The Rebuild Continues

By Sgt Al Sharp

As with all sports, in the current climate, it is getting harder to bring new blood into the squad but thankfully the publicity is working. With new members in Tug Of War it takes time to get used to the physical effort required to compete at such a high level of competition that the Royal Highland Games brings. With 2 new squad members, one who had only picked a rope up a fortnight ago, we arrived at Braemar a little apprehensive. It was an early start for the squad, as we had to be at the ground for 9 am, leaving RAF Leuchars at 7 am. We arrived to a particularly chilly Braemar but the competition was to heat up. The Competition consisted of 11 teams split into 2 groups. We had been put into the stronger of the 2. The Teams we would pull would be 19 Regiment, 4 Reg, 1 RSME, and the 2 strongest teams on the circuit 40 Regiment and 11 Signals.

Our first pull was also the first of the day, so we also had to contend with fresh ground. The Squad did not let themselves down and dealt with the conditions better than 19 Reg and won 2-0. Next up was 4 Reg, 2 very tight ends but we lost 0 -2. Next it was 40 Reg, a massive effort from our inexperienced squad saw us hold them for sometime but their pressure was to great and they edged us to a 2–0 defeat. 1 RSME up next, a good drop and we powered to the first end. The second was not as easy but with a massive effort we managed to pull them the 4 metres to win. The way the table was going we would not make it into the main competition semi finals so we would go into the Plate Knockout, but first we still had to pull against 11 Signals. We decided to use it as a warm up (albeit a particularly hard one) for the Plate competition. 11 Signals wanted to finish us off quickly so they could rest in preparation for their semi final. A battle commenced, with massive lifts being put in by the RAF, 11 Sigs responded and slowly powered to the line in both ends.

The RAF got a bye in the first round so we watched on to see who we would have to pull against. The teams we had pulled and beaten in our league were being beaten convincingly by the teams from the other league so had we actually had the easier group? Teams now left were 26 Reg, 10 Royal Sigs, 17 Port and Mara time and ourselves. We needed to beat 17 Port to get to the final. 17 had only just missed out on going to the main semi so we knew they were going to be strong, unfortunately to strong for our new and up and coming side. 17 would go on to win the plate, and 11 Signals would win the main competition. There’s always next year and its looking good. With the new members of the squad at least the average age is now under 36! Finishing early did have one small advantage, we managed to catch the Ladies win their relay race heat, demolishing the male competition in the process, so well done to them, Hope fully next year they can cheer the Tug of War team on to a victory in the main competition.