Rotary Club vs Autumnfest Committee in Tug O’ War
Woonsocket, RI: “MEGA War", New England’s Largest Tug O’ War Competition is taking on a new twist. In the interest of fundraising and good spirit, the Rotary Club has challenged the Autumnfest Steering Committee to an exhibition Tug O’ War. The proceeds will go to a non-profit organization and the pull will take place at 3pm during the Autumnfest Tug O’ War Competition on Sunday October 9th near the basketball courts. This is surely to be a crowd pleaser! Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt will be starting & officiating the event to keep everything honest and on the up-and-up!
Both Rotary and Autumnfest have some secret strategies on winning this exhibition event that they refused to share at press time. Sporting Events Chairwoman Cheryl Savaria is considering random drug enhancement testing and searching for hidden rope anchoring devices from both teams as the rivalry between the two teams has reach a crucial level of competition. EMS personnel will be nearby, as most team pullers are an AARP cardholder.
The proceeds will benefit a local non-profit organization to be determined by Rotary President Dave LaHouse and Autumnfest General Chairman Jeff Gammache.
Sports Chairwoman Cheryl Savaria is looking for 5 more High School Tug O’ War Teams. With cash awards of $1,000, $500, & $250 plus championship shirts and trophies this is a great way of showing your school spirit, attain High School Tug O’ War Champion status and get cash to boot! All it takes is one special individual with leadership to organize that 2,500lbs high school team. The competition is limited to ten teams with NO registration fees. Team must pre-register by download the registration forms from the Autumnfest.org website under Sports and mail it in ASAP!
The event will be held during the Autumnfest Weekend at the World War II Veterans Memorial Park in Woonsocket, behind the basketball courts on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 1:00pm, with team certifications (weight-ins) at 11:30am.
MEGA War is a very unique style of tug o’ war event as the participants are starting from either the prone or supine position. That unique style alone determines the type of participants it will take to become the Autumnfest MEGA War Champions. The rope utilized for this event is a former tugboat rope used to tow ships. The starting position required that the pullers either lay on their backs with their heads on the rope and hands on their chest or lay outward on the chest with the feet making contact with the rope. All pullers positions will be verified before the signal is giving to the starting official. To win the double elimination event, pullers must spring-up, and pull the rope 1.5 feet. The Competition requires speed, agility, power, stamina and teamwork.
Again, the number of pullers shall be determined by the team’s 2,500-lbs.-weight limit. All participants in the High School Division must be students. There are no co-ed restrictions. This is a double elimination competition.
Registration forms and additional information are available upon request by either e-mailing Cheryl Savaria, Sporting Events Chairwoman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. or by calling Richard Savaria at (401) 527-8959
