Last Chance Saloon finally take their chance to grab gold at Tug of War champs

LCS, who train adjacent to the Brickmakers Arms in Walsall Wood and have Burntwood Rugby Club as their home venue, were competing against five other teams – Diesel Power, Olney A, Olney B, RAF Brize Norton and hosts Triple Fat – at the event in Newport Pagnall.

With teams consisting of six pullers, they faced each other in six different weight classes, namely 450kg, 465kg, with three men and three women competing, 480kg, 525kg, catchweight and ladies 420kg.

The pullers were weighed beforehand at the event and had the weight groups stamped on their leg.

LCS won gold in the 465kg 3x3 event, silver in the ladies 420kg, the 450kg and the 480kg event, and bronze in catchweight, for which they joined forces with RAF Brize Norton.

Shaun Jose, who takes charge of the team and is also vice-chairman of the federation, said: "It has took us five years, from when we first started, to get the gold.

"We have been knocking at the door in the 465kg 3x3 event for a few years but no matter how good we have been, someone else came along and edged it.

"Last year, we just came up short but we really did it in style this time around.

"We didn't even put a foot forward and we really deserved to win it. We were really on form on the day."

LCS have also just finished the Tug of War Federation of Great Britain National League season.

They claimed gold in the 450kg event, silver in the 465kg 3x3 and catchweight, and bronze in the 480kg and 525kg events.

On the season as a whole, Jose said: "We have had better seasons with more golds, but in those we didn't get a gold at the National Championship. We won two golds and a silver at the Inter-Counties Championship as well this time around so it has been a really decent year for us."

Jose has been involved with tug of war since the 1970s. He formed Last Chance Saloon five years ago and insists they live by the name and 'when it's done, it's done.'

He has no plans to stop yet, though, and added: "We had a meeting recently and we all decided we are going to stick with it and we are going again next season."

To get involved, call Jose on 07974 058140 or search LCS – Tug of War Club on Facebook.