Home   Sport   Article

Cornhill Tug o’ War team crowned national mixed champions





CORNHILL Tug o’ War team have been crowned mixed champions after the championships were held at Fettercairn Show earlier in July.

Cornhill 'A' - who were crowned Scottish mixed champions.
Cornhill 'A' - who were crowned Scottish mixed champions.

Eight teams were vying for glory - but Cornhill came out on top, for what puller and coach David Mckenzie believes is the 10th or 11th year in succession.

Cornhill now have the right to represent Scotland at the British and Irish Championships in England and the World Championships in Germany later this summer, although are unlikely to travel to Germany due to costs.

In addition, Cornhill entered an under-23 team into the national championship and picked up a silver medal.

The Cornhill squad that competed at the Fettercairn Show.
The Cornhill squad that competed at the Fettercairn Show.

“The mixed nationals are held every year,” David explained. “Everyone plays everyone in a round robin, then the top four go into semi-finals and a final. We never dropped an end.

“That is about 10 or 11 years on the trot we have won now. We are quite successful.

“Scotland doesn’t have a lot of tug o’ war teams, but they are a high standard.

"This was the first time we have had that team in the under-23s category, so that's a new thing for us. They did pretty well on their first outing.”

Cornhill's 'A' team in action en route to becoming Scottish mixed champions.
Cornhill's 'A' team in action en route to becoming Scottish mixed champions.

While funds are a bit tight for a potential trip to Germany for the World Championships this year, Cornhill did make the journey to Switzerland last year - and it was a successful one.

David added that the European Championships, being held in England next year, will be the club’s next big target.

He added: “We had a tremendous year last year and went for a world medal. It was three or four years of work hard, and now we have some young blood coming through.”

Tug o’ war is, David adds, a sport that is often viewed as something any untrained person ‘out of the pub’ could compete at.

But he underlined the incredible amount of hard work the men and women that train with the club put in week in, week out.

The Cornhill under-23 team that were silver medallists.
The Cornhill under-23 team that were silver medallists.

“A lot of folk think tug o’ war is big lads out a pub,” he said. “But we are a highly-trained unit.

“Months in advance we give the lads and lassies their weight targets and it's a strict diet.

“Leading up to a championship, we are training three nights a week and working on running and fitness another two.

“Like boxing, it takes a fair bit of training and a strict regime.”

The club - which trains in Banff - has nearly 40 squad members, making it one of the biggest in Scotland.

“We have been successful and that helps, but it’s quite family-driven and maybe that’s got something to do with us having so many members,” David added.

The Cornhill under-23 team that were silver medallists.
The Cornhill under-23 team that were silver medallists.

The club train two nights a week. Women train on Mondays and Wednesdays and men train on Tuesdays and Thursdays.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More