Take the strain: Tug of War World Championships

Action, emotion and exhaustion from the University of Nottingham where teams from across the globe vied for supremacy in an ancient test of strength“Pick up the rope! Take the strain! Steady! Pull!” When the referee barks those commands, eight competitors on each team muster every ounce of strength in their bodies and attempt to haul one another across the crumbling earth. Clutching a rope made of hemp or polypropylene, the first team to tug their opponents four metres from their starting position is the winner. They dig their steel-plated heels into the dirt – but strictly no spikes are allowed – while coaching staff guide and encourage them to victory. In the round-robin stages, each contest lasts two ends and the top four teams reach the semi finals; the semi-finals and finals are decided over three ends. With varying age and weight categories, competitors range from their teens to their 70s. All have one thing in common: a fierce desire to win.The Swiss team in the senior mens 600kg category final v the Basque Country. Continue reading...

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