Martin Ruane

Martin Ruane
Ring name(s)	Giant Haystacks, Loch Ness, The Loch Ness Monster
Billed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Billed weight	690 lb (310 kg; 49 st)
Born	October 10, 1946(1946-10-10)[1] Camberwell, London, England[2][3]
Died	November 29, 1998(1998-11-29) (aged 52)
Debut	1967

Martin Austin Ruane (October 10, 1946 - November 29, 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish descent.^[4] Best known by his ring name, Giant Haystacks, he wrestled in such places as Great Britain, the United States, Canada, India, and Zimbabwe. Ruane was known for his massive physical size, standing 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) tall^[4] and weighing 48 stone (670 lb; 300 kg) at his heaviest.

Early life

Martin Ruane was born in London, England weighing 14 lb 6 oz. His parents were originally from County Mayo in Ireland. When he was 3, in 1949, Ruane and his family moved north from London to Salford, which remained his home.^[4] He worked as a labourer and as a nightclub bouncer before a friend suggested he take up professional wrestling as a career.

Career

Under the promoter Brian Dixon, Ruane was billed as Giant Haystacks, after the American wrestling star William Calhoun who had wrestled in NWA All-Star Wrestling and the World Wide Wrestling Federation under the name Haystacks Calhoun.

Ruane began wrestling in 1967, establishing himself as a household name during the 1970s and 1980s, while wrestling all over the world. He had a long-running feud with Big Daddy, resulting in high ratings on Britain's ITV any time they battled one another. He also had a long feud with Kendo Nagasaki.

Ruane wrestled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion as The Loch Ness Monster, managed by J.R. Foley from Liverpool, England.

In 1996, Ruane debuted in the United States for World Championship Wrestling, under the ring name Loch Ness. He served as a member of the Dungeon of Doom and feuded with Hulk Hogan. However, the feud was short-lived, ending abruptly when Ruane was diagnosed with cancer and returned to the United Kingdom.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Standing or running Elbow drop
  • Standing splash

Championships and accomplishments

British Wrestling Federation

• BWF European Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Joint Promotions British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Stampede Wrestling

• Stampede International Tag Team Championship (2 time w/Dynamite Kid and Bret Hart)

Life outside wrestling

Ruane was a deeply religious man and refused to wrestle on Sundays.^{[citation needed]}

Ruane appeared in the 1981 movie Quest for Fire' and the 1984 movie Give My Regards To Broad Street, written by Paul McCartney, who was a noted Giant Haystacks fan.^[5]

Martin Ruane invested, unsuccessfully, in the motor trade and ran, more successfully, a debt collection agency. He died of cancer on Sunday, November 29, 1998 at the age of 52.

One of his sons, Noel, is the founder of a successful British construction company called 'The Freemont Group' ^[6] having studied for a degree in Construction Management at the University of Salford.

In popular culture

• A play by Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon, Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks premieres at the Brighton Festival Fringe in East Sussex, England between 26-28 May 2011. ^[7]

References

1. ^ Szreter, Adam (December 3, 1998). "Obituary: Giant Haystacks". The (London) Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-giant-haystacks-1188816.html. Retrieved 2009-02-02. 
2. ^ Matthew, Henry Colin Gray; Brian Howard Harrison (2004). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: In Association with the British Academy. Oxford University Press. pp. 63. ISBN 0198613989. 
3. ^ Ayto, John; Ian Crofton; Paul Cavill (2005). Brewer's Britain & Ireland: The History, Culture, Folklore and Etymology of 7500 Places in these Islands. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. pp. 191. ISBN 030435385X. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Richard Holt, ‘Ruane, Martin Austin (1946–1998)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
5. ^ Szreter, Adam (3 December 1998). "Obituary: Giant Haystacks". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-giant-haystacks-1188816.html. Retrieved 2 February 2009. 
6. ^ Stone, Andrew (July 6, 2008). "How I made it Noel Ruane founder of the Freemont Group". The Times (London). http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/entrepreneur/article4275734.ece. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
7. ^ http://www.fringeguru.com/editorial/brighton-2011/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-preview.html

External links

• OWW Profile

Persondata
Name	Ruane, Martin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 10, 1946
Place of birth	Camberwell, London, England
Date of death	November 29, 1998
Place of death