AAA Tug of War Championships 2019 Results
Teams competing - Men - Lincoln, Norton, Felton Eccles, Haldon, Oxney Vines Cross, York, Bosley, Wymondham, Holland -Ladies / Junior - Whitney A and B, Bedford, Kilroe, Upton, Oxney Vines Cross, Holland, Haldon, Wymondham. Photo: Lincoln TOWC
This weekend the AAA championships took place at Alcester Rugby Club in conjunction with the Midland Area Open Championships. The AAA weights took place at 640kg and catchweight for mens teams and 520kg for ladies/junior teams. Despite a good number of clubs attending the event, not all of these clubs had sufficient numbers of pre-registered pullers to compete in all of the AAA weight classes, so numbers taking place in those weights were lower than we would have liked them to be, but nonetheless, there was some good competition. Photo: Norton Squad
The mens catchweight competition saw Lincoln dominate the group without losing an end. Norton, Felton and Haldon had some close competition in this weight, with Norton edging out Felton by 2 ends to 0 in the deciding match for second place in the group and a spot in the final. The final between Norton and Lincoln saw Lincoln win the catchweight championship by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Bedford Ladies
The mens 640kg was another good competition, with the first match between Oxney and Norton going to 1 end each, and both teams defeated the remaining opposition to meet each other again in the final. Again it was another close pull with Oxney taking the first end and Norton taking the second end. Norton then made a substitution and took the third end to take a hard fought gold medal. Photo: Upton Ladies
The ladies/junior AAA competition was held for the second year running and this year was again won by Bedford Ladies without losing an end. Upton finished as the silver medal winners. Photo: Oxney Vines Cross Men
The open competition saw weight classes take place at 600kg, 640kg, 680kg for men, 520kg and 560kg for ladies and juniors and a 600kg 4+4 competition. Photo: York
The 680kg competition was pulled in two groups, with some good competition throughout and a number of pulls going 1-1. Norton and Oxney emerged as the top two teams out of each respective group, with Norton winning the final by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Kilroe Ladies
The 600kg competition was again split into two groups, and again there was some close competition. This time the top two teams from each group progressed to a semi final. Haldon were the winners of group 1 with Lincoln finishing as runners up, and Oxney were winners of group 2 with Felton Eccles finishing as runners up. In the semi finals, Oxney overcame Lincoln and Haldon overcame Felton Eccles. The final between Oxney and Haldon saw Oxney win the gold medal by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Wymondham Ladies
The 640kg competition was pulled as a straight group and again, there was lots of close competition. Oxney won the group without losing an end and the race for second place and a place in the final was close between Felton Eccles and York, with York edging out Felton by 1 point. Oxney then won their second weight of the day by defeating York in the final by 2 ends to 0. Photo: Oxney Vines Cross Ladies
The ladies and junior 520kg and 560kg competitions again saw Bedford Ladies put in more good performances to win both weight classes and continue their winning streak through the season so far. Kilroe Ladies finished as the runners up in the 520kg competition and the 560kg competition. Photo: Holland TOWC Men
The final weight of the day was the 600kg mixed competition, with Wymondham entering two teams in this weight class and competing well against the other clubs taking part. This was another great competition with Haldon finishing top in the group round and Oxney finishing as runners up. Both teams met again in the final with Haldon winning the first end, and Oxney then taking the second end. On the deciding end, both teams battled hard with Oxney taking it to win the competition. Photo: Whitney Juniors
Officials on the day - Mike Callaghan, Vic Ludkin, Gavin Corden, Tony Henshaw, Pete Dyer, John Gracie, Roger Beardsmore, Wendy Dyer, Gill Thomas, Caroline Abri, Mark Williams. Photo: Wymondham Men
