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GENSB 2009 - Penhale, Cornwall
This years GENSB youth international tournament was hosted by England at Penhale Camp, on Holywell Bay, just outside Newquay in Cornwall. Much of the organisation of the event was undertaken by Major Alec Masson and LNR ACF tug of war club. The weather on the day was warm and breezy, and the ground conditions were dry, making for ideal pulling conditions. |
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LNR ACF "A" Team
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The GENSB youth international tournament is an annual event, and each year is hosted by the GENSB Countries in rotation (Germany, England, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium). The event provides a low cost Tug of War weekend for both male and female junior competitors and allows many junior teams the opportunity to enter an international club competition. |
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This years event saw 41 teams (with 356 competitors) competing on the day. In addition to the teams competing from the five GENSB countries, there were also teams competing from the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, and South Africa, with Wales fielding a club team at the event for the first time. |
London ACF Team
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England had seven teams competing at the event – three from LNR ACF, one from Sandhurst TOWC, one from the Cornwall ACF, and also two teams from the London ACF. |
 Sandhurst |
The competition was split into four groups (one group of 11 and three groups of 10). There was a good mix of teams competing of all ages and abilities, and the top four teams from each group progressed to the knock-out stages of the competition. All of the English teams competed very well |
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Most of the teams (other than the LNR ACF “A” team) were competing in their first full season against some very good international teams. LNR ACF “A” were the only English club to reach the knock-out stages of the event; the first time that the club has achieved this. They went through from their group along with Drostdy from South Africa, Appenzel from Switzerland, and Halkyn Sports from Wales. |
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The other teams to progress were Mosnang, Wildkirch and Ebersecken from Switzerland; De Berketrekkers, TTV Powerangers, and TTV De Boerekes from Belgium; Eire OG from Ireland; Hovmantorps DK and Loftadalens DK from Sweden; Eschbachtal from Germany; and, TTV Streefkerek, and TTV Okia from the Netherlands. |
 LNR ACF "C" Team |
 LNR ACF "B" Team |
LNR ACF were then drawn against Mosnang from Switzerland in the first knock-out round, and it was the Swiss team that progressed through to the next round. The teams that made it through to the last 8 were Mosnang, Drostdy, Hovmantorps, Eschbachtal, Streefkerk, Appenzell, De Boerekes, and Ebersecken. |
| There was some good pulling in the quarter finals, but it was Dostdy, Hovmantorps, Eschbachtal, and Mosnang who progressed to the semi finals. |
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The first semi final was between Drostdy from South Africa, and Eschbachtal from Germany. This was a good close pull between the two teams, but the South Africans had a much stronger lift, and they progressed to the final by 2 ends to 0. |
 Mosnang (Switzerland)
Gold Medallists |
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The second semi final was between Mosnang from Switzerland and Hovmantorps DK from Sweden. The Swiss team were technically very good, and it was they who progressed to the final by 2 ends to 0. The bronze medal pull between Hovmantorps and Eschbachtal saw Hovmantorps put on a strong display, to secure the bronze medal by 2 ends to 0. |
 Drostdy (South Africa)
Silver Medallists |
The final, between Drostdy and Mosnang provided a good display of youth tug of war. Mosnang controlled the pull well to take the first end, but the South African team came to life on the second end, and made things difficult for the Swiss, but it was Mosnang who kept their composure to take the second end and a well deserved gold medal. |
At the end of the day, every participant, including the judges and recorders, were presented with a competitors medal. The gold, silver, and bronze medals were then presented to the winning teams by Lady Mary Christina Holborow, Cornwall's Lord Lieuten. The GENSB flag was lowered and presented to Anja Poorterman (the Netherlands representative) by Vic Ludkin the England GENSB Rep. |
Coach of Mosnang receiving the winners trophy from the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall |
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The medal winning teams - Mosnang (top), Drostdy (left) and Hovmantorps (right) |
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The Tug of War Association would like to extend their thanks to all who took part, to LNR ACF Tug of War club and all of the pullers and helpers for staging the Championships.
Major Alec Masson
Head Coach & Team Captain
Club LNRACF |
