2025 National Tug of War Championships Results
On Saturday 21 June, the 2025 National Outdoor Tug of War Championships took place in Capel, Five Oak Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, hosted by TOWA Area 6.
On one of the hottest days of the year in dry and dusty ground conditions, we had a very competitive day of tug of war, in what was one of the closest days of competition in a number of weight classes that we have had at a national championships for a good number of seasons which was great to see.
The following clubs took part at the event:
Men – Anstey, Felton Eccles, Oxney Vines Cross, Bedfordshire, Lincoln, East Anglia, Army, Upper Eden, Bosley, York, Sandhurst
Women – Bedford Ladies, Bedfordshire, Army, Upper Eden, East Anglia, Melton Mowbray, Kilroe
Juniors – Upper Eden, Sheen, Northern Region, Kilroe, Beaminster, South West Region, Bedfordshire, Felton Eccles
Senior Mixed – Kilroe, Upper Eden, Oxney Vines Cross, Bosley, Sandhurst, East Anglia, Army, Anstey
In the senior mens weights, it was pleasing to see some new clubs getting their names engraved on the winners trophies for the first time ever. This year saw Anstey take the gold medal in a very competitive 560kg weight class, which resulted in the first 5 of the 8 teams dropping ends to each other before Anstey went on to win the final against Oxney Vines Cross with a deserved 2 ends to 0 win, with Upper Eden taking bronze. Lincoln managed to retain their 640kg and 600kg titles, with Felton Eccles retaining the 720kg title ahead of Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire secured their first ever national titles at 680kg and catchweight, defeating holders Lincoln in the 680kg final, and Army in the final of the catchweight.
In the senior womens weight class, Bedford Ladies have been the more dominant club in ladies tug of war over a number of recent seasons, having won 3 gold medals in 2024. However this year, it was Melton Mowbray who swept the board, winning gold in all four women’s weight classes at 500, 520, 540, and 560. Bedford Ladies won silver in the 500, 520 and 540 and bronze in the 560. Army Ladies continued their run of securing medals in the womens weight classes, taking bronze in the 520 and 540, and silver in the 560. The remaining bronze medal was won by Bedfordshire in the 500kg weight class.
The senior mixed this year saw Anstey and East Anglia progress to the final, with Anstey winning their second gold medal of the day, with East Anglia winning silver after reaching a national final for the first time. Kilroe took the bronze medal.
In the junior weight classes, it was fantastic to see another well supported junior national championships with a good spread of teams from around the country taking part. The junior mens competition saw Kilroe Juniors take the gold medal in the 560kg competition, with Sheen finishing second to win silver and Felton Eccles securing the bronze medal. The junior womens competition was won by the Northern Region, with Bedfordshire finishing second and Beaminster finishing third.
The junior mixed competition saw Sheen take the gold medal to win their fiurst junior title since 2002, with South West Region winning silver and Northern region winning bronze. The junior competitions concluded with the GENSB competition, with Kilroe winning their second junior gold medal of the day, with Northern Region winning silver and Felton Eccles securing the bronze.
| Weight Class | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men 560kg | Anstey | Oxney Vines Cross | Upper Eden |
| Women 500kg | Melton Mowbray | Bedford Ladies | Bedfordshire |
Men 640kg | Lincoln | Bedfordshire | Upper Eden |
| Women 540kg | Melton Mowbray | Bedford Ladies | Army Ladies |
| Junior Men 560kg | Kilroe | Sheen | Felton Eccles |
| Junior Women 480kg | Northern Region | Bedfordshire | Beaminster |
| Junior Mixed 520kg | Sheen | South West Region | Northern Region |
| Men 600kg | Lincoln | Anstey | Felton Eccles |
| Women 520kg | Melton Mowbray | Bedford Ladies | Army Ladies |
| Men 680kg | Bedfordshire | Lincoln | Felton Eccles |
| Junior GENSB | Kilroe | Northern Region | Felton Eccles |
| Women 560kg | Melton Mowbray | Army Ladies | Bedford Ladies |
| Senior Mixed 580kg | Anstey | East Anglia | Kilroe |
| Men 720kg | Felton Eccles | Bedfordshire | York |
| Men Catchweight | Bedfordshire | Army |
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As ever thank you to the small number of officials and volunteers who helped to organise and run the event.
Good luck to the medal winning teams who are invited to represent England at the British and Irish Championships in Northern Ireland and of course the World Championships in Nottingham in September.
All competitors are encouraged to book accommodation for the world championships as soon as possible and you can do so via the event web site at 
www.tugofwar2025.com.
Otherwise, there is an open club competition at the event to and we encourage ALL of our clubs to register and take part. It will be a great experience for everyone and a great opportunity to compete with and learn from the best teams in the world so don’t miss out!
And of course we encourage all supporters and spectators to come along and support the English clubs and England teams over the four days. Entry tickets are FREE and you can book them via www.tugofwar2025.com/spectators
Volunteers are also needed for the world championships, including Marshalls, ground crew, merchandise sellers, etc. so if you think you can spare 1, 2, 3 or 4 days, a morning or afternoon, or even a just a few hours, any help will be appreciated. If you wish to be a volunteer, please send an email to volunteering@tugofwar2025.com.
Click below for a report / video from the event from Kent TV.
