Knaresborough tug-o-war over the river falls victim to covid

A long standing Boxing Day tradition in Knaresborough of staging a tug-o-war contest over the River Nidd has fallen victim to covid.

For more than 50 years, teams from the The Half Moon and The Mother Shipton pubs have done battle on opposing banks of the Nidd with a very long rope.

Whichever team loses, faces the prospect of sliding down the mud and, if they are unable to stop in time, into the Nidd.

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There are separate events for men and women and each contest is decided by the best of three pulls.

The friendly rivalry usually attracts hundreds of people and plenty of ale. But like so many other community events this year, it has fallen victim to covid.

It will be the first time in 51 years the event does not take place.