Straid YFC compete in Tug of War Competition

Members of Straid Young Farmers' Club celebrated an impressive result after securing third place in the Men's Novice section at the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster Tug of War Competition, held in association with Thompson's Feeding Innovation at Balmoral Show on Thursday 14th May 2026.

The competition attracted teams from across Northern Ireland, with clubs showcasing their strength, teamwork and determination in one of the most popular sporting events on the Young Farmers' calendar. For Straid YFC, the achievement was particularly significant, as several members were competing in tug of war for the very first time.

Adrianna Coulter of Straid YFC said the result was a major confidence boost for the club. "It was a great boost for the club and especially for the Boys, with three members stepping onto the rope for the first time this year."

Despite limited preparation, the team exceeded expectations. Traditionally, clubs spend the winter months training ahead of the competition season, but Straid YFC only formed a team after members took part in Randalstown Sports Night. Adrianna explained: "Historically, members would be training right through the winter in preparation for the new season, but this year we had no team until Randalstown Sports Night, where some of the boys had a pull, caught the bug and started training with the aim of competing at Balmoral. To come third with minimal practice was fantastic and has given them the motivation to come together, improve their technique and teamwork, and hopefully be bigger and better next year."

Following the competition, celebrations were short-lived for some members, with farming commitments taking priority. "Some of the members partied the night away, whilst others had to head home to milk," Adrianna laughed.

Looking ahead, Straid YFC is keen to build on its success by competing at agricultural shows and tug of war events throughout the summer.

"The team intends to build on this success and compete throughout the summer months at the different agricultural shows and events organised by clubs and counties across Northern Ireland. It's a great opportunity to bring on our junior members and allow them to learn from older members who have been involved in tug of war throughout their time in Young Farmers."

The result marks an encouraging start for Straid YFC's tug of war team and provides a strong foundation as they look towards the remainder of the season and future competitions.