Duo picked for England team's debut in tug-of-war championship

Corporal Gillian Cave, 25, of Blackburn, and signaller Nicola Kirkby, 21, of Burnley, will compete in the World Tug of War Championships.

The members of the Army ladies' tug of war (560 Kg) team were invited to take part by the England Tug of War Association.

It will be the first time a ladies team has represented England in the seven-day contest, which will feature around 20 countries including the USA, Netherlands and Switzerland, starting on September 1 in Rochester, Minnesota.

Nicola, an Area Systems Operator with 1 (UK) Armoured Division, and Gillian, a member of 30 Signal Regiment, will now spend two weeks at a training camp with the 12-strong team.

Former Towneley High School pupil Nicola said: "I am really looking forward to the competition.

"It's a great honour to be selected for the team and to have the opportunity to represent my country. We will certainly give it our best shot."

And Gillian, a former pupil at Our Lady and Saint John's RC School, said: "We are all focused on the competition and between now and the end of August it will be non-stop training."

Team manager, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Merhlich, added: "It will be hard going over the next few weeks.

"The girls will be concentrating on their all-round fitness and practising their techniques. In a competition, technique is everything.

"It's not the weight that makes you a good puller but the team work and technique you use."

He added: "Of course, we are hoping to come away with a medal, the ladies are definitely capable, but we will have to wait and see what happens.

"This is the first time they have ever taken part in such a big event, so it's more important that they have fun and enjoy the experience."

Corporal Cave took up the sport three years ago. "The Regiment wanted to form a ladies team so I decided to give it a go," she said. "I admit I did think tug of war was just about pulling on a rope but I was wrong. There is a lot of skill and technique involved."