Bridford has a long history of successfully competing in tug of war competitions throughout the South West. This continued in 2023 when Bridford beat the team from Christow in the Barbarians Cup, here’s a little clip of the winning pull Bridford’s Winning Tug of War team.
If you think you have what it takes to win the Barbarians Cup, at the Village Fete on 13th July please fill in the Tug of War Entry Form 2024 and email to Graham Padgham.
Remembering Bridford’s Tug of War History
A few remembrances about Bridford’s past connection with tug of war:
40+ years ago there was always a tug of war competition at the Bridford Fête between teams loosely linked to the valley’s pubs.
During the ’80s the Bridford team started winning our annual competition as well as others at nearby villages, such as at the Christow Show, Tedburn St Mary, etc.
It was suggested we should consider pulling at AAA events where pulls are controlled by national tug of war rules including teams being weight related eg under 600kg, 620kg, 640kg, etc.
AAA events necessitated being much fitter than for fête pulls where the heaviest team invariably won, so the Bridford team trained more or less weekly throughout the year.
Our main exercise was lifting a 45 gallon drum filled with concrete blocks up a tree via a pulley in the Old Rectory grounds.
For several years the team travelled all over the South West pulling at AAA events and winning numerous medals.
By the end of the decade the number of team members fell away as they aged and some moved away and Bridford’s successful tug of war era ended.
In 2022 fete committee agreed to revive this historical event and the Barbarians Cup was purchased and is on display in The Bridford Inn.
