Tug of war at the 1981 World Games

Tug of war was contested in two weight classes for men at the 1981 World Games. These were the first World Games, an international quadrennial multi-sport event, and were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The 640kg tug of war competition was the first event of the games, as it was held immediately following the opening ceremony at the same location, Buck Shaw Stadium.[1] The Swiss athletes were associated with a club from Engelberg, while the United States was represented by a club from Orfordville, Wisconsin.[2] In an interview during the Games, Albert Sabin, the chief judge of the event, revealed that he was from Birmingham, then hastened to add, "England, not (Birmingham,) Alabama."[3]

Medalists

Sources: [4][5][6][7]

Event Gold Silver Bronze
Men
Outdoor 640 kg  England   Switzerland  Netherlands
Outdoor 720 kg   Switzerland  Netherlands  England

Tug of war, 640kg
World Games I athletes grouped by sport at the inaugural opening ceremony; tug of war pulling area marked on foreground for first ever World Games event, which followed the ceremony

The outdoor 640kg tug of war event was conducted on 24 July 1981. It was the first event of the first World Games.[8][9]

Gold Silver Bronze
 England
Brian Jones
Eric Sutton
Joe Critchlow
John Critchlow
Luan Torr
Mark Upton
Ron Critchlow
Rowland Peirson
   Switzerland
Andreas Arnold
Paul Hurschler
Peter Odermatt
Peter Schleiss
Ruedi Arnold
Sepp Buenter
Walter Bernhard
other?
  Netherlands
Andre Diekman
Bennie Smeiting
Gerrit Bruil
Harry Ravensloot
Herman Geesink
Johan de Jong
Nico Venne
Toon te Boome

Results:[7]

Netherlands def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Ireland, 3-0
Switzerland def. Sweden, 3-0
Netherlands def. U.S., 3-0
Ireland def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Sweden, 3-0
Switzerland def. U.S., 3-0
Netherlands def. England, 2-1
Wales def. Sweden, 3-0
Switzerland def. Ireland, 2-1
England def. U.S., 2-1
Sweden def. Netherlands, 3-0
Switzerland def. Wales, 3-0
Ireland def. U.S., 3-0
England def. Wales, 3-0
Switzerland def. Netherlands, 3-0
Ireland def. Sweden, 3-0
Wales def. U.S., 3-0
England def. Switzerland, 3-0
Netherlands def. Ireland, 3-0
Sweden def. U.S., 3-0

Final standing:

  1. England 15 points
  2. Switzerland 14
  3. Netherlands 11
  4. Ireland 10
  5. Sweden 6, tie
  6. Wales 6, tie
  7. USA 1

Tug of war, 720kg
720 kg tug of war final scoreboard at World Games I

The outdoor 720kg tug of war event was conducted on 25 July 1981.

Gold Silver Bronze
  Switzerland
Albert Feirerabend
Andreas Arnold
Hans Rychen
Karl Langenstein
Peter Odermatt
Peter Schleiss
Ruedi Arnold
Walter Bernhard		  Netherlands
Albert Weenk
Henk Hemming
Jan Beusink
Johan de Jong
Nico Venne
Nico Versteeg
Toon te Boome
Toon van Culemborg
  England
unknown
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Results

Netherlands def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Ireland, 3-0
Switzerland def. Sweden, 3-0
Netherlands def. U.S., 3-0
Ireland def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Sweden, 3-0
Switzerland def. U.S., 3-0
Netherlands def. England, 3-0
Sweden def. Wales, 3-0
Switzerland def. Ireland, 3-0
England def. U.S., 3-0
Netherlands def. Sweden 3-0
Switzerland def. Wales, 3-0
Ireland def. U.S., 3-0
England def. Wales, 3-0
Switzerland def. Netherlands, 3-0
Sweden def. Ireland, 3-0
Wales def. U.S., 2-1
Switzerland def. England, 3-0
Netherlands def. Ireland, 3-0
Sweden def. U.S., 3-0

Final standings:[6]

  1. Switzerland 18 points
  2. Netherlands 15
  3. England 12
  4. Sweden 9
  5. Ireland 6
  6. Wales 2
  7. USA 1

Other known individual participants: SWE – Erik Johansson; USA – Tom Naatz

References
  1. SARGIS, JOE (July 24, 1981). "With a simple ceremony, a touch of pageantry and..." United Press International.
  2. Payne, Dave (July 26, 1981). "Swiss pull off major upset against world champs ". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. p. 3E.
  3. Payne, Dave (July 25, 1981). "'World' opener attracts 3,000 ". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. p. 6D.
  4. "World Games set to begin with a big tug". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. July 23, 1981. p. 7E.
  5. Payne, Dave (July 25, 1981). "World Games opener missed by unlucky duo". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. p. 1D.
  6. SARGIS, JOE (July 25, 1981). "Ana Maria Carrasco of Venezuela shattered her own world..." United Press International.
  7. McClintock, Judy (July 25, 1981). "World Games I Results At Santa Clara Calif., July 24". United Press International.
  8. "World Games". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. July 25, 1981. p. 10D.
  9. "World Games". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. July 26, 1981. p. 14E.
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