MINEHEAD was the focus for tug of war enthusiasts from across the UK when 2,000 of them descended on the town for the sport's English championships at the weekend. The resort celebrated a connection with the Tug of War Association that stretches back more than a decade when 600 competitors took part in the event, staged at Minehead's Irnham Road ground and the town's football club. And despite a shaky start following what the association's officers described as misleading reports in the monthly freesheet The Crier which led to having to "make their peace" with the town council, the event proved to be an overwhelming success. So much so that association secretary Peter Craft this week gave a written pledge to Minehead Mayor Cllr Nick Messarra that the town would be the venue for the European championships in 2007. In addition, it will also host the association's annual congress in April or May next year, although the venue has yet to be agreed, and could even be the location for the sport's prestigious world championships in 2012. "We had an absolutely fabulous time in Minehead and I've had endless emails and phone messages from people saying how brilliant it was," Mr Craft told the Free Press. "Everything just came together perfectly and nothing went wrong. We are now actively working towards 2007." The premier prize went to the Felton Eccles team near Bristol, with the team from Congleton in Cheshire coming top in the three heavyweight challenges. Both will now represent England at European level. The championships gave newly elected Cllr Messarra his first outing in his new civic role. "The event was a brilliant success and congratulations go to everybody who was involved in organising it, including colleagues and officers of the town council and members of the football club," said Cllr Messarra. "There must have been going on for 2,000 people in the town over the weekend and that represents quite a lot of spending power, which can only be a good thing for our economy. "We've all heard recently how the local hotels have not been doing so well, so at least this was a help to them and we want to try and have more events like this." Cllr Messarra said the European championships would be even bigger as it would be held over four days and was likely to attract around 5,000 people. "We need to get planning for it right away because it is such a big event and will be very important for the town. "It would be a truly massive boost if we could get the world championships here and I don't see any reason why we should not do so if we can all work together with a common aim of achieving it. "I said when I became mayor that I wanted to do things, as opposed to just talking about doing things, which are good for the town and this is just the start." Cllr Messarra said he hoped to make Minehead the 'home of tug of war' so that everyone involved with the sport automatically thought of the town when planning big events. Pictured in action are Bedford Ladies. Photo: Steve Guscott.
