HOYLAKE lifeboat volunteers will face Hoylake Sailing Club in the 50th annual Slater Trophy Tug O'War on Boxing Day.
The friendly competition was established in 1972 by Arthur Slater of Hoylake Sailing Club and Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Danny Triggs.
It is now a firm festive fixture in the local community.
The event, taking place at midday on Monday (December 26) raises vital funds for the lifesaving work of the RNLI.
Since the tradition began, hundreds of spectators have gathered outside the Sailing Club to watch the two teams battle it out on the sand for the coveted Slater Trophy: a small teapot that bears the name of the winning team, dating back to the very first tournament.
The Slater Trophy Boxing Day Tug o'War attracts hundreds of spectators each year. Picture: Stratus Imagery
The humble trophy started life in the boardroom of Cammell Laird shipbuilders in the 1960s when the Polaris programme’s Resolution-class submarines were under construction in Birkenhead.
The teapot was thrown out, dented and dull, into a McDermott’s sprout box and eventually found its way to Hoylake.
The Slater Trophy. Picture: RNLI/Victoria Phipps
After the inaugural Tug o'War tournament in 1972, the teapot was discovered, polished and engraved with the name of the first winning team - the 'Lifeboat'. So began five decades of local competition, normally celebrated afterwards with a toast to the participants in the Sailing Club.
Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Howie Owen said: "It's a special anniversary for the Slater Trophy and like generations before them, our crew are excited to be pulling on their boots to take on the Sailing Club and defend their winning title in this historic, friendly competition.'
"The event is free to watch and a great way to walk off Christmas lunch. We hope that our community will show their usual fantastic support by cheering on both teams.
"But until then, we hope everyone stays safe and has a happy Christmas."
A past tug o war in Hoylake. Picture: Hoylake RNLI
The Hoylake RNLI team pull during past tug o'war. Picture: Hoylake RNLI
Robin Stratton, Hoylake Sailing Club Secretary and Vice Commodore, said: "It's great to have been a part of this event over the last 50 years.
"It has become a real Hoylake tradition and brings a brief moment of rivalry between these two longstanding institutions of the town, who otherwise continue to enjoy a great relationship via our shared links with the sea.
"Whilst the spoils have been shared over the years, our team will be pulling extra hard in this special anniversary year to try and return the Slater teapot to the club mantelpiece."
Spectators at the Tug o'War are invited to help fund Hoylake RNLI’s lifesaving work and donations would be welcomed at any donation point on Boxing Day.
Supporters can also donate to the Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Fundraising JustGiving page. More information on the RNLI’s Christmas appeal can be found at RNLI.org/Christmas.
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