Over the last few months the girls Tug of War team have been putting in some extra effort to ensure that they were ready for the National Competition held on Sat 16 Jul at the Colchester Garrison Family Day. The day seemed to get off to a good start when we were informed that the location for the weigh-in had moved and no one could tell us where it was going to be! However, this soon changed with the arrival of the official scales.

Our first pull was against Merseyside ACF whom we beat 2-0. We then went up for the local derby to beat Norfolk ACF 2-0.
‘Well, Trigg,’ I thought, ‘we are on to a roll.’

With the defeat of Cleveland ACF at 2-0 I was beginning to get a permanent grin across my face. However, I thought that this was about to change when we were due to face our arch rivals, the ones who robbed us last year, the Highland ACF Bn. They gave us a run for our money and the score after 2 ends was ........ 2-0 to us. YES! We beat them. Finally we beat London NE sector ACF 2-0 to give us a total of 10 points, the maximum available.

The judges tallied up the scores and informed us that we were to be pulling against, guess who? The Jocks! A repeat of last year. We were told that the final would be the best of 3 ends. I replied to the judge that it would be decided in 2 - brave words!
Could the girls pull it off this year, had they got enough left in them? As we walked onto the field, as the Highlanders coach said ‘Good luck’, I suddenly felt: ‘Yes, this is ours!’

Our Suffolk Girls picked up the rope as calmly as they had been all afternoon and we won the 1st end so ‘First blood’ to us.
They then did the county proud and the 2nd end was won by Suffolk giving us the final score of ... .you've guessed it .... 2-0.
We are now the Tug of War Champions at both Regional and National levels, and not only did we win but we did it without giving away a single end.

And, yes, as SI Mo Frampton can confirm, I have a permanent grin across my face!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the adults that assisted us on the day, the Colonel and other adults from A Coy who came to offer their support for the team, along with the girls’ parents. Let’s see if we can retain our status when it comes to next year and maybe with the support of the detachments we will have the same success with the boys’ squad. If you know anyone who is interested in joining the squads then get them to email me via suffolk.acf@virgin.net or speak to me at camp.

I want you all to look up and play the following track:
'Queen - Greatest Hits 1' Track 17
Enjoy!

SSgt Trevor Willoughby
Tug of War Coach

Webmaster Comment: Click here to play an extract from 'We are the Champions'. Turn up the sound!

From PJ
Well, what can I say!

There was only one aim and objective which we all had and that was to win.

I think we can safely say that not only have we have achieved this but we did not concede a single pull. You all literally wiped all the
Female Teams off the face of the earth.

The problem we have now got is to maintain this standard on a yearly basis and there is no reason for us not to.

What we must try and prevent is to start a Team from scratch. Those of you that will still be in the cadets next year will be contacted around Christmas time to start training for next year's Regional and National Championships.

If you know of other cadets who wish to be considered as part of the Female Tug of War Team then you are more than welcome to ask them to contact me via suffolk.acf@virgin.net

In the meantime you have all earned yourselves a rest although some of you will no doubt be going to camp.

See you there.

Thanks to all the support staff. Your efforts are much appreciated and without your help and assistance, none of this would have
happened.

SSI William Picton-Jenkins
Coordinator