:25,104 ♪ 393 00:18:25,147 --> 00:18:29,717 In a field alone, I'll find my stone... 394 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,459 ♪ 395 00:18:32,502 --> 00:18:34,635 ...and look it in the face." 396 00:18:34,678 --> 00:18:38,160 ♪ 397 00:18:38,204 --> 00:18:41,207 When he finished, I turned to Garth, and I said, 398 00:18:41,250 --> 00:18:42,947 "It's not a poem. 399 00:18:42,991 --> 00:18:44,819 It's an elegy." 400 00:18:44,862 --> 00:18:47,517 And I said, "Shut the fuck up, will you? 401 00:18:47,561 --> 00:18:50,041 Just for once, shut the fuck up, 402 00:18:50,085 --> 00:18:54,220 watch what's happening, and don't comment on it!" 403 00:18:55,612 --> 00:18:57,701 Yes, it hurt my feelings. 404 00:18:57,745 --> 00:19:00,095 Hurt them very much. 405 00:19:00,139 --> 00:19:02,184 No one likes to be snapped at. 406 00:19:02,228 --> 00:19:06,754 Announcer: The crowd not losing their passion for Allie. 407 00:19:06,797 --> 00:19:10,279 They're still 100% behind him. 408 00:19:10,323 --> 00:19:11,759 [ Bell rings ] 409 00:19:11,802 --> 00:19:13,456 Here we go, then! Next round! 410 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:15,763 [ Crowd cheering ] 411 00:19:15,806 --> 00:19:17,808 ♪ 412 00:19:17,852 --> 00:19:19,941 Crowd: Oh! 413 00:19:19,984 --> 00:19:21,682 Announcer: Strawboss can't understand 414 00:19:21,725 --> 00:19:23,988 why he's not throwing back. 415 00:19:24,032 --> 00:19:27,601 Strawboss starting to lose a little bit of energy now. 416 00:19:27,644 --> 00:19:30,865 He's slowing down. He's not throwing fast. 417 00:19:30,908 --> 00:19:32,475 He's not throwing hard. 418 00:19:32,519 --> 00:19:35,304 He is really looking exhausted. 419 00:19:35,348 --> 00:19:37,959 Oh, my goodness! He's only got one left! 420 00:19:38,002 --> 00:19:40,483 Nothing more than a pebble left! 421 00:19:40,527 --> 00:19:42,790 What damage can he do with this one? 422 00:19:42,833 --> 00:19:45,271 Oh! 423 00:19:45,314 --> 00:19:47,621 So -- Oh, my goodness! 424 00:19:47,664 --> 00:19:49,840 Allie has come alive! 425 00:19:49,884 --> 00:19:51,929 Allie has come alive![ Rock thuds ] 426 00:19:51,973 --> 00:19:55,194 Look at this! Look at the speed! 427 00:19:55,237 --> 00:19:56,934 He's throwing! 428 00:19:56,978 --> 00:20:00,155 Oh, look at him go! 429 00:20:00,199 --> 00:20:02,766 He's got Strawboss going back on the heel! 430 00:20:02,810 --> 00:20:05,073 He's throwing! 431 00:20:05,116 --> 00:20:07,423 What a speed -- Oh! 432 00:20:07,467 --> 00:20:10,818 Maybe it was just a tactic! 433 00:20:10,861 --> 00:20:14,169 Look at this![ Bell rings ] 434 00:20:14,213 --> 00:20:15,997 Allie has done it![ Crowd cheering ] 435 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,086 He's done the impossible! 436 00:20:18,129 --> 00:20:20,915 The crowd go wild! 437 00:20:20,958 --> 00:20:23,700 Allie has done it! 438 00:20:23,744 --> 00:20:26,399 Teale-Griffith: In craig maes, you throw rocks from your pile. 439 00:20:26,442 --> 00:20:28,227 When your pile is gone, 440 00:20:28,270 --> 00:20:31,839 you can throw the rocks your opponent has thrown at you. 441 00:20:31,882 --> 00:20:34,798 But if your opponent hasn't thrown any rocks, 442 00:20:34,842 --> 00:20:37,018 when you're out...you're out. 443 00:20:37,061 --> 00:20:41,501 Allie knew exactly how many rocks Sior had. 444 00:20:41,544 --> 00:20:44,808 And each time Sior bounced one off his back, 445 00:20:44,852 --> 00:20:47,376 Allie subtracted it. 446 00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:49,900 Teale-Griffith: To be able to keep track 447 00:20:49,944 --> 00:20:53,121 in the heat of a match requires the sharpest of minds. 448 00:20:53,164 --> 00:20:55,950 And, of course, Allie had spent months 449 00:20:55,993 --> 00:20:58,909 making everyone think he couldn't count. 450 00:21:06,134 --> 00:21:07,918 [ Down-tempo music plays ] 451 00:21:07,962 --> 00:21:10,007 [ Crowd cheering ] 452 00:21:10,051 --> 00:21:12,009 Davies-Gruffudd: After the knockout, 453 00:21:12,053 --> 00:21:17,145 Allie stepped over the midline and lifted Sior to his feet. 454 00:21:17,188 --> 00:21:21,497 It was an incredible act of sportsmanship. 455 00:21:22,281 --> 00:21:24,195 And also an immediate disqualification 456 00:21:24,239 --> 00:21:26,502 per the rules of craig maes. 457 00:21:26,546 --> 00:21:27,895 Announcer: He's crossed the line! 458 00:21:27,938 --> 00:21:30,245 He's gonna have to be disqualified! 459 00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:32,203 Why would he do that? 460 00:21:32,247 --> 00:21:34,684 Teale-Griffith: In the weeks that followed, it was discovered 461 00:21:34,728 --> 00:21:39,254 that Allie had indeed arranged to throw the fight. 462 00:21:39,298 --> 00:21:42,779 But his pride got the better of him. 463 00:21:42,823 --> 00:21:44,041 So, that was -- 464 00:21:44,085 --> 00:21:46,957 Well, it was really his only choice. 465 00:21:47,001 --> 00:21:50,134 That or having his legs broken by gangsters. 466 00:21:50,178 --> 00:21:53,790 Oh, people in town lost their shirts. 467 00:21:53,834 --> 00:21:57,054 But they were so proud of him for how he'd fought 468 00:21:57,098 --> 00:21:59,100 that none of them cared. 469 00:21:59,143 --> 00:22:01,189 Turner: There was a trial for match fixing. 470 00:22:01,232 --> 00:22:06,934 The judge found him guilty, and he sentenced him to 20 years. 471 00:22:06,977 --> 00:22:09,328 I'll tell you a story. He sat in his local pub. 472 00:22:09,371 --> 00:22:11,199 [ Laughs ] 473 00:22:11,242 --> 00:22:13,070 There weren't all smiles that afternoon, 474 00:22:13,114 --> 00:22:15,464 for every face had held a frown. 475 00:22:15,508 --> 00:22:17,205 But in a moment, all would change 476 00:22:17,248 --> 00:22:19,468 for the people of that town. 477 00:22:19,512 --> 00:22:21,383 For their conquering hero would return 478 00:22:21,427 --> 00:22:24,212 to regain his golden crown. 479 00:22:24,255 --> 00:22:30,044 'Twas the day that Allie knocked Sior Strawboss... 480 00:22:30,087 --> 00:22:31,959 What? 481 00:22:32,002 --> 00:22:36,050 I love him, but he's fucking useless. 482 00:22:36,093 --> 00:22:37,704 [ Laughter ] 483 00:22:37,747 --> 00:22:40,402 [ Group singing in Welsh ] 484 00:22:40,446 --> 00:22:48,410 ♪ 485 00:22:48,454 --> 00:22:56,418 ♪ 486 00:22:56,462 --> 00:22:58,464 [ Tempo increases, hands clapping ] 487 00:22:58,507 --> 00:23:02,729 ♪ 488 00:23:02,772 --> 00:23:06,341 [ Singing slows, ends ] 489 00:23:06,385 --> 00:23:08,387 [ Cheers and applause ]