Power counts in the Last Chance Saloon

Last Chance Saloon, better known as LCS, are currently competing in The Tug of War Federation of Great Britain National League.

Boasting national and international champions as well as raw novices, they train every week adjacent to the Brickmakers Arms in Walsall Wood and their home venue is Burntwood Rugby Club.

Shaun Jose, who takes charge of the team and is also vice-chairman of the federation, explained how it all came together.

He said: "I have been involved in tug of war since the early to mid 70s. My dad was in a team at the Brickies, which is where we are based now.

"We started a team there in the mid 80s, carried on until the early 90s and then we were short on numbers so it stopped.

"Then it was over to a team in Burton-on-Trent for a couple of years and then I started a team again in 98.

"We ran until 2003 or 2004 then joined the same team again in Burton and we were very successful there, representing the country and travelling the world.

"About four years ago, I broke away from the team after a falling out and took 11 with me to form LCS, Last Chance Saloon.

"It really is the Last Chance Saloon. When it's done, it's done."

LCS has 14 members and occupy second position in the National League after four legs of the season.

In their last home fixture, they were up against Olney A and B from Milton Keynes, Shires from Warwickshire and Triple F from Newport Pagnall.

The latter were short on numbers on the day so mixed in with Shires which, if needed, is welcomed in the league.

Tug of war traditionally has eight pullers on each side but Jose said it has been six-a-side in the league for the past three seasons.

He said: "It's six-a-side. Tug of war in general is eight-a-side but for the last three seasons we have been pulling on a six-a-side basis and it seems to suit everybody.

"People were turning up saying they hadn't got enough people. There is five-a-side tug of war but moving down from eight-a-side to that, you could feel a real difference.

"We had played a few tournaments in Belgium, though, which were six-a-side and it felt the same, so I brought it up at a league AGM and they went with it."

With teams consisting of six pullers, they faced each other in five different weight classes. The pullers are weighed beforehand and will have the weight groups stamped on their leg.

The five classes are 450kg, 465kg with three men and three women competing, 480kg, 525kg and catchweight.

Each weight class is run as a points competition, with three points for a first place finish, two for second and one for third.

Across the five classes, LCS had two first-place finishes and three second-place finishes, giving them 13 points in total and making them overall winners on the day.

Jose said: "We have gone from coming third in the first two legs of the season, to being second in the third and then winning the last one.

"It could go either way in the second half of the season, but there has been steady progress from us."

Jose is still dedicated to the sport after being involved with for so long. He insists the club is in a good position and would like it to continue to grow.

He added: "Most people in tug of war have been at it for as long as me, it's not like rugby or football where it takes its toll on the body.

"I know people in their mid-60s who are still having a go."

LCS train every Tuesday night from 7.30pm adjacent to the Brickmakers Arms on Salters Road in Walsall Wood.

If you wish to get involved, contact Shaun Jose on 07974 058 140. Alternatively, search LCS – Tug of War Club on Facebook.