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Navigation Title:<\/b><\/td>History <\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
Keywords:<\/b><\/td>tug of war, army tug of war, history<\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
Description:<\/b><\/td>The History page of Army Tug of War<\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
Content Contact:<\/b><\/td>Dean Simmons<\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
Telephone:<\/b><\/td>01980672123<\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
Email:<\/b><\/td>43x-g4-est-mcw@mod.uk<\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
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A POTTED HISTORY OF TUG OF WAR

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General:

  1. The origins of tug of war are clouded in the mist of time. It is known that tug of war was practised in ancient Egypt and China.
  2. In Korea local villages used tug of war to settle disputes for centuries and it may come as a surprise to hear that tug of war is depicted on one of the few commemorative coins, the 5,000 won, minted for the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
  3. The first chronicled history of tug of war in England was between villages in Fenns of Norfolk in the 16th century.
  4. At the start of the 1900s in England TOW was pulled under the AAAs.
  5. In 1924 tug of war made its final appearance of its brief reign at the Olympics.
  6. England won gold with the MET Police, silver with the Liverpool Police and the bronze.
  7. In 1958 the Tug of war Association was formed and it included 15 clubs from England, Scotland, Wales & NI.
  8. In 1971 Wales formed their own association.
  9. In 1972 Scotland & NI formed their own associations.
  10. The weights changed to metric in 1971 with the 100st, becoming 640 kilos.
  11. England's most successful team were Wood Treatment Bosley who won the AAAs Championships every year from 1959 - 1978.
  12. The Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) was formed in 1968.
  13. There are now Inter-County, National, UK, European, World Championships and World cup competition.

Service Tug of War:

  1. The sport of Tug of War became very popular in the Army during the 19th century in India.
  2. In 1880 Tug of War was introduced at the Royal Tournament, where it stayed until 1953. It was reinstated in 1979 and remained until 1999.
  3. In 1953 Tug of War was introduced to the Breamar Gathering and remains as a service event to this day.
  4. The most successful teams in terms of Army titles were 23 Parachute Field Ambulance who won the 640 kilos for 8 consecutive years and 63 Para Sqn RCT who won the 560 kilos title for 7 consecutive years, both in the 1970s.
  5. In 1973 the first Army Tug of War judges & coaches courses were held at the ASPT Aldershot under the auspices of instructors from the Tug of War Association.
  6. The Army Tug of War Association (ATOWA) was formed in 1983.
  7. In 1987 the Princess Royal's Open Inter Service Tug of War introduced at Windsor.
  8. The Combined Services Tug of War Association (CSTOWA) was formed in 1993.
  9. In 1993 a service tug of war event was introduced at the Aldershot show.
  10. The first opportunity for service pullers to represent the Combined Services, came with the introduction of the Triangular match, against Police & Fire Brigade teams, in 1995.
  11. In 1997 Ladies Tug of War was introduced into the services.