So is this the end of the line for tug o’ war?
‘Struggle to get enough teams’
IT is a traditional test of strength that is a familiar sight at sports events around the country.
But the tug o’ war competition is under threat, with Highland Games organisers saying they struggle to attract contenders.
The Grampian Highland Games Association (GHGA) hosts ten official tournaments every year, but only one team from outside the region attends regularly.
In 2017, Team StrathDee was hastily formed in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, to ensure there was another team on the North-East competition circuit.
Delegations from the GHGA and the Scottish Highland Games Association (SHGA) are to hold talks on
Sunday over the future of the sport. Some officials have put the problem of organising contests down to a lack of government funding help.
Scott Fraser, vice-chairman of the Ballater Highland Games, said: ‘Tug o’ war is an amazing sport to play and watch but it is a struggle to get enough teams to travel to tournaments.
‘Highland Games do a huge amount to bring tourism and money to local economies and I don’t think that is reflected by the Government. More funding would certainly help.’
The SHGA has declined to comment until the meeting is held.
Colin Montgomerie, who chairs the Scottish Tug of War Association, has called on Highland Games officials to find a joint solution with his own organisation.
He said: ‘Tug o’ war has a rich and complicated history in Scotland. In this day and age, there are so many sports available to play and tug o’ war is one of the toughest.
‘Teams travel miles and miles for various commitments and it puts a strain on them.’
He added: ‘The clubs won’t allow tug o’ war to die out. They take it very seriously to make sure the sport continues.’
Aberdeenshire West Tory MSP Alexander Burnett warned the Scottish Government’s lack of assistance could lead to the loss of a vital tradition, saying: ‘The SNP Government has engaged very little on how to secure our traditional events for future generations.’
He added: ‘Getting people involved is the hard part and I think that’s where Scottish Government support would help. But instead there have been moves to curb the social side of events.’
It has been a patchy year for Highland Games in Scotland, with several events scrapped.
In April, a lack of organisers and funding meant the Invercharron Highland Games, in Sutherland, were cancelled indefinitely.
Shotts Highland Games in Lanarkshire were cancelled this year due to ‘various difficulties’, while festivities in Perth were called off due to waterlogged pitches.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Highland Games are a tradition enjoyed by many communities and we are providing funding and support to ensure that they continue to thrive.’
They added: ‘Sportscotland has also invested £2,500 in 2018-19 into the Scottish Tug of War Association, the governing body for the sport, to support its development.’