Did you see the Tug of War World and European Championships?

SOUTHPORT was the host of the European Championships and World Junior/Under 23 Tug of War Championships that were held over 21 September to 24 September 2017. Many of you would be surprised to find out that the event is a properly organised sport, and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (ICO) and it attracts teams from all over the world, such as Australia, China, America, Russia and even Scotland! In total 20 countries took part in the event, with over 1500 competitors. It was a surprisingly interesting event and now we know what it is all about, we hope The Tug of War Association return soon...

Below is a list of the medal winners in all of the different weight classes for the 2 days of International Competitions and 2 days of Club Competitions. We were told that the English teams came away with a total of 5 medals:- 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze over the 4 days of competition, as well as some good placings in other weight classes...

Results as follows:-

21/09/2017 - TWIF Open Competition Results – Day 1

Men 680kg – Gold – Ebersecken (Switzerland) – Silver – Heure (Netherlands) – Bronze – TTV TTV Vallietrekkers (Netherlands) – 4th – G&B (Ireland).

Under 23 Ladies 500kg – Gold – Jing Mei (Chinese Taipei) – Silver – Sins (Switzerland) – Bronze – Pfahlbronn (Germany) – 4th – Gazelles (South Africa).

Under 23 Men 600kg – Gold – Stans-Oberdorf (Switzerland) – Silver – TTV Veenseboys (Netherlands) – Bronze – Simonswald (Germany) – 4th – Swellendam (South Africa).

Ladies 520kg – Gold – Ayrshire (Scotland) – Silver – Kilroe Ladies(England) – Bronze – TTV Gelderswoude (Netherlands) – 4th – Jing Mei (Chinese Taipei).

Men 56kg – Gold – Engelberg (Switzerland) – Silver – Bancran (Northern Ireland) – Bronze – Mosnang (Switzerland) – 4th – Sins (Switzerland).

22/09/2017 - TWIF Open Competition Results – Day 2

► Men 720kg – Gold – TTV Valleitrekkers (Netherlands) – Silver – G&B (Ireland) – Bronze – TTV Koapman (Netherlands) – 4th – TTV Gelderswoude (Netherlands).

► Junior Ladies 480kg – Gold – Drostdy (South Africa) – Silver – Dreigau Cymreg (Wales) – Bronze – Tai Chung (Chinese Taipei) – 4th – Team ACF (England).

► Junior Men 560kg – Gold – Oakdale A (South Africa) – Silver – Stans-Oberdorf (Switzerland) – Bronze – Nantou-Shou Shan (Chinese Taipei) – 4th – Oakdale B (South Africa).

► Mixed 600kg – Gold – Kilroe (England) – Silver – Loftadalen DK (Sweden) – Bronze – TTV Eibergen (Netherlands) – 4th – Wallby (Sweden).

► Ladies 560kg – Gold – Jing Mei (Chinese Taipei) – Silver – Haldon (England) – Bronze – Wa-Ka (Switzerland) – 4th – Gaztedi (Basque Country).

► Men 640kg – Gold – Ebersecken (Switzerland) – Silver – TTV Veenseboys (Netherands) – Bronze – Engelberg (Switzerland) – 4th – TTV Valleitrekkers (Netherlands).

23/09/2017 - International Results - Day 3

► Men 680kg – Gold – Netherlands - Silver - Switzerland - Bronze - Ireland - 4th - Sweden - 5th - Belgium - 6th - England - 7th - Germany - 8th - Basque Country - 9th - Italy - 10th - Poland - 11th - Latvia - 12th - France.

► Under 23 Ladies 500kg – Gold – Switzerland – Silver – Chinese Taipei – Bronze – Sweden – 4th – Germany - 5th - England - 6th - South Africa - 7th - Wales.

► Under 23 Men 600kg – Gold – Switzerland – Silver – Germany – Bronze – South Africa – 4th – Chinese Taipei - 5th - England - 6th - Belgium - 7th - Netherlands - 8th - Wales.

► Ladies 520kg – Gold – Sweden – Silver – Scotland – Bronze – Switzerland – 4th – England - 5th - Netherlands - 6th - Basque Country - 7th - Wales.

► Men 560kg – Gold – Switzerland – Silver – Basque Country – Bronze – Northern Ireland – 4th – England - 5th - Netherlands - 6th - Scotland - 7th - Ireland - 8th - Germany - 9th - Belgium - 10th - Wales.

24/09/2017 - International Results - Day 4

► Men 720kg – Gold –Netherlands – Silver – Ireland – Bronze – England – 4th – Latvia - 5th - Basque Country - 6th - Sweden - 7th - Italy - 8th - Poland.

► Junior Ladies 480kg – Gold – South Africa – Silver – Wales – Bronze – Chinese Taipei – 4th – England

► Junior Men 560kg – Gold – Switzerland – Silver – South Africa – Bronze – Chinese Taipei – 4th – Netherlands - 5th - Germany - 6th - Sweden - 7th - Belgium - 8th - England.

► Mixed 600kg – Gold – England – Silver – Sweden – Bronze – Switzerland – 4th – Netherlands - 5th - Basque Country - 6th - Scotland - 7th - Lithuania - 8th - Wales - 9th - Israel - 10th - Latvia.

► Ladies 560kg – Gold – Swizerland – Silver – Sweden – Bronze – Netherlands – 4th – Basque Country - 5th - England - 6th - Scotland - 7th - Wales

► Men 640kg – Gold – Switzerland – Silver – Netherlands – Bronze – Sweden – 4th – Basque Country - 5th - Ireland - 6th - England - 7th - Belgium - 8th - Scotland - 9th Wales - 10th - Italy - 11th - France.

Alan Knott, who is the Press Officer for The Tug of War Association said:- "In total, we had 19 countries taking part in the international competitions and the club event had 80 clubs taking part from Europe and around the World. We are please to also tell the media that the event attracted over 1500 people to taking part. The Association is very pleased with how the event went and it was great to see English teams coming away with medals. The next big events for World Tug of War takes place in China, in March 2018, for the World Indoor Tug of War Championships, and then Cape Town, South Africa, in September 2028, for the World Outdoor Tug of War Championships. We would like to thank, both Southport's Pontins and Sefton Council for their support in helping us to stage this year's very successful event."

PAGE 1 OF 2

We hope you liked the photos, but please, don't copy them.  Please help us to keep our copyright intact and to keep this site online. Click on here to find out how you can get you copy of these photos.