Southport To Host 2017 European Outdoor Tug Of War Championships

Southport To Host 2017 European Outdoor Tug Of War Championships

Southport is to host the 2017 European Outdoor Tug of War Championships in one year’s time on 21 – 24 September 2017. Contestants at the event would arrive in the area from 18 September and will then spend four days battling it out at international club level on the Thursday and Friday and international level on the Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament will be open to both men’s teams and women’s teams, who will be competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in different weight categories. The event will also stage the World Junior and Under 23 Tug of War Championships, where again, there will be weight classes for men’s teams and women’s teams.

The highlight of outdoor tug of war is the clash of sheer power between the two teams. Athletes seek an optimal foothold in the ground by digging in their heels and, using that as their pivot, seek to apply force to the opposing team using a combination of pulling the rope with the upper body, and pushing their legs into the ground to try and move the opposition.

The event, which is expected to draw around 1,500 – 2,000 participants from at least 20 countries alone, could provide a boost to tourism and the local economy.

The four days of competition will take place on the Sefton Council owned Carr Lane playing fields, and the competitors will be housed at the Pontin’s holiday camp at Ainsdale, although a number of visitors to the championships are expected to use other local hotels and B&Bs in Southport and surrounding areas.

Alan Knott, spokesman for the English Tug of War Association, who are organising the event on behalf of the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) said: “We are delighted that we have been able to secure the European Tug of War Championships in Southport. It gives us a great opportunity of showcasing our sport to a wide audience.

“We have hosted the European Tug of War Championships (which take place every two years) in England before, but this is the very first time that we will be bringing a major tug of war competition to Southport.

“It is a great opportunity for people to see a top level tug of war competition, something which people in the area may not have seen before – there is certainly a lot more to tug of war than what people normally think, and preparing for this event takes weeks, months and years of hard work and preparation.

“The World Outdoor Tug of War Championships recently took place in Malmo, Sweden, and England tug of war teams came away with a silver and a bronze medal from the World Championships, so we are hopeful that we can come away with some European medals on home soil in Southport next year with the backing of lots of supporters from the area.

“The Tug of War Association is confident that participants from many countries will extend their stay in the area to go sight-seeing or visit the various attractions available in Southport and the surrounding areas, so hopefully our participants and spectators will provide a boost for the area during the championship”.

Local businesses are being given the chance to get involved in the championships by advertising at the event.

Advertising opportunities are available at the event, and the Tug of War Association is able to offer a range of cost effective advertising packages to local businesses to promote themselves to visitors to the championships, including programme, web site and social media advertising, banner advertising in the competition arena, and sponsorship of weight categories with VIP entrance to the event.

If there are any local businesses interested in advertising at the event, then they can contact Alan Ludkin from the Tug of War Association for information and prices on 01304 617660 or e-mail alan.ludkin@hotmail.co.uk.

Further information about the sport of tug of war and the Tug of War Association is available on the Tug of War Association web site at www.tugofwar.co.uk.

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