HALDON Tug-of-War Club is set to compete in the National Outdoor Tug of War Championships tomorrow, Saturday, June 16, in Oxfordshire.

The Tug-of-War Association (TOWA) is holding its 2018 competition at the third annual Grove and Wantage Extravaganza, with tug-of-war teams from across the country competing for gold medals in different weight classes.

Both the Haldon ladies and mens teams will be travelling to Grove Rugby Club in Oxford today, Friday, June 15, to weigh-in for the specific weight categories in preparation for the main competition.

The winning teams will earn the right to represent England at the World Tug-of-War Championships taking place in Cape Town, South Africa this September. ?This year, the ladies team will be competing in the 500kg and 540kg categories, whilst the men will compete in the 560kg, 600kg, 640kg, 680kg and 720kg weight classes, with a mixed team entering the 4x4 competition.

The club members have been competing at training events leading up to the National finals, and training three times a week in Kingsteington with coach Mark Hutchins.

The ladies team will consist of Emma Davie, Georgia Woodman, Katie House, Georgina Davie, Lucy Thomas, Beth Hillier, Amber Wotton, Ginny Faulkner and Lauren Rich.

The men’s team comprises of Julian Hull, Scott McNulty, Mike Blake, Patrick Webb, Michael Smerdon, Ross Thomson, Clive Leythorne, Simon Wallace, Ed Lamb and Tom Atwill.

Emma Davie, captain of the ladies’ team, said: “The team has been working hard to improve fitness and core strength, which has been achieved through training on a pulley system on wooden slats and a yo-yo pulley on the grass. The team is maintaining a strict diet to ensure it fits within the weighted categories, and look forward to facing the competition in Oxford.”

The Tug-of-War Association is the governing body for tug-of-war in England and it is keen to emphasise the positive side of tug-of-war as a true team sport that is open and accessible to all.

The TOWA is always looking to encourage new teams and individuals (male and female) of all ages into the sport, so if anyone locally wishes to give tug-of-war a go, then they should get in touch with the team to find out how to join in with a training session.

Further information about Haldon Tug-of-War Club can be found on the club “Facebook” and “Twitter” pages or contact Emma Davie on 07835 253760 or by email at: [email protected] .

For further information about tug-of-war or to find local contact details for further advice, please visit the Tug-of-War Association web site at: www.tugofwar.co.uk or follow the TOWA on “Facebook”, “Twitter” and “Instagram” by searching for @englandtugofwar .