Organise a Tug of War Event in 2025
The Tug of war Association is in the process of putting together the fixture list for 2025.
Therefore, if your club / show / event intend to run a TOWA permitted tug of war competition in 2025, or if you are running a military permitted event or a Young Farmers permitted event, please contact the TOWA secretary to confirm details about your venue, weight classes, weigh in and start times and contact details so that these details can be included in the 2023 fixture list.
If you weren’t scheduled to hold a competition in 2024, but would like to hold a competition in 2025 during any Saturday or Sunday through the season, or perhaps even a weekday evening competition, Friday or a Saturday evening competition, then please use the 2024 fixture list as a guide to find a potential date to hold your event, and send in the proposed details for your event to the TOWA secretary, along with a permit fee, using the forms at the bottom of this page.
In order to facilitate as many events as possible and to spread competitions around the country such that all teams have the opportunity of competing on some weekends without a significant distance to travel, it would be appreciated if all event organisers could provide more than one date where they could potentially hold an event where possible (we appreciate that there will be fixed dates for some events, such as country/agricultural shows). This will hopefully minimise any clashes of dates and enable a good spread of events.
Clubs / areas / event organisers are also invited to bid to host the AAA and Inter County Championships - if you are interested in hosting these events, please contact the TOWA Secretary.
Please note that no permits will be issued on the weekend of Saturday 21 June 2025 - that is the planned date of our national championships and no other events (including YFC and military) are to be staged on that day as per the current TOWA rules adopted by the TOWA Membership at the 2020 TOWA AGM (except for the Three Counties Show as per the resolution passed at the 2024 AGM that will be subject to ratification at the next AGM.
In addition, please note that the weekend on 4-7 September England will be hosting the European Championships in Nottingham. The World Games is on 9-11 August 2025
Requirements
Please note the following minimum requirements to host an event:
Arena
The arena should be a minimum of 60 metres in length by 20 metres in width. If you are expecting a large number of teams or are hosting an event with both mens and ladies teams, then space should be available to make the arena wider. The arena should be marked out with barriers to prevent crowds encroaching on the competition. Gaps in the arena boundary should be provided to allow teams to enter and leave before and after each pull.
Control
A tent / gazebo with tables and chairs should be provided for the timekeeper / recorders
Weigh In / Scales
Arrangements should be made for the weigh in to take place indoors and on a hard surface. Organisers should arrange for 8 man scales to be provided. If you do not have your own 8 man scales, some judges / area committees may have scales available which you can borrow / hire.
Judges and Recorders
It is the responsibility of event organisers to invite judges / recorders to your events. Please ensure that you send invitations to judges / recorders you wish to invite at the earliest opportunity which will give you a better chance of securing their services for your event.
Refreshments should be provided for judges and recorders. In addition, it is customary to present officials with a small gift or a contribution towards travel expenses as a thank you for their attendance at the end of the event.
Prizes
Winners and runners up prizes for each weight category should be provided for each puller and the coach. Entry fees can be charged per weight class to cover the cost of prizes. Please note that giving alcohol out as prizes is no longer permitted.
Car Parking
Car parking should be available at the venue but should not be allowed adjacent to the arena to allow spectators to view the competition.
Toilet Facilities
Toilet and hand washing facilities should be available at the venue.
Refreshments
Organisers should arrange for catering to be available at the event so that competitors / spectators have the opportunity to purchase refreshments. If organisers arrange this themselves, it provides further opportunity to raise funds to cover the cost of organising an event.
Other fundraising
Organisers are permitted to secure sponsorship / advertising for their own events. Other fund raising activities, such as a raffle, stalls etc. are also permitted.
Advertising and Promoting your Event
All organisers are encouraged to promote their own events online, in local newspapers, banner advertising at the venue, and displaying posters, etc.
Early engagement with clubs is recommended in addition. Early advertising of an event, particularly on social media will help you attract more teams and spectators to your event and should not be left until the last minute.
Apply Now!
To apply for a TOWA Permit to host an event in 2025, please submit a permit application form to the TOWA Secretary as soon as possible before the fixture list is compiled in November.
The cost of a permit is £20. All events organised under a TOWA permit and run under TOWA rules with TOWA judges in attendance are covered by TOWA public liability insurance. Cheques for the permit application should be made payable to “The Tug of War Association”. Bank transfers can be paid to:
NatWest Bank
sort code: 54-30-27
Account Number: 37013963
Account Name: Tug of War Association Club Account
Please ensure that you provide a description on the payment line if paying by bank transfer.
Permit application forms are available to download below. Permit application forms can be sent to the TOWA Secretary by e-mail and post:
e-mail: 
mick.copper@tiscali.co.uk
Post: Mick Copper, 11 Holmfield Drive, Raunds, Northamptonshire, NN9 6PB
Provision of Contact Details
All TOWA fixtures (excluding YFC only and Military Only) are advertised in our annual handbook, are listed on our web site, and are publicised on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Please note that we publicise contact details for each event in all of the above, so please provide a phone number and e-mail address so that clubs wishing to enter an event can contact event organisers for more information. In addition, please confirm that the person whose contact details are given consents to the publication of their contact details in our handbook, on our web site and on social media.
