England triumph in tug of war championships

A tug of war team made up of farmers and tradespeople from Staffordshire has won gold for England in the world indoor championships.

England faced the Basque Country in the final, held in Taiwan, and gave a "dominant performance", winning both ends in 29 and 24 seconds respectively to claim gold, The Tug of War Association said.

The team was represented by Sheen Tug of War from Staffordshire, whose members dedicated many hours of training to the event in their spare time, the association added.

"This is an incredible moment for our athletes and for the sport in England," Alan Knott, from the association, said.

The team of eight saw off competitors from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas and progressed through the groups stages in first place.

"The dedication shown by the entire squad in the lead-up to these championships has been immense," Knott said.

"To see that effort rewarded with a world title is something everyone involved should be proud of.

"Our teams will now be turning their attention to the outdoor tug of war season with the outdoor World Championships set to take place in South Africa in September."

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