Kendal is getting ready to host the English National Outdoor Tug of War Championships.
The competition is being run by the Tug of War Association and is set to be held at Kendal Rugby Club on Saturday 20 June.
It will feature several different weight classes for men’s teams, ladies’ teams, junior teams and mixed teams.
The teams will be competing for gold, silver and bronze medals at the event, with the winning teams qualifying to represent England at the 2026 World Outdoor Tug of War Championships which are this year are taking place South Africa in September.
Teams from all over England will take part in the event, including several international stars who represented Great Britain at the 2025 World Games, and international stars who represented England at the 2025 World Championships hosted on home soil in Nottingham.
Local interest in the event will come from Cumbria’s Upper Eden Tug of War Club, who were bronze medallists at the 2025 National Outdoor Tug of War Championships held in Kent.
Among their ranks is Joe Birch who was a member of the gold medal winning Great Britain team from the 2025 World Games, before competing with England at the World Championships in Nottingham where he won another gold medal.
Upper Eden are expected to be strong contenders for medals in some of the weight classes on offer on the day.
Stacey Mitchell, club secretary for Upper Eden Tug of War Club, said: “Hosting the National Championships on home turf is a huge honour for Upper Eden as the club celebrates its 10th anniversary.
“Set against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District fells, the event at Kendal Rugby Club is a proud moment for everyone involved after months of hard work behind the scenes.
“With the support of a passionate home crowd, every member of Upper Eden is ready to step up, give everything on the day, and hopefully bring a national title home on home soil.”
Alan Knott, of the association, said: “We are delighted bring he English National Outdoor Tug of War Championships to Kendal, and we expect a high level of competition this year, particularly after the huge successes achieved by our international teams in 2025.
“We last held the event in the area in 2019 at the Cumberland Show, so it is great to be back around the Lake District again.
“The championships will showcase the strength, teamwork, and skill of the participating teams, and we’re excited to see what they can achieve.
“We’re confident that Kendal Rugby Club will provide an excellent venue for the event, and we wish all the teams the best of luck.”
The event is open to all spectators, with plenty of food and drink available. Entry to the event is free, with competitions starting from 9.30am and running through the day.
