Tug of War teams pull in the crowds at Peover Hall

Main image: Upton on Severn Tug of War team.

Tug of war teams from around the country gathered at the Cheshire Game and Angling Fair at Peover Hall over the weekend to compete in the Cheshire Open Tug of War Championships.

Bosley Tug of War team

Teams from afar afield as Devon, Somerset and Lincolnshire  took part at the event which was held over four weight classes for mens teams, and 3 weight classes for ladies and youth teams. Each weight class was a combined weight of 8 pullers, with each team weighing in at the start of the day, with the teams not being allowed to exceed the nominated weight limit in each weight class. Weight classes were held at 600kg, 640kg and 680kg and Catchweight for men, 520kg, 540kg and 560kg for ladies and junior teams, and there was also a mixed weight class at 600kg for mixed teams each containing four men and four ladies.

Ashbrook Tug of War team

Large crowds gathered around the tug of war arena all day to watch the teams taking part battle it out in some thrilling competition which resulted in a number of teams sharing the spoils on the day.

In the mens weight classes, Norton from Stoke-on-Trent won the 640kg and 680kg competitions, with Felton Eccles from Somerset winning the 600kg competition and Lincoln winning the catchweight competition. In the ladies and junior weight classes, Gloucester ACF won the 520kg competition, Haldon from Devon won the 540kg competition and Upton on Severn from Worcester won the 560kg competition. The mixed weight class was won by Felton Eccles from Somerset.

Haldon Tug of War team

Cheshire interest in the competition came from two teams – Bosley Tug of War Club, and newly formed team Ashbrook who formed earlier this year. Bosley reached the semi-finals of the 600kg competition and finished third in the catchweight competition, and Ashbrook competed well in the mens catchweight competition to finish in 5^th place overall.

“It was a great Cheshire Open Championship event” commented Tug of War Association spokesman and Bosley member Alan Knott.

“The venue was fantastic and it was great to see lots of people at the Game Fair stopping by to watch the tug of war teams battling it out to come out on top. We certainly look forward to returning to the event next year. We are very keen to expose our great team sport to a larger audience and we are always looking to encourage more new teams and more new recruits to existing teams”

Norton Tug of War team

He went on: “tug of war is a great team sport for people of all ages and abilities, and many people do it not only to keep fit, but for the competition and social side of the sport which you just don’t get from sitting down in front of a computer at home. Anyone interesting in getting involved in tug of war should visit our web site where they can find contact details and other information about how to get started. We would also like to thank the Game Fair organisers for their hospitality again this year”.

Some of the tug of war teams that took part at the event are now looking ahead to representing England at the British and Irish Tug of War Championships, which are being hosted by Wales this Saturday, and then teams will be going on to represent England at the forthcoming World Outdoor Tug of War Championships which are being held in Malmo, Sweden in September. For further information about tug of war and how you can get involved, visit the Tug of War Association web site at www.tugofwar.co.uk.