Bosley boys pull together for medal haul
THE National Indoor Tug Of War Championships took place on Saturday at The Harry Mitchell Centre in Smethwick.
Glyn Jones from Lyme Green and father and sons David, Alan and Tom Knott from Leek were representing the Yorkshire based team Kilroe in the competition.
In the summer the lads pull for local team Bosley but in winter they swap their outdoor boots and the grass for the specialized rubber soled pumps and mat.
Kilroe have been a very successful team winning several World titles but the club has been rebuilding over the last few seasons after many of the regular team retired.
There were six weight categories up for grabs at the Championships and although Kilroe entered all of them realistically they were aiming for medals in the 560kg and 600kg weights.
The Catchweight was on first, where Dave was anchoring the team. Despite a good effort the team just missed out on the final finishing in third place where Sheen Farmers from across the border in Staffordshire took the Gold medal.
Next on was the 640kg where Glyn, Alan and Tom secured an unexpected place in the final. The team fought hard but came away with the Silver medal losing to Raunds from Northamptonshire in the final.
The 560kg was the next weight and one that Kilroe has a rich history in, winning the World Championships at this weight on 5 consecutive occasions. They were the title holders but it was a very different team out on the mat today and it was going to be tough. Kilroe overcame Raunds by 2 ends to 0 in a hard fought final winning the title once again for the club and it was smiles all round!
The 720kg weight saw Dave just missing out on a place in the final again finishing in third place.
The 600kg weight was an important completion for the club this year. If they could secure Gold or Silver they would get the opportunity to represent England at that weight in the British and Irish Championships in Ireland in February. The team did well and Glyn, Alan and Tom once again met Raunds in the final. The first end went to Raunds after a tense battle. In the second end Kilroe attacked Raunds hard and took rope off them. Raunds managed to hold on and a slip saw Kilroe hit the mat.
As they came up they once again took rope. It was now very exciting and both teams hit the mat. Cautions were given to both teams and as they came up off the mat a little inexperience showed in the Kilroe side as they came up a little too high and Raunds seized the opportunity and managed to edge Kilroe back to take the title.
Although the lads were disappointed it was actually a great result for the rebuilding club and both teams Raunds and Kilroe will travel to Ireland in February representing England A and England B respectively!
The 680kg weight was last on and the club underweight threw everything in an attempt to reach the final. They finished the group stages in equal second place on the same points as Uppertown from Derbyshire but as they had one more caution than Uppertown they could only pull for the Bronze medal. At the end of a long day with a small squad it proved a bridge too far and they lost the Bronze medal pull off to their great rivals Sheen Farmers.
A Gold and two Silver medals was a great result for the club and the lads are back in training this week looking forward to representing England B in Ireland in February.
When the Indoor season finishes the lads will be back to the grass pulling with Bosley and welcome anyone to come and join them.