2026 World Outdoor Tug of War Championships Medals for England
The 2026 TWIF World Outdoor Tug of War Championships have recently concluded in Hartenbos, Mossel Bay, South Africa.
Having had a successful World Championships in 2025, with 15 medals picked up across the club and international events for English teams, 2025 was going to be a tough act to follow. In the face of excellent competition from a number of countries taking part, this years World Championships provided another outstanding showcase for English tug of war.
English clubs featured throughout the club competition, collecting a number of top 4 podium finishes across junior, senior and U23 categories, before England's national teams followed up with strong performances in the World Championships. 
England's strongest club performances came in the junior and under 23 categories, where several sides reached medal positions against high-quality international opposition.
In the junior mixed 520kg open club competition, a number of junior pullers from several clubs competed as Martins Minions A in the 520kg Mixed Junior class. After finishing second in their qualifying group, the English side progressed to the semi-finals before ultimately securing the bronze medal with a 2 ends to 0 victory over South African club Swellendam A. In the same 520kg Mixed Junior category, Bedfordshire enjoyed an excellent championship. After qualifying strongly from their group, they advanced all the way to the final before taking the silver medal behind South Africa's Roberson High, with English clubs occupying two medal positions in this weight class.
Photo: Bedfordshire Junior Mixed 520kg - Silver Medallists
The England under 23 women, competing as Melton Mowbray in the club competition, secured a bronze medal in the Under-23 Women's 500kg competition. The English side reached the semi-finals and bounced back from a semi final loss, to defeat Malmesbury from South Africa.
Photo: England under 23 Women 500kg - Bronze Medallists
Upper Eden recorded a fourth place finish in the mens under 23 600kg competition, missing out on the bronze medal to opposition from Chinese Taipei. Kilroe also had an under 23 mens team competing who finished fourth in their group.
Photo: Upper Eden Under 23 Men 600kg - 4th Place
Several other English clubs recorded notable results in the club competition. In the senior womens weight classes, Melton Mowbray competed in the 500kg competition, which was split into 4 groups. After topping their group, they progressed to the quarter finals where they met Gaztedi from the Basque Country, eventually missing out on a semi final spot and the chance for a medal by 2 ends to 0.
Photo: Martins Minions A - Junior Mixed 520kg - Bronze Medallists
Army Ladies finished fourth in the Senior Women's 540kg category after reaching the semi-finals in that weight class, losing out to formidable opposition from Chinese Taipei, whose club teams took the gold and bronze, with Gaztedi taking the silver.
Photo: Army Ladies 540kg - 4th Place
Anstey finished fourth in the Senior Men's 560kg competition, narrowly missing out on a medal after qualifying for the semi-finals, with Gohiherri taking the bronze medal by 2 ends to 0 in the bronze medal match.
In the other senior mens competitions, Bedfordshire competed in the Senior 680kg and Mixed 580kg classes, Upper Eden competed in the senior mens 600kg competition, while Lincoln competed in the Senior 640kg event. There were some good performances across these weight classes from these teams, but no medals this time.
Photo: Anstey Mens 560kg - 4th Place
Following the club competition, attention turned to the national team championships, where England had teams competing across all weight classes.
The standard of competition was exceptional, and we got to see some new world champions crowned this year, with a good spread of medals across the various divisions being won by different countries.
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Across the senior weight classes, success was achieved by the senior womens 500kg team, represented by Melton Mowbray, who fought their way to the semi finals to face Germany. After a 2 ends to 0 defeat, the England women had a tough battle with the host nation South Africa which went to 3 ends, England eventually coming on top to secure bronze.
Photo: England women 500kg - bronze medallists
The England mens 560kg team put in a valiant performance in this weight class, represented by Anstey. After progressing to the semi-finals, the team faced Basque Country, missing out on the final by 2 ends to 0. In the bronze medal match, the team faced Chinese Taipei. This match went 1-1 in the group stage, and after a ferocious and very exciting battle, it was Chinese Taipei who picked up the bronze by 2 ends to 0.
Photo: England Men 560kg - 4th Place
The senior mens 640kg team was represented by Lincoln, who went into the event as World Champions. They topped their group ahead of Switzerland before defeating Italy in the semi final. Onto the final for a second meeting against Switzerland and a repeat of the 2025 final, England and Switzerland had a really close battle going all the way to 3 ends, Switzerland winning the first end and England the second end. The Switzerland coach won the toss of the coin for the choice of the third end and after another close pull, it was Switzerland that took gold.
Photo: England mens 640kg - Silver Medallists
Across the other senior weight classes, the English teams taking part didn’t make the final four, but gave a valiant account of themselves across very challenging fields, achieving the following results:
- 6th place in Senior Men's 600kg, represented by Upper Eden.
- 7th place in Senior Men's 680kg, represented by Oxney Vines Cross.
- 8th place in Senior Women's 540kg, represented by Army Ladies.
- 8th place in Mixed Senior 580kg, Composite team formed of pullers from Melton, Oxney Vines Cross and Bedfordshire.
In the Junior and under 23 weights, England kept up some of the momentum achieved in these weight classes over the past few seasons with some more top 4 finishes.
England's best under 23 national team performance came in the Under-23 Mixed 560kg World Championship, with England going in as World Champions from 2025. With no fewer than 5 changes from the successful 2025 team, the team maintained a strong group stage campaign, England progressed through the semi-finals and reached the gold-medal pull against South Africa by defeating Switzerland in the semi final. Despite a spirited effort, England finished as World Championship silver medallists, another outstanding achievement on the international stage.
Photo: England Under 23 Mixed 560kg - 4th Place
The womens under 23 500kg team progressed to the semi finals of their competition. After defeat to Basque Country in the semi-final, the team faced host nation South Africa for the bronze. Despite beating the South African team in the group stage, the team couldn’t replicate that form for the bronze medal match and had to settle for fourth place.
Photo: England Under 23 Women 500kg - 4th Place
In the junior competitions, England secured a 5th place finish in the junior womens 480kg competition, missing out on a place in the cross over to Belgium after finishing with more cautions.
In the junior men 560kg competition, the England junior team edged out Netherlands in the group stage to progress to the semi finals. After defeat to South Africa in the semi finals, the team faced Switzerland for the bronze, with the Swiss winning by 2 ends to 0.
The junior mixed team competed on the final day of the competition, managing another 5th placed finish.
Photo: England Junior Men 560kg - 4th Place
TWIF Athlete of the Year
This year, TWIF organised an Athlete of the Year Award, with votes being cast on social media. England's nominations were Will Lee (Lincoln) and Millie Tomlinson (Melton Mowbray).
Will won the award in the mens competition, and Millie finished as runners up in the womens competition!
Congratulations to both nominees!
Will is pictured here with the female winner, Kittie Terblanche from South Africa
Overall, the championships were a general success for the English clubs and pullers involved. The longer travel distance involved this time provided its challenges as it does for everyone, but England teams performed strongly across a number of weight classes to secure 3 silvers and 3 bronze medals across the open and closed championships along with 6 fourth place finishes. With a much reduced pool of teams and pullers travelling to South Africa compared to what we had in Nottingham, 10 top four finishes is still a great achievement.
Our thanks to all of our clubs, pullers, coaches, volunteers, support crews and officials for your time and commitment to preparing for, travelling to and taking part in this event and to everyone else who has helped along the way, and we look forward to seeing what everyone can achieve next year.
