YEOVIL NEWS: Town praised for its hosting of Tug of War Championships

AROUND 50 teams converged on Yeovil on Saturday (June 20, 2015) for the National Outdoor Tug of War Championships.

Teams from all over England took part in the event which was organised by the Tug of War Association and held at Johnson Park.

The championships were hosted by the home team of the Somerset ACF Tug of War Club, mostly made up of Yeovil young people, who use JohnsonPark as their training ground.

The teams took part across different weight classes for men’s teams, ladies teams and youth teams throughout the day.

The medals winners were well spread out across the day, with 15 different clubs picking up a gold, silver or bronze medal across the ten different weight classes for mens, ladies and junior weight classes that were on offer.

The Lincoln and Norton tug of war teams came away with three gold medals each, with the Kilroe Ladies team from Lancashire and the Gloucester ACF junior team coming away with two gold medals each in the ladies and junior weight classes.

Two Dales from Derbyshire won the remaining gold medal on offer in the men’s heavyweight division.

As far as the home team were concerned, Somerset ACF Tug of War Club put in a strong performance in the junior weight classes to reach the final in both weight classes, coming away with two silver medals, narrowly missing out on defending the junior tug of war titles that were won in 2014.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Tug of war action at Johnson Park in Yeovil on Saturday (June 20, 2015).

“We had a great day” commented TOWA spokesman Alan Knott. “Thankfully the rain held off for most of the day and we were only interrupted by a couple of showers, which meant that we were able to witness some fiercely competitive competition in all of the weight classes on the day”

“The winning teams will now go on to represent England at the European Championships, which take place in Belfast in Northern Ireland in September.”

Alan added: “We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to Tim Tatler and his Somerset ACF team, and the people of Yeovil for making us feel very welcome.

“The set up was first class and we enjoyed the day very much. We look forward to returning to Yeovil in the future.

“We hope that by coming to Yeovil that we have given the public the opportunity to see a new and exciting sport, and hopefully we have inspired a few more people to pick up the rope and give tug of war a go.”

Among the visitors to the championships were the Mayor and Mayoress of Yeovil, Cllrs Mike and Pauline Lock, who were greeted by Tim Tatler.

Tim said: “I’d like to thank everyone who came along to JohnsonPark and watched.”

It is hoped that tug of war will one day become an Olympic sport again – the last time coming in 1920 when Great   Britain won gold.

Unfortunately tug of war has not been included in a shortlist of eight sports which could be included in the 2020 Olympics at Tokyo.

For further information about tug of war and the Tug of War Association, and to find out how you can take up the sport, visit www.tugofwar.co.uk.

More photos can be found in our picture gallery here: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/06/22/national-outdoor-tug-of-war-champs-june-20-2015/ .

National Outdoor Tug of War Championships - Results Summary: Men 560 kilos - Gold - Norton (Staffordshire); Silver - Sandhurst (Berkshire); Bronze - Bosley (Cheshire); 4th - Widecombe (Devon).
Men 600 kilos - Gold - Norton (Staffordshire); Silver - Felton Eccles (Somerset); Bronze - Oxney Vines Cross (Sussex); 4th - Bosley (Cheshire).

Men 640 kilos - Gold - Norton (Staffordshire); Silver - Two Dales (Derbyshire); Bronze - Felton Eccles (Somerset); 4th - Lincoln (Lincolnshire).

Men 680 kilos - Gold - Lincoln (Lincolnshire); Silver - Norton (Staffordshire); Bronze - Felton Eccles (Somerset); 4th - Two Dales (Derbyshire).

PHOTO – RIGHT: Somerset ACF team member James Hooper, missing from their team photo below, due to being on “sticky tack” duty. He gave out tack which is applied to the hands of tug of war competitors prior to a pull.

Men 720 kilos - Gold - Lincoln (Lincolnshire); Silver - Holland (Staffordshire); Bronze - Raunds (Northamptonshire).

Men Catchweight - Gold - Two Dales (Derbyshire); Silver - Holland (Staffordshire); - Bronze - Raunds (Northamptonshire); 4th - Haldon (Devon).

Ladies 560 kilos - Gold - Kilroe Ladies (Lancashire); Silver - Holland Ladies (Staffordshire); Bronze - Bedford Ladies (Bedfordshire).

Ladies 520 kilos - Gold - Kilroe Ladies (Lancashire); Silver - Bedford Ladies (Bedfordshire); Bronze - Gloucester ACF (Gloucestershire).

Mixed 600kg (4 men and 4 ladies) - Gold - Lincoln (Lincolnshire); Silver - Kilroe (Lancashire); Bronze - Holland (Staffordshire).

Junior Men 560 Kilos - Gold - Gloucester ACF; Silver - Somerset ACF; Bronze - Leicester and Northants ACF.

Junior Men 530 Kilos - Gold - Gloucester ACF; Silver - Somerset ACF; Bronze - Leicester and Northants ACF.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Members of the Yeovil-based Somerset ACF team at Johnson Park on Saturday - missing James Hooper who was on "sticky tack" duty.

PHOTO - ABOVE: A potential tug of war team of the future at Johnson Park in Yeovil.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Tim Tatler, centre, coach of the Yeovil-based Somerset ACF tug of war team is pictured at Johnson Park on Saturday with the Mayor and Mayoress of Yeovil, Cllrs Mike and Pauline Lock.

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