Two Devon teams showed their strength at the National Tug of War finals in August, with the men’s team clinching a hat-trick by taking the title for the third year in a row.
Anstey YFC’s men’s team were hailed the winners at the Tenbury Agricultural Show with the Honiton YFC ladies’ team also successfully pulling in first place.
Worthy winners, the Anstey team practice twice a week for an hour and a half on a gantry and for extra fitness they also run five to 10 kilometres twice a week too.
“There’s no secret to our success it’s just hard graft at training twice a week, heading to a Tug of War Association competition every weekend around the country,” said Anstey YFC member Jack Routley who has been interested in Tug of War since a young age, watching local competitions.
“At about age 15 I started to train with Anstey YFC’s Tug of War team. I didn’t pull but was training with the team in 2017 when we first won the NFYFC final.
“I love the fact that our team is just a group of friends enjoying a sport and we’ve become extremely successful because we all want to put more in for each other!”
The success has taken some of the team all over the world as they have also represented England in Tug of War.
“The travelling is pretty cool. In just three years I’ve now been to China, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland and Scotland pulling Tug of War, meeting new people and seeing new things,” said Jack who represented England with fellow Anstey YFC member Dan Nicholls in the 640kg in Germany last September. The top teams went through to The World Games in China this August.
“We didn’t quite get the result we hoped for in Germany but managed to qualify for China,” explained Jack who found China to be an amazing experience.
“From the off it was different to anything I’d ever been involved in. When going through passport control in China, there was a lane dedicated to athletes, people wanted photos with us, everyone was treating us like nothing I’d experienced before.”
Only one team every four years gets to represent their country at the World Games and Jack said winning gold made it even more special.
“Representing Great Britain was a dream come true. Knowing that four years ago Great Britain won silver and four years before that they won Gold, we as nation have a good history with it.
“When we finished fifth in the world last September we went to China as the underdogs. It was great to be able to say we won the NFYFC national competition on the Saturday, travelled to China on the Tuesday, and then won The World Games on the following Saturday!”
Jack and Dan will be competing in the World Championships in Nottingham on 4-7 September, competing in the open competition and representing England in the 560kg.
“We will be competing in the open competition in our Anstey colours. The majority of our squad are Devon YFC members, so please do come and support us (tickets are FREE!)”
Jack also urged others to get involved in the sport.
“If you fancy giving Tug of War a go, please message us or your local team. I know everyone is always looking for more pullers!”
The GENSB competition was won by Yorkshire's Great Smeaton YFC for a second year. The team trained twice a week from April to prepare for the competition.
Their trainer Rachel Nelson said the win was even more special for the team as it was the last time they would compete together as five of them would not be in competing age next year.
Like Jack, Rachel urged other young members to get involved in the sport.
“Just have a go! And if you don't qualify from your County or Area in the first year or even place at national, which is a major achievement, keep coming back every year – don't just give up! It's a great competition to do as a club.”
