01/08/2021 - 2021 Inter County Tug of War Championships Results
The 2021 Inter County Tug of War Championships took place in Cheshire over the weekend, with the event being hosted by Bosley TOWC. Following the cancellation of the Cheshire Game and Angling Fair, Bosley staged the event at an alternative venue in Bosley village.
The counties represented in the Inter County competition were Lincolnshire (Lincoln TOWC), Essex (Essex TOWC), Bedfordshire (Bedfordshire TOWC), Somerset (Felton Eccles TOWC), Sussex (Oxney Vines Cross TOWC) and Cheshire (Bosley TOWC).
In the open competition, the following clubs took part - Men - Bosley, Felton Eccles, Lincoln, Bedfordshire, Essex, with Bedford Ladies also taking part in the 600kg competition. In the ladies weights, Army Ladies, Bedfordshire and Bedford Ladies took part.
The first weight was the mens 640kg competition pulled as a straight group with the top two teams going through to the final. After the round robin stages, Lincolnshire topped the group without dropping an end, followed by Sussex, who only dropped two ends to Lincolnshire. Cheshire finished in third place in the group, followed by Essex and then Bedfordshire. The final saw Lincolnshire and Sussex facing each other for the second time, with Sussex looking to win the 640kg shield for the first time since 2000, and Lincolnshire looking to win the shield for the first time since 1984. Lincolnshire took a tight first end, before going on to comfortably take the second end to win the 640kg shield for the first time in 37 years!
Photo: Lincolnshire with the 640kg Inter County Shield
Below: video of the 640kg final between Lincolnshire and Sussex
The 680kg inter county competition followed, this time with Somerset entering the fray. Lincolnshire were the defending champions and were looking to make it three in a row in the 680kg competition and complete the inter county double. Essex, Somerset and Sussex gave Lincolnshire some tough ends, but Lincolnshire still managed to top the group without losing an end. The battle for the second spot in the final was close between Essex, Somerset and Sussex, with Somerset getting the better of their nearest rivals to make it through to the final. Again, we enjoyed another good final, but Lincolnshire had too much on the day and took the two ends and the gold medal. Congratulations to Lincoln TOWC.
Photo: Felton Eccles
Below - Video of the Inter County 680kg Final
At the same time as the inter county competition, the ladies 520kg and 540kg took place. Bedford Ladies continued their fine form from the national championships by topping the group rounds in both competitions, followed on by the Army Ladies who finished as group runners up in both weight classes. Both teams competed against each other again in both finals, with Bedford Ladies winning both finals by 2 ends to 0.
Photo: Bedford Ladies
The Mixed 580kg saw some close and exciting pulls take place between Bedfordshire, Essex and Bosley. Essex won all of their pulls in the group rounds after a tough first end with Bedfordshire, with Bedfordshire and Bosley having another tough pull in the group going to 1-1. Bosley finished ahead of Bedfordshire to make the final having received less cautions. Bosley and Essex had a good pull in the final, with Essex edging out Bosley on both ends to take the win.
Photo: Bedfordshire
The open 640kg saw some good pulling throughout, with Lincoln dominating the group rounds again to finish top without losing an end. The competition for second place in the group and a place in the final was close, with Felton Eccles winning all of the points required to make the final. Felton put in a solid performance in the final, but Lincoln again won the final by 2 ends to 0.
The 600kg competition was up next, with Bedford Ladies also weighing in to this weight class with 10 pullers whilst falling within the 600kg weight limit as allowed by TOWA rules for open competition. Lincoln topped the group followed by Felton Eccles before Lincoln went on to win their fourth final of the day by 2 ends to 0.
The final weight of the day was the 680kg competition. The places for the final were fought out between Essex, Felton Eccles and Lincoln, with Essex running Lincoln really close on one end, only for Lincoln to get the rope back and take Essex over the line. Felton Eccles and Lincoln contested the final again, with Felton Eccles battling hard, but Lincoln again proved to be the strongest on the day, winning by 2 ends to 0.
Well done to all of the clubs who took part.
The officials on the day were Gavin Corden, Matt Cowlard, Mike Callaghan, Mick Grimston, Pete Dyer, Tony Henshaw and Wendy Dyer.
