It's War at Wooler Show!

It’s War at Wooler Show!

Annual Glendale Agricultural Event to Host a Tug of War

Competition for the First Time

With summer and the Glendale Show fast approaching, The Glendale Agricultural Society, organisers of this annual event have announced that for the first time ever, there will be a Tug of War competition. Being sponsored by NFU Mutual in Alnwick, it will feature local teams who will be straining to win the trophy, commissioned especially by The Glendale Agricultural Society GAS.

Celebrating teamwork and friendly rivalry, Tug of War has been a feature of athletics contest since classical Greece and the Pharaohs and was an Olympic Sport until 1920. Still widely contested, GAS hopes the Glendale Challenge will add still more to its popularity.

Announcing details Racheal Tait, GAS secretary, said, “This is an exciting opportunity for local teams to compete for what we hope will become an established show event and real crowd pleaser. We have already enlisted our two local teams of Alnwick and Berwick Young Farmers, and they will be ready to take on the challenge from anyone who cares to take up the rope. I would like to thank NFU Mutual in Alnwick for their support of what I know will be a tremendous crowd pleaser.”

Tug of War or Tug o’ War is well contested by all Young Farmers’ YFC groups in Northumberland and is taken very seriously. Rachael is hoping that the Showground on Bank Holiday Monday will become another occasion for the teams to field their strength.

Being sponsored by the NFU Mutual, who are also keen to see teams from organisations and businesses entered, Tania Conway of the NFU Mutual in Alnwick adds: “The NFU Mutual in Alnwick are proud to sponsor the Tug of War competition at this year’s Glendale Show”.

Tug of War is an ancient country sport that celebrates teamwork and friendly rivalry and GAS is formally inviting Young Farmers Clubs and any other local groups to put forward a team to compete on the day. They would like to see local pubs, clubs and businesses entering and of course practicing winning beforehand. Albeit great to participate in and watch this is a seriously competitive sport with formal rules and handicapping. Despite its masculine image, Tug of War is also enjoyed by girls and GAS would expect to see teams have both sexes taking the strain.

Rebecca Maitland, Secretary of Berwick YFC adds: “The Tug of War is always one of the most highly contested competitions at the annual Young Farmers Rally, and we will certainly be looking forward to battling it out against other local teams at this year’s Glendale Show!”

To get involved, your team needs to have 8 members, and be able, preferably, to lay hands on a rope to practice with, and ideally, some special boots. Please contact Racheal at the Glendale Show office for further details.

The Glendale Show, will be held on August bank holiday Monday, 27^th August in Wooler. Attracting over 15,000 people it is one of the highlights of the Northumbrian Calendar. Full details about the show can be found on www.glendaleshow.com or by telephoning 01668283868.