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25
Dec 2023
Boxing Day tug of war returns to Knaresborough
Pub pride will be at stake tomorrow when Knaresborough's annual tug of war match over the River Nidd takes place.
The festive fun and frivolity sees teams from the neighbouring Half Moon and Mother Shipton Inn take the strain on either side of the river and try to pull each other towards the water's edge.
Nobody actually enters the Nidd these days but the sight of locals holding a specially made long rope and trying to avoid sliding down a muddy bank is something to behold, and attracts a huge crowd of up to 1,000 people.
Half Moon landlord Tom Clarkson, who is organising the event, said the Knaresborough town crier would be introducing the event and Knaresborough Lions would marshal the crowds that gather in the narrow area.
The event will also raise money for Frank's Fund, a charity set up by the Ashton family in 2019 following the death of their 14-year-old son, Frank, to Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
Last year's tug of war — the first after covid — was won by default by the Half Moon, which entered teams on both sides of the river, but Mr Clarkson said he hoped the two pubs would both provide men's and women's teams this year.
Drinks will be available from 11am and there will be an outside bar run by local brewery Roosters.
The action gets underway beneath Low Bridge at high noon and will feature best of three pulls between separate men's and women's teams.
Mr Clarkson said:
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