Show of strength as 57 teams compete in tug festival

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Tug Festival at the Van Riebeeck Stadium on Saturday, 12 October, was a great success.

The event, which is a national junior tug-of-war tournament, hosted by the Eden Tug-of-War Federation in collaboration with the Mossel Bay Sports Festival, had 57 teams competing from 17 different clubs from around the country, including the Northern Cape, Free State and parts of the Western Cape.

Eden Tug-of War Federation's Jan Barnard said children from various primary schools also competed. The two competing age groups were U13 and U17.

The tournament followed the Germany, England, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium (GENSB) model, in which between seven and 10 athletes compete per team. The weight divisions were 400kg and 560kg for the U17 competitors.

"The model allows for a mix of girls and boys on the teams, but for each girl competing, 10kg is added, with a weight limit of 40kg," said Barnard.

The Landboudal High School team will represent South Africa at the GENSB tournament in the Netherlands next year. Photos: Robert Crous

"This makes it possible for everyone to take part." He said the the 560kg team from Landboudal High School in the Free State will represent South Africa next year at the GENSB tournament in the Netherlands.

"It was a very successful day overall and everyone who participated and those who came to watch all had fun," he said.

The team from Van Kervel School in George. Photo: Robert Crous