Melton Young Farmers crowned ladies' tug of war champs

Members of Melton Mowbray Young Farmers Club decided to form a team in April while preparing for the annual county rally in May.

With the day of competition soon upon them and only a few training sessions in the bag, the team managed to win all of their pulls at the county event to reach the East Midlands Area Championships.

As county champions, the girls to decided to up the ante, increasing their training sessions to twice a week with an additional PT session on Sundays.

Despite an uncertain weather forecast and tough, dry ground conditions, the girls once again pulled with determination to get down to the final against Derbyshire team Ashover.

Melton won the first pull, but after swapping ends lost the next to set up a decider.

Afte another change of ends and one final heave, the team of Ellis Nicholls, Izzy Machin, Leah Niamh, Olivia Parry, Penny Mee, Eve Radoja, Jane Riley, Emma Haywood and Fran Segalov, pulled their way to the East Midlands title.

The girls now go through to the national finals at Tenbury Show, in Worcestershire, in August and wish to thank their sponsors, CJ Development Midlands and Belvoir Sawmill, as well as their coach Dave Meakin, their PT instructor Michelle Kent and all of their supporters.