Spa YFC pull off an outstanding second place finish

Spa Young Farmers' Club celebrated an impressive achievement after securing second place in the Ladies section of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster Tug of War Competition, sponsored by Thompsons Feeding Innovation, at Balmoral Show on Thursday 14th May 2026.

Competing against some of the strongest teams from across Northern Ireland, the Spa YFC Ladies team demonstrated exceptional strength, determination and teamwork throughout the competition to claim the runners-up position.

Team member Lucy Rodgers reflected on the experience saying, "Competing in the Tug of War competition at Balmoral Show was an unforgettable experience. Although I had only recently returned home from Scotland and had limited opportunities to attend training sessions beforehand, I was excited to be part of the team and determined to give it my all. Having previously competed in the mixed Tug of War competition at Castlewellan Show last year gave me confidence, and taking part in the Lisnamurrican Sports Night before Balmoral allowed us to train together as a team while also achieving another second-place finish. Those experiences helped us build strong teamwork, and the encouragement and support from everyone involved made the preparation just as enjoyable as the competition itself. Finishing second at Balmoral was an incredible achievement and one that exceeded all of our expectations. It was so rewarding to see our hard work and commitment pay off. Being part of such a dedicated, supportive and enthusiastic team made the experience even more special, and I'm incredibly proud of what we achieved together. After the competition, both the ladies' and men's Tug of War teams celebrated with a meal together. It was a brilliant way to reflect on everything we had accomplished while celebrating the friendships and memories we had made throughout the season. The momentum continued after Balmoral when we competed at Ballymoney Show, where the ladies' team went on to secure first place. That success has inspired us all to keep training, improving and pushing ourselves even further. Tug of War has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I've been involved in, combining teamwork, determination and plenty of fun. I'm excited to continue competing with the team and hopefully achieve even more success in the future."

Spa YFC also entered a team into the Men's Novice section of the competition, which Lucy described as a special occasion for two club teams to be entered into the competition.