Tractor Pulling Power hits Great Eccleston

The recent bank holiday weekend saw Wyre play host to the Tractor Pulling Championships at Great Eccleston. For anyone who doesn’t know, these are monster machines powered by jet engines – yes, the ones you will find in aircraft! In a nutshell, they “pull” a weight at the back of the tractor called a sled as far as they can down a track and the one who “pulls” the furthest is the winner. I attended on the Saturday evening for the floodlit pull and as the sun started to set, the crowds filed in to find their viewing point on the embankment. The skies remained kind which helped as I have been when it’s poured down in previous years and ended up being towed out of the field due to being stuck in the mud! The evening didn’t disappoint with some excellent “pulls” exceeding the 100 metre mark. There were a few wobbly “pulls” too with some tractors almost veering off the track! Competitors from all over the UK took part along with teams from Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Probably the furthest to travel to get here was Phil Fairbanks from Massachusetts USA and his “Original Rat Poison.” A great night was had by all with the following day providing just as much excitement. If you have never been I strongly recommend you visit at least once to witness the power of these truly awesome machines.

Becky – Marketing Officer at Wyre Council

Countryside’s answer to F1!

The competition hots up

This weekend I went along to the Tractor Pulling Championships at Great Eccleston Show Ground. It was a first for me, I think I must be one of the only people in Wyre never to have been before! I’ve never seen anything like it, but I have to say I’m hooked! If you’ve not been you should! It was packed full of people (10,000 can you believe it!) all watching each tractor (well big trucks really!) try to pull huge weights along the race track. There were sparks, flames and loads of noise! Definitely different but all good fun!

Emma