1756 to 1760 in sports
# 1756 to 1760 in sports

Events in world sport through the years 1756 to 1760.

## Boxing

Events

* 1756 — Bill "The Nailer " Stevens defeated a number of unnamed opponents until 1759.
* 1757 — George Taylor defeated Tom Faulkner twice.
* 6 August 1758 — Faulkner defeated Taylor in the 26th round after 1 hour 15 minutes of a fight at St. Alban's. Faulkner claimed the title after the bout.
* 20 October 1759 — Jack Slack v Jack Moreton at Acton Wells. Slack won after 35 minutes.
* 19 February 1760 — Bill " The Nailer " Stevens defeated Jacob Taplin in 13 round fight lasting 30 minutes at Marylebone Basin.
* 17 June 1760 — Jack Slack was defeated by Bill "The Nailer" Stevens in the fourth round of a fight lasting 27 minutes; Slack retired from the ring soon afterwards to open a shop on Chandos Street, London. He lived there for the rest of his life.

## Cricket

Events

* 1756 — Hambledon, almost certainly a local parish organisation at this time, played three matches against the prominent Dartford Cricket Club.
* 1757–1760 — Perhaps for the first time, cricket felt the full impact of a major war as it suffered a drain in manpower and investment during the Seven Years' War (to 1763); few first-class matches were recorded with none at all in 1760.
* September 1759 — Three Dartford v Rest of England matches were played, a number of well-known names being involved; Dartford won the "series" 2–1.
* c.1760 — It is about this time that pitched delivery bowling began; in turn, it necessitated the creation and deployment of the modern straight bat, replacing the old "hockey stick" type which could not cope with a ball that bounced.

## Golf

Events

* 1758 — First codified Rules of Golf published by the St Andrews Golfers, later The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

## Horse racing

Events

* 1758 — The Society of Sportsmen of the Curragh, a precursor of the Irish Turf Club was formed.
