| For
Immediate Release |
Nov.
11, 2000
|
Contact:
Jefferson Holland
Minister of Propaganda
410-263-9446/jeffholland@annapolis.net
Eastport
Wins Third Annual International Tug-of-War
Eastport won the third annual "Slaughter Across the Water,"
the world’s longest tug-of-war across a body of water, on
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000. Fourteen teams of about 30 tuggers
each competed in eight grueling heats on either side of
a 1,700-foot-long custom-made rope.
The competition was fierce, with the Annapolis teams quickly
winning the first three tugs. The first heat began shortly
after the crack of noon, with the patrons and bartenders
of Annapolis bars beating their rivals from Eastport bars
in a 41-second pull. The Annapolis Yacht Club out-tugged
the Eastport Yacht Club in the second bout that lasted 1
minute, 53 seconds. Annapolis won the third tug in 2 minutes,
21 seconds, when employees from the Chart House Restaurant
were defeated by Phillips Seafood.
Things
were looking glum in Eastport when Dave Gendell, editor
of SpinSheet Magazine, led his crew of hearty sailors in
a rousing 26-second victory over the powerboaters from the
Chesapeake Bay Powerboat Association. This round was contested
because of a miscount of the number of tuggers on the Eastport
side, but when the sailors lined up for a re-tug after the
last heat, not enough powerboaters could be found to pull
for the Annapolis side, and the judges ruled in favor of
Eastport.
In any case, the first four rounds were considered exhibition
tugs. The real competition was just about to begin. It started
with the MRE men soundly defeating the Annapolis Jaycees
men in 42 seconds flat. This was the third year in a row
the MRE men’s team won. The MRE women stepped up to the
rope next, hoping to win for the first time in three years.
And win they did, soundly besting the Annapolis Jaycees
women in a heart-wrenching 66-second tug. The MRE side swept
three for three when the coed team out-pulled the Jaycees
coeds in 47 seconds.
All
eight heats were finished before 1 p.m., nearly a full hour
faster than last year.
The
Fourth Annual "Slaughter Across the Water" is slated for
Saturday, November 3, 2001. For information on joining the
2001 teams, contact MRE Tug Chairman Rick
Kennedy, 410/280-8562 or Annapolis Jaycees Tug Chairman
George Dands at 410/757-6822
or see the official MRE web site at http://www.themre.com.
[See note below]
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