National Championships

Entry Forms

Just a reminder to teams, the entries for the Nationals have to be in to the Federation Fixtures Secretary together with entry fees by 10th August. to be fully eligible, teams must have affiliated to the Federation AND all pullers must have been registered individually with the Federation by Sunday 3rd August !

Federation Charity Event - Two Dales

 Sunday 3rd August

Holland and Two Dales in the 680 kilos

Eight teams were at the Charity event: Leek, Holland, Haywood, Hanging Bridge, Barton, Chadwell, Two Dales and Triple F. The competition was very tough and with many of the teams being very close in ability, there were a lot of 'three enders' and 'back to the middles'. The weather held nice all day and at times it was really warm. The busiest weight of the day was the 680 kilos which was run as a  straight seven, and with teams scrapping it out for every point it was all very close at the end and Holland and Two Dales tied for first place with Two Dales winning the pull off. Two Dales also won the 600 and 640, with Holland winning the other four weight classes: 720, Catchweight, 600 4+4 and 660 4+4.

Triple F 600 4+4

Barton  680 kilos

The event was judged by Maurice Simons and Glyn Lawrence, with recorders Helen Jose and Sue Lawrence. The entry fees made £160 for the Charity Fund and the raffle made over £100 also (thanks to the Two Dales ladies) so a total of just over £260 was raised for the Federations nominated Charity: The make a Wish Foundation for Terminally Ill Children.

Hanging Bridge  640 kilos

Leek TOWC 720 kilos

See Results page for more pics and info!

Holland TOWC News: At the England Training Session - The Inter Counties Championships in Maccelsfield, Holland won the Silver Medal in the 680 beating Bosley 2-0, but losing to Felton Eccles. In the 720 open Holland this time defeated Felton 2-0 and won another Silver Medal losing only to Bosley

Holland in the 680 kilos - Association Inter Counties

Bosley in the 680 kilos - Association Inter Counties

Ashbourne Highland Gathering

Sunday 20th July - National League

Two Dales

Ashbourne Highland Gathering is always a cracking good competition and this years was no exception with eight teams making it on to the scales to do battle for the honours: Leek, Two Dales, Holland, Triple F, Ingelby Cross, Haywood, Hanging Bridge and Waterhouses.

Hanging Bridge

The Judging was in the capable hands of Maurice Simons, Glyn Lawrence and Andy Smith, with Time Keeping and Recording by Helen Jose and Sue Lawrence. A good days pulling was had by all and Two Dales managed to stamp their authority on the day by taking 4 wins in the 600, 680, 720 and Catchweight, with Leek taking the two 4+4 events and Hanging Bridge the 640. Congratulations also go to Ingelby Cross, Waterhouses, Triple F, Haywood and Holland for a great performance on the day, the competition was tough with lots of hard pulling and even one or two 'back to the middles' to the delight of the teams.

Leek

The rest of the Holland squad  were again grateful to their light lads and the girls for being there on the day to represent them, and for those watching Hollands progress, they had a good day at the second England Squad Training day in Bristol, which was also the AAAs Championships and the South West Open Championships. In the AAAs closed event Holland won Runners Up in the Catchweight and in the South West Open were Winners in the Catchweight, young Gavin and James pulled really well in a very successful England Under 23s squad too!

Triple F

See Results Page for more info and Pics!

The Norfolk Young Farmers Rally - Sunday 13th July

The Norfolk young farmers rally was held at the Norfolk showground, the teams had already qualified to compete at the  pre rally in June. Four men's and two ladies teams were entered into the competition which was judged by David Ling. The ladies were first on, and the straight final pulll went to three ends, with Wymondham eventually beating North Elmham 2-1 in a very hard fought battle. The men's event was between Harleston, North Elmham, Dereham and Wymondham. The four team competition was won by Dereham, who went through without  losing an end,  Harleston took second place with North Elmham third and Wymondham fourth.
 

Spilsby Show - Sunday 13th July

National League - Judges: Maurice Simons and Glyn Lawrence, Time keeper Recorder: Sue Lawrence.  Teams: Two Dales,  Triple F 'A',  Triple F 'B',  Holland

Two Dales in action

Triple F TOWC

It was a nice sunny day and the crowds flocked to Spilsby Show in Lincolnshire, of course they were all going  to watch the tug of war (amongst other things). Holland had a small squad on account of the 720 team having to attend the England training day competition, but Holland won the 600 4+4 with Triple F taking the 660 4+4. Two Dales took the other weights despite being pushed by Holland and Triple F, with Two Dales and Triple F going head to head with 'back to the middle pulls' in the 640 kilos and also in another weight class.

Meanwhile at the England training day competition in Sandhurst, Holland beat Felton Eccles, Oxney Vines Cross, Thames Valley, Sandhurst, Forge Lane and the England Under 23s to take Runners Up in the Catchweight and the 680 kilos .

Holland TOWC

Photos were supplied by Karen from Holland.

See Links page for up to date National League tables!

The National Young Farmers Finals Competition

Sunday 6th July - Royal Show, Stoneleigh

Ashover taste Gold, Ridware take Silver!

There were ten mens and ten womens teams competing, representing the ten areas, and the standard of competition was super. The teams put on a really electric performance to the delight of the crowd, and Ridware (members of Holland TOWC) and Ashover (including pullers from Two Dales and Hanging Bridge) made it through to the mens final.

The ladies teams had to pull in the morning and endured the miserable wet conditions, with the men having the best of the weather in the afternoon, including sunshine which was very warm at times. Hope Valley Ladies from Derbyshire made it through to the final to pull last years winners from Wales. In the mens competition, Ridware were drawn with Ashover, Cambridge, Devon and Cornwall. The pulling was very hard between these teams, and at the end of the group stages Ashover were in first place and went through to the semi finals with Ridware who were in second, just ahead of third placed Cambridge. Ashover and Ridware both won the semi finals beating Yorkshire B and A respectivley.

Ridware winning the Semi Final

Having started at 10am the pulling was all over by 3pm, except for the finals which were to be in the main arena at 5.30pm, though it was actually 6pm before they got into the arena. The Ladies final was won by Derbyshire 2-0, but the mens final was a different matter: having lost 2-0 to Ashover in the group, Ridware took the first end after what must have been in excess of 5 minutes. Ashover fought hard to take the second end and force the decider. Ashover won the toss, but Ridware moved them off the drop going at least half way if not three quarters, but Ashover would not give in and the two teams scrapped it out for what seemed an age, before Ashover rescued it and won the final 2-1. It was a terrific final, and well done to both teams.

Ashover in the Final

These photos and many more are available from www.peterrowephotography.co.uk

Ridware YF's (Staffordshire) - National Silver Medal Winners

Ashover YF's (Derbyshire) - National Gold Medal Winners

Federation Teams Success at The Association Championships

Saturday 21st June - West Midlands Show, Shrewsbury

Leek in action at the Association Championships

Several Federation teams were in action at the English Tug of War Association Championships on Saturday, and all gave a very good account of themselves. Leek were in action in the mens weights, and with some of the Haywood clubs ladies, they competed well in the ladies weights too. Totham Bull / Triple F competed in the light weights with a polished performance too. Hanging Bridge, with some members of the Two Dales club had an exceptional day, winning three Bronze medals at 600, 640 and 680! 

Holland 720 team winning the silver Medal

Holland were very close to going through to the final of the Catchweight competition, in the end had to settle for a Bronze medal, but that was not the case in the 720 kilos as Holland fought their way through to a wonderful Silver medal, losing only to Bosley. A good day for the Federation teams, Well done everyone!

A proud Holland with their Silver Medals

Federation Inter Counties Championships

Woodton TOWC Norfolk - Sunday 25th May

The weather was really awful with constant rainfall all throughout the day, but despite the terrible conditions there was some really good pulling amongst the teams present. Yorkshire were represented by Ingelby Cross TOWC, Buckinghamshire were represented by Triple F TOWC, Norfolk were represented by Woodton TOWC, Cambridgeshire was represented by Cambridge YF TOWC and Staffordshire was represented by Holland TOWC and Haywood TOWC. Dave Ling had done a wonderful job preparing the arena, and the pulling ground was perfect. Most of the teams arrived at Norfolk on the Saturday, and so they were able to enjoy some very nice warm sunshine on one day at least.

The pulling was hard and tight, and the teams kept things moving (well who would want to hang about in that kind of weather) Pam Prosser and Helen Jose did the official recording work in the Fridge (sorry - the Control Centre) whilst Harold Jackson and Maurice performed the Judging duties standing out in the deluge! Pulling started at 12 and was all over by 4pm, when there was a mad dash to the pub to get changed, dry out and get warm (and wet on the inside). Dave and his team put on their usual mammoth barbeque which was eagerly devoured, and the chilli really warmed people up! Holland representing Staffordshire were last years defending champions at all weights, and had another good outing this time around taking most of the weight classes, but they did not retain the 600 kilos which went to a very sharp Cambridge team and the 640 kilos which was won in impressive style by Triple F.

See results page for more information!

Holland TOWC  and Leek TOWC compete at the World 4+4 Championships at Family Janssens International Tournament in Retie, Belgium - Friday / Saturday/ Sunday, 2nd / 3rd and 4th May

Leek TOWC pulling in the 600 Kilos 4+4

The International Event organised by Family Janssens club to celebrate their 15 years was nothing short of amazing, it would have graced any World Championships with almost 60 teams taking part from many, many different Countries from around the World. The pulling was over three days, with the 4+4 Championships happening on the Friday. Leek and Holland lined up to take on some of the best 4+4 teams in the World, and at this, the fifth annual World 4+4 there were more Countries represented than ever before. In the 660 kilos Holland recognised their best opportunity, and Leek as defending champions were prepared to take them all on. In the event Leek pulled hard but finished 5th with Holland managing to finish in joint 3rd on equal points with the German team. After the group stages the top four progress to the semi finals, and losing the toss Holland had to take on Schutstoff from the Netherlands, the group winners. Holland had given Schutstoff a real hard pull in the group stages, taling some rope on both ends, but couldnt quite get them moving.

Holland TOWC pulling for the Bronze Medal

The semi final was a repeat of the group stage pull and so Holland were going into the Bronze Medal pull off against the German team that they had finished joint third with. This time there would be no 'one end each' Holland wanted the medal badly and went hard to work, in front of a super crowd that cheered them on Holland took the first end.The Germans had made a substitution and brought a fresh man in but it made no difference, Holland were not going to let go and absolutely destroyed them in the second end to win the Bronze in two straight ends! Schutstof won the Gold medal with a 2 ends to nil win over Gorteleragh from Ireland, but Holland were so happy to be getting onto the rostrum for their hard earned medal, in the knowledge that the only pulls they lost were to the Gold medal winners!

Holland on the Podium with their Bronze Medals

The 600 kilos was a tough competition and this time Holland and Leek both found themselves in two different groups of six teams, Leek pulled smashing, really getting it together, and Holland held form in the other group too, but in the end both clubs had managed a win and a couple of draws but neither made it to the top two places to proceed to the Semi Finals - fair play to Schutstoff though as they went through to the final again, but this time taking the Silver Medal. Federation Judge Glyn Lawrence was in action all day performing in both 4+4 weights and also the mens 600 kilos which was a great competition with 22 teams going at it! All in all the Federation were represented very well at the 5th Annual World 4+4 Championships!

Stop Press!!!

It has just been passed at the recent TWIF Congess Meeting that 4+4 is now an officially recognised TWIF International weight class. This fact was announced at the Judges meeting in Retie, and it has now also been posted on the TWIF web site. This is part of Tug of War history, and the Federation and some of our members can feel justly proud that the hard work they have put into the campaign of getting 4+4 pulling recognised, has now paid off!  It might not be widely known by some but it was the Federation that first explored 4+4 pulling back in 1991 and by 1995 it was so popular it became part of the National Championship weekend. Other Countries picked up on the practice and very quickly mixed pulling was happening in Canada, USA, Sweden, and Holland. This last weekend saw German, Swiss and Irish teams also competing. Well done to the Federation (and Peter Lambert who was the original proposer of the practice). The subject of 4+4 had been previously discussed and declined following an application by the USA. This time the move for acceptance for 4+4 had been put forward by Sweden. As some one famous once said  'It is amazing what can be achieved if you dont mind who gets the credit'