English National Outdoor Tug of War Championships to Be Held in Kendal
Kendal is set to host the English National Outdoor Tug of War Championships this summer. Bringing teams from across the country to Cumbria for a full day of competition.
The event will take place at Kendal Rugby Club on Saturday, June 20th. It is being organised by the Tug of War Association and will include men’s, women’s, junior and mixed team contests across several weight classes.
Teams will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. The winning teams will also qualify to represent England at the 2026 World Outdoor Tug of War Championships. Which are due to take place in South Africa in September.
The championships will be open to spectators, with competitions starting from 9.30am and running throughout the day. Entry will be free, and food and drink will be available at the venue.
Free event for spectators
The championships will offer a full day of outdoor sport for people in Kendal and the wider area.
Spectators can attend for free, making it an accessible event for families, sports fans and anyone interested in seeing a traditional team sport at national level.
With medals, England qualification places and local pride all at stake, the event is likely to bring a competitive atmosphere to Kendal Rugby Club.
For Upper Eden, it is also a chance to celebrate 10 years as a club by competing in front of a home crowd on one of the biggest stages in the English tug of war calendar.
Strong competition expected in Kendal
The national championships are expected to attract a high standard of competition.
Teams from across England will take part, including competitors with international experience. Some have represented Great Britain at the 2025 World Games. While others competed for England at the 2025 World Championships in Nottingham.
Tug of war is a sport built on strength, timing, balance and teamwork. Although it may look simple from the sidelines, each pull requires careful technique. Teams must work together, hold their formation and react quickly to their opponents.
The outdoor championships also bring extra challenges. Conditions underfoot, weather and team weight categories can all play a part in how each contest unfolds.
Local club among the contenders
There will be strong local interest in the event through Upper Eden Tug of War Club, based in Cumbria.
The club won bronze at the 2025 National Outdoor Tug of War Championships in Kent and is expected to be among the medal contenders in some of the weight classes at Kendal.
Upper Eden will also have added motivation as the club marks its 10th anniversary. Hosting a national event in Cumbria is a major moment for the club and its members.
One of the club’s key names is Joe Birch, who was part of the Great Britain team that won gold at the 2025 World Games. He later competed for England at the World Championships in Nottingham, where he won another gold medal.
A proud moment for Upper Eden
Stacey Mitchell, club secretary for Upper Eden Tug of War Club, said hosting the championships on home turf was a “huge honour” as the club celebrates its anniversary.
She said the event at Kendal Rugby Club would be a proud moment after months of work behind the scenes. She also said the team hoped a strong home crowd would help members give everything on the day and push for a national title.
The event will give local supporters the chance to watch top-level tug of war without having to travel far. It will also bring visiting teams, families and spectators into Kendal for the day.
Championship returns to the Lake District area
Alan Knott, from the Tug of War Association, said organisers were pleased to bring the English National Outdoor Tug of War Championships to Kendal.
He said the association expected a high level of competition, especially after the success of international teams in 2025. He also noted that the event was last held in the area in 2019 at the Cumberland Show.
Kendal Rugby Club is expected to provide a strong venue for the championships, with space for competitors, spectators and event facilities.
