2007 National Outdoor Tug of War Championships - Three Counties Show, Malvern, Worcester
This year teams from Congleton-Kilroe, Bosley, Raunds, Combined Services, Sandhurst, Holland Sports, Norton, Felton Eccles, Lincoln, Hedge End, Warbstow, Forge Lane, Hanging Bridge, and BAC battling it out for the men’s weight categories, and Sheen, Bedford, Team Army and Belvoir Vale fighting it out for the ladies weight categories. A demonstration event was held for the youth, between the Army Cadet Teams from Leicester and Northants. For the first time, we also had a demonstration pull for junior girls teams between Leicester and Northants ACF and Cambridge. Photo: BAC
The first weight of the day was the men’s catchweight competition, which is traditionally run on a knockout basis. Bosley and Raunds went through to the semi-finals with Bosley knocking out 2006 finalists Holland Sports, with Holland taking Bosley within a foot of the line on the first end, and Bosley hanging on to take Holland out, and Raunds defeated the Combined services. Photo: Bedford Ladies
Bosley met Raunds in the semi-finals, and Congleton-Kilroe were up against Sandhurst. Both Bosley and Congleton won their respective semi-finals by 2 ends to 0 to set up an exciting final, and Raunds and Sandhurst were left to battle it out for the bronze medal. Raunds and Sandhurst had a good battle, but despite a brave performance from Sandhurst, it wasn’t quite enough, and Raunds came away with the bronze medal, winning by 2 ends to 1. Photo Belvoir Vale
The final between Congleton and Bosley was a very close encounter. Both teams went in hard in the first end, and Congleton decided to stay and try and wear Bosley down. After a long first end, Bosley were eventually blown out for receiving three cautions. On the second end Bosley attacked from the drop and pushed out Congleton to level the match. On the third end, Congleton won the toss and chose to pull on the winning end. Bosley attacked again and took Congleton three of the four metres required before receiving 2 cautions. Congleton were also on a caution, but Bosley were then blown out for receiving a third caution for locking, and the final was won by Congleton. Photo: Bosley
The first ladies weight category of the day (the ladies 560) was held at the same time as the catchweight competition. Belvoir Vale did not enter this weight to keep themselves fresh for the 520, so it was left to Sheen, Bedford and Team Army to fight it out for the medals. Bedford defeated Team Army first on, and Sheen then had a three ender with Team Army, and after a close pull, Sheen won through by 2 ends to 1. The final pull of the weight was between Sheen and Bedford, and it was Bedford who took the win to secure their first gold medal of the day. Photo: Cambridge Junior Girls
The men’s 640 kilos was pulled as a straight group of 11 teams, with Felton Eccles aiming to make it a twelfth 640 kilos title in a row. The puling in this weight was gruelling, with the final three medals to be decided between Lincoln, Bosley and Felton. Bosley and Felton both overcame Lincoln to meet in the final pull to decide the gold and Silver medals, which left a good Lincoln team with a well earned bronze medal. In the final pull, Felton dropped in hard with Bosley and went into their defensive style of pulling to wear Bosley down, which eventually paid off as Bosley were blown out for receiving three cautions. On the second end, Felton held steady straight away, but Bosley tried to attack more on this end. Despite bringing Felton forward a couple of holes, Felton managed to return everything and brought Bosley over the line to secure their twelfth consecutive 640 gold medal – a fantastic achievement. Photo: Congleton
The eagerly anticipated 560 kilos weight category followed the 640 competitions. Teams from Forge Lane, Lincoln, Bosley, Hanging Bridge, Norton and Sandhurst were competing. Norton and Sandhurst went into the final on level points, but the competition was not over there, as there was some good battling from the other 4 teams, with Bosley, Lincoln and Hanging Bridge having to go into a three-way pull off to decide the gold medal. This was to be decided on a knockout basis, and it was Hanging Bridge and Bosley who had to pull off to meet Lincoln to decide the bronze. Photo: Forge Lane
There was a great battle between Bosley and Hanging Bridge, but it was Hanging Bridge who narrowly won the pull by two ends to nil. Hanging Bridge then had to recover to meet Lincoln to fight for the bronze medal. This was yet again another close battle, but with some good controlled pulling by Lincoln, Hanging Bridge tired, and it was Lincoln who secured their second bronze medal of the day. Photo: Hanging Bridge
The final was an exciting and tense affair, with Sandhurst and Norton taking to the field. The first end lasted close on five minutes, and it was Norton who controlled the pull well to take the first end. On the second end, Sandhurst had to get in amongst Norton, and after a good battle from both teams, Norton were blown out for receiving three cautions. The third end was an equally close affair, and with both teams battling hard, it was a case of who had the mental strength to finish it off. Both teams were still committed in the closing stages, and both were on two cautions. Unfortunately for Norton, it was Sandhurst who were awarded the third end after Norton received three cautions. Despite the end result, credit must be given, for two great, committed sides, who yet again gave us another thrilling 560 kilos final, and both teams can be considered to be two of the best 560 teams in the world. Photo: Hedge End
Videos from the three ends of the final are provided below.
During the 560 kilos competition the junior men and junior girls demonstration pulls took place. It was good to see the youth teams out on the field taking part and enjoying themselves, and we thank them for coming along and taking part in the national championships. There was some good pulling between Leicester, Northants and Cambridge, and we hope that we can take the youth forward with more teams taking part over the next year. Photo: Holland TOWC
The men’s 720 kilos saw the smallest entry of teams on the day, and this time it was Bosley who came out on top to win their first gold medal since 2001, defeating Congleton in the final by 2 ends to 0. Holland Sports secured the bronze medal after overcoming the Combined Services by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Leicester Boys
During the 720 kilos event, the ladies 520 kilos weight category took place. Bedford, Team Army, Sheen and Belvoir Vale were fighting it out for the medals, and it was Bedford who went through the competition unbeaten to take the gold medal, closely followed by Belvoir Vale, who finished in the silver medal position. After the first round of pulling, Team Army and Sheen were on level points, and so had to pull off for the bronze medal. This was another close battle, with both teams giving it everything, but it was Sheen who just edged out the Army by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Northants Boys
The 600 kilos event was the next men’s weight, which was split into 2 groups. There was some good close pulling in all of the rounds, but it was Norton, Felton, Sandhurst and Lincoln who made the cross over. Norton pulled Lincoln in the first semi-final, and went through to the final, winning by 2 ends to 0. Sandhurst won the second semi- final to leave Lincoln and Felton to contest for the bronze medal. Felton edged out Lincoln by 2 ends to 0 to secure the bronze. The final was the same line up as the 560 kilos final, with Norton versus Sandhurst. There were no mistakes by Norton this time around though, and they convincingly took the title by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Norton
The final weight of the day was the 680 kilos competition, which was split into four groups. Congleton, Felton, Bosley and Norton each won their respective groups to reach the semi-finals. Felton and Congleton met in the first semi-final and Norton and Bosley met in the second semi-final. Felton and Bosley both won their respective semi-finals by 2 ends to 0, to leave Congleton and Norton to fight it out for the bronze. The bronze pull off saw Congleton defeat Norton by 2 ends to 1. The final was another close battle on the first end, and Bosley won the first end after Felton were blown out for receiving three cautions. Bosley controlled the second end very well and pulled Felton over the line to secure a well deserved gold medal. Photo: Sandhurst
The medals were awarded by TOWA President Tony Martin at the end of what was a very long and hard day. Congratulations should go to all of the teams who took part at the national championships, and gave us a good day of tug of war, regardless of whether or not they won medals. A big thank you must also go to Orford Plant Hire for sponsoring the championships. Photo: Raunds
