Athletes from across the UK will descend on Huddersfield this weekend.

They’ll be lining up in tug of war teams on Saturday as the 2016 British and Irish indoor tug of war championships take place at Huddersfield Leisure Centre.

Representative teams from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be taking part.

Each team will consist of eight pullers. There will be two weight categories contested in the mens division, and there will also be a mixed weight class, with teams consisting of four men and four women.

“We are very much looking forward to the British and Irish championships this year” said Tug of War Association spokesman Alan Knott.

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“We will have World Champions and World Championship medallists taking part at the event, which should make for a very exciting championship. The British and Irish countries boast a proud record at Indoor tug of war, with England and Scotland having won many gold medals over the past 20 years.”

Tug of War used to be organised by the Amateur Athletic Association in the early 1900’s, but it was not until 1958 when The Tug of War Association was formed to organise the sport independently.

The sport was a part of the Olympic programme until 1920, but was phased out along with other sports, such as cricket and rugby. Great Britain are still the reigning Olympic champions at tug of war from those games in 1920.

Saturday’s action gets under way at 9.30am.