CLUBS - B
BAC/BAe
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This Surrey club was successful throughout the decades at National and International level. Achieving numerous honours
and won for themselves and as England representatives (ER):
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World Titles 1 (ER)
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UK Titles 4 (ER)
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TWIF Open Club Titles 2
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National Titles 17
Byfleet Sports Ground (Front to Back): R Smith, P Butler, K McCarthy, D Howlett, T. Thomas, T Moucaell, D Winsor, P Twells - Coach Fred Radford (Courtesy of The Byfleet Heritage Society)#01
Parish Day Open, Surrey Front to Back: ? (Courtesy of The Byfleet Heritage Society)#02
TWIF World Indoor Open Club Championship, Torbay, Devon, England. 640K Champions Back Row: Keith Dawkins, Mark Cox, Nigel Summers, Dave Viner, Bob Sergusson Front Row: Keith Houghton, Derek F, Trevor Thomas(Coach), James Cannon, Christie Jones (Courtesy of The James Cannon Collection)#07
Byfleet Sports Ground (Front to Back): R Smith, P Butler, K McCarthy, D Howlett, T. Thomas, T Moucaell, D Winsor, P Twells - Coach Fred Radford (Courtesy of The Byfleet Heritage Society)#01
Barber Brothers
This Essex club was formed in 1949 by 8 brothers - Abbey, Bob, Jim, Tom, Len, Peter, David and Bill Barber. The team competed in numerous local fetes and shows until they got the tug of war 'bug' and travelled farther afield to test themselves on the AAA's circuit. Gaining a runners up at the AAA's championships held at the White City Stadium, London in 1955.
Amongst the founders of the Association in 1958 the club folded a season later.
Wickham Bishops Fete (Courtesy of The Barber Family Collection)#01
Cambridge (Courtesy of The Barber Family Collection)#02
The Barber Brothers with Totham Bull ToWC made up of some of their relations. (Courtesy of The Barber Family Collection)#06
Wickham Bishops Fete (Courtesy of The Barber Family Collection)#01
Barking
Originally formed in 1930, the club disbanded in the 1950s only to reform in 1966.
The club was a mainstain of the Tug of War Association but folded completely in the mid 80s.
The club was coached for many years by stalwart Norman Lee, who was also a Grade 1 Association Judge.
(Courtesy of The Norman Lee Collection)#01
Association National Indoor Championships,Crystal Palace, London (Front to Back): - , - , - , Ernie Cook, - , - , - , - Norman Lee (Coach) (Courtesy of The Norman Lee Collection)#02
Squad (Left to Right) Back Row: - , John Stanger, Norman Lee (Coach), - , - , Fred Illing, - Front Row: - , - , - , - , (Courtesy of The Norman Lee Collection)#07
(Courtesy of The Norman Lee Collection)#01
Basingstoke
Based in Basingstoke, Hampshire they enjoyed a reputation as a hard, competitive team.
They pulled in the Federation under the name Lodden Valley, where they became 600K Champions in 1989.
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Federation Titles 1
Pulling as Lodden Valley Federation Championships, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire 600K Champions (Front to Back) ? ,Alan Hewett ,Chris Rice, ?, ?, ?, ?, ? ,? (Courtesy of Steve Gardner Collection)#01
Pulling as Lodden Valley Federation Championships, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire 600K Champions Back Row: - , - , - , Keith Wickens, Alan Hewett Front Row: Chris Rice, - , - , - , Brian Pyle (Courtesy of Steve Gardner Collection)#02
TWIF European Open Championships, Stans, Switzerland. Back Row: Trevor Maxwell, Eric Lamb, Alan Hewett, Trever Annals, Micky Crook (Coach), George Raulin (Reserve) Front Row: Chris Rice, Andy Stephens, Andy Bunker, Kenny Froude. (The Michael Crook Collection)#04
Pulling as Lodden Valley Federation Championships, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire 600K Champions (Front to Back) ? ,Alan Hewett ,Chris Rice, ?, ?, ?, ?, ? ,? (Courtesy of Steve Gardner Collection)#01
Bata
This team were, like so many teams of their era, a company side, part of the British Bata Shoe Co. based in East Tilbury, Essex.
They were a competitive side and their company even produced a range of trainers for the indoor circuit.
Gala Sports Day at Bata (Front to Back): (Photo reproduced by kind permission of The Bata Heritage Society, Tilbury, Essex)#01
Squad (Photo reproduced by kind permission of The Bata Heritage Society, Tilbury, Essex)#02
Squad Back Row: Alan Thomas(Coach), Jed Stone, Geoff Hall, Ian Lovett, Dave Cooper, Ted Atkins. Front Row: Champ Johnson, John Graves, Keith Ford, Paddy, Eddie Colgate. (Photo reproduced by kind permission of The Bata Heritage Society, Tilbury, Essex)#06
Gala Sports Day at Bata (Front to Back): (Photo reproduced by kind permission of The Bata Heritage Society, Tilbury, Essex)#01
Batheaston
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Back Row: ?, Steve Roach, ?, ?, ? Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat) #01
Back Row: ?, Steve Roach, ?, ?, ? Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat) #01
Beckton Gas
Founded in 1935,this Essex club had a long and successful history within the sport.
One of the founding clubs of the Tug of War Association in 1958 they were renowned for their fighting spirit and guts.
They reached many National & Championship finals but only managed a single National win, the 100st in 1967.
The club was forced to move when the club lost its ground after the closure of the gas works. They moved down the road to Barking and changed their name to Curzon Tug of War Club in 1974.
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National Titles 1
The Original Becton Gas Team Back Row: Tom Hall, Bill Davis, Peter Romano, Alf Chapman. Middle Row: Joe Mercer, ?, Roy Matthams. Front Row: ?, ? , ? , (Courtesy of The Dave Romano Collection)#12
(Front to Back): Bill Davies, Albert Allen, Tom Hall (Coach), Roy Matthams, Joe Mercer, Harry Collier,Peter Romano. (Courtesy of The Matthams Family Collection)#25
Information Required (Front to Back): Jack Bridge, Frank Baker, Jim Dwyer, Dave Romano, Charlie Matthams, John Potter, Albert Allen, Joe Mercer, Bill Davies (Coach) (Courtesy of The Matthams Family Collection)#26
The Original Becton Gas Team Back Row: Tom Hall, Bill Davis, Peter Romano, Alf Chapman. Middle Row: Joe Mercer, ?, Roy Matthams. Front Row: ?, ? , ? , (Courtesy of The Dave Romano Collection)#12
Bedford Ladies
Founded in 1988, they are one of the England's most successful and long serving ladies teams.
Achieving numerous honours and won for themselves and as England representatives (ER):
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National Titles 9
The club is still active
TWIF European Championships, Rimini, Italy Representing England 560K 4th Place Back Row: Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#05
Federation National Championships, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire 460K Runners Up (Left to Right): (Courtesy of The Steve Gardner Collection)#04
TWIF World Championships, Rochester, USA Representing England (Front to Back): (Courtesy of The Dave Kitchener Collection)#03
TWIF European Championships, Rimini, Italy Representing England 560K 4th Place Back Row: Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#05
Beech Hill Blues
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The Luton based club formed in ?? were very succesful during the 70's to 90's. Representing England several times and gaining top honours.
and won for themselves and as England representatives (ER):
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World Titles 3 (ER)
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UK Titles 3 (ER)
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TWIF Open Club Titles 2
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National Titles 20
Association National Championships 640K Champions Back Row: Eddy Hamilton, Eamos Flaherty , Arthur Stewart (Coach), Des Creamer, Pat McElligott Front Row: - , Willy Nugent , Frank King , - , John Dowd (Courtesy of the ToWA)#11
Association National Championships, canon Hill Park, Birmingham 600K Champions Back Row: Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#15
UK Indoor Championships, Representing England 680k Champions Back Row: Alan Ludkin, Joe Carling, Dan Hackett, Eddie Hutchinson, Pat Muldoon, Peter Craft (England Rep) Front Row: Dave Viner, Fran Norris, Arthur Stewart (Coach), John Dowd, Liam Dillon (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#15
Association National Championships 640K Champions Back Row: Eddy Hamilton, Eamos Flaherty , Arthur Stewart (Coach), Des Creamer, Pat McElligott Front Row: - , Willy Nugent , Frank King , - , John Dowd (Courtesy of the ToWA)#11
Bell Harp
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Indoor / Outdoor Competition, Wapping, London (Courtesy of The Martin Mulcahy Collection)#01
Indoor / Outdoor Competition, Wapping, London (Courtesy of The Martin Mulcahy Collection)#01
Boldre
This Hampshire side started on the pub & fete circuit in the 70s and joined the Association in 1975. Always a hard team to beat they unfortunately never gained a major title.
Venue Unknown Back Row: ?,Mike Boyt, ?, ?, ? Front Row: ?, Dave Forrest, Taffy Rees, ? (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#03
Boldre Open, Boldre, Hampshire 600K Runners Up (Front to Back): Steve Drodge, Alan Morley, Taffy Rees, Dave Clark, Dave Forrest, Jimmy Dunn, Mick Cottingham, Devlin Drodge, Ross Vicars (Coach) (Courtesy of the Ross Vicars Collection)#01
Yeoman Quarries Open, 640K Winners (Front to Back): Dave Forrest, Taffy Rees, Dave Clark, Clive Sibley, Jimmy Dunn, Malcolm Drodge, Mick Cottingham, Roy Lakey, Ross Vicars (Coach) (Courtesy of the Ross Vicars Collection)#02
Venue Unknown Back Row: ?,Mike Boyt, ?, ?, ? Front Row: ?, Dave Forrest, Taffy Rees, ? (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#03
Brigg Ladies
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(From the Jimmie McQueen Collection)#03
TWIF European Championships, Rimini, Italy Representing England 520K 4th Place Back Row: Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#01
Japan Indoor Invitational Tour Representing England Back Row: Front Row: (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#02
(From the Jimmie McQueen Collection)#03
Bordon
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Venue Unknown Back Row: ?, Front Row: Stan Blackman, ?,?,?,? (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#02
Team pictured with the Spanish international side. (Courtesy of the ToWA) #01
Venue Unknown Back Row: ?, Front Row: Stan Blackman, ?,?,?,? (From the Penry Davies Collection courtesy of Nick Barnicoat)#02
Britons School
Formed in 1995, this team were the youth section of the Rainham Lessa Tug of War Club and part of the Association's Startex program that brought tug of war to schools.
At the 1995 Association Nationals they won the 500K class and were runners up in the 530K & 560K.
In 1996 they were runners up.
They also achieved a winners and runner up at the Royal Tournament.
Sadly the team disbanded when the members reached school leaving age.
Association National Championships, Tonbridge, Kent. 500K Winners. (Front to Back): Joe Mercer(Coach), ? (Courtesy of The Joe Mercer Collection)#01
Association National Championships, Tonbridge, Kent. 500K Champions Back Row: Joe Mercer(Coach) ?, Front Row: ? (Courtesy of The Joe Mercer Collection)#02
Association National Championships, Minehead, Somerset. Runners Up Squad. Back Row: ? Front Row: ?, ?, Danny Johnson(Coach), ? (Courtesy of The Joe Mercer Collection)#04
Association National Championships, Tonbridge, Kent. 500K Winners. (Front to Back): Joe Mercer(Coach), ? (Courtesy of The Joe Mercer Collection)#01
Broadmoor Staff
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Originally made up of Staff members from Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire, they were another tough side.
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National Titles 1
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Inter County Titles 1
Venue Unknown (Front to Back): (Courtesy of The Martin Mulcahy Collection)#01
Venue Unknown (Front to Back): (Courtesy of The Martin Mulcahy Collection)#01
Broadmoor Youth
Information required.
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National Youth Titles 7
Association National Championships, Scunthorpe, Humberside 560K Youth Champions Back Row:- , - , - , - , Clive Bonnett(Coach) Front Row: - , - , - , - (Courtesy of the ToWA)#03
ToWA National Championships, Blackpool, Lancashire. (Front to Back): Trevor Canning, - , Jonathon Scott, - , - , - , - , - , Clive Bonnett(Coach) (Courtesy of the ToWA)#01
TWIF European Championships, Minehead, Somerset Representing England 560K Youth Bronze Back Row: - , Clive Bonnett (Coach), Chris Hooker, - , - , KIrk Scott (Assistant) Front Row: - , - , Trevor Canning, - , Jonathon Scott (Courtesy of the ToWA)#02
Association National Championships, Scunthorpe, Humberside 560K Youth Champions Back Row:- , - , - , - , Clive Bonnett(Coach) Front Row: - , - , - , - (Courtesy of the ToWA)#03
Broadway
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Competing at Ifield, Sussex. Coached by Joe Stenning. (Courtesy of the ToWA)#01
Competing at Ifield, Sussex. Coached by Joe Stenning. (Courtesy of the ToWA)#01
Burlesdon
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Association National Indoor Championships 88st Champions (Front to Back) (Courtesy of the ToWA)#01
Association National Indoor Championships 88st Champions (Front to Back) (Courtesy of the ToWA)#01