Whether it was sheer muscle, the power of patriotism, or a potent cocktail of both, Fort Frances proved it’s got what it takes to defeat a team of pullers from International Falls for the second-straight year in a cross-border tug-of-war last Friday afternoon.
The teams of 50 pullers from each side of the border squared off shortly after noon after the enormous tug-of-war rope had been stretched across the width of the upper Rainy River near the Sorting Gap Marina.
With the signal for the test of might to begin, the local team heaved with patriotic fervour.
It consisted of both men and women, the young and not-so-young, including Mayor Roy Avis and several councillors, as well as town management and staff who were on their lunch break.
Driven on by the cheering of Fort Frances residents and some of their fellow employees, the team pulled and pulled until the U.S. team was yanked to the edge of the river on the other side—and had to drop the rope to avoid going into the drink.
A decisive victory.
“On behalf of Megan Ross and myself, the co-organizers of the second U.S.A. versus Canada tug-of-war, I would like to congratulate Fort Frances once again for going undefeated in the two years of tug-of-war,” Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft said at Monday night’s council meeting.
“There’s too many people to thank who helped with this, and I don’t want to miss anyone, so I’ll just say take a broad stroke and say thank you to everyone who helped in any way, shape, or form,” he added.
“Congratulations to all the tuggers,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft continued. “It’s going to go again next year apparently, so work out over the year, beef up, and let’s do it for three years in a row.”
“Next year, Coun. Wiedenhoeft, I’ll ride in the boat,” joked Mayor Avis.
To clear up any misperceptions the U.S. team may have had about just how many people were on the Canadian team, Coun. Wiedenhoeft explained that “as we pulled the Americans towards the river, we got backed up to a fence at the edge of the Abitibi wood yard.”
“People were running out of space to tug and [so] people were running from the back of the rope to the front to tug,” he noted. “There were times we were less than 50 tuggers, and at that time when people were running to the front, the Americans were starting to gain rope on us.
“Then we gained it back again.
“So let it be known to the Americans that we used only 50 people and at times, less than 50 people,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft stressed.
But Falls mayor Shawn Mason said Tuesday she’s not so sure the Canadian opponents played fair and square.
“We think that we should contact our congressman, James Oberstar, and ask him to call for an investigation of what we think might have been an international incident,” she laughed.
“We would like to investigate because we did not have any spies over in the Fort for this event, regrettably,” added Mayor Mason. “Perhaps we’ll have to subpoena people to testify.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of this.
“And one thing I do want you to know [is] this is not coming down from the mayor, this is coming down from the captain of the U.S. team, Coun. Tim ‘Chopper’ McBride.
“When Coun. McBride calls for an investigation, you know it’s going to happen,” Mayor Mason warned.
She reiterated that the Falls’ “truly co-ed” team consisted of the called-for 50 tuggers and “did not rotate in any fresh arms.”
“But we’re hearing little rumours of the make-up of the team over in the Fort and so we’re curious about that,” Mayor Mason continued.
“We really don’t have any ground rules—we’re just two ‘sister cities’ having a friendly competition—so our definitions of co-ed or number of tuggers may be a little different,” she remarked.
Mayor Mason also said there’s been whisperings of the Fort team sabotaging the U.S. half of the rope, soaking it with water or perhaps “petroleum products” that would affect their opponents’ collective grip.
Coun. Wiedenhoeft revealed there was a wager between himself and Mayor Mason, and that he’s glad the Canadian team didn’t lose—or else he would have had to wear her shoes to Monday night’s council meeting.
However, according to the bet, Mayor Mason now must wear a shirt with “Canada” written on it at the next Falls’ council meeting.
“I’m happy to do it. It is a friendly rivalry,” conceded Mayor Mason. “But I’m going to have to purchase a pair of size nine-and-a-half high heels for Coun. Wiedenhoeft for next year.”
The tug-of-war coincided with a fundraiser barbecue for the Fort Frances Pubic Library’s “Building for the Future” campaign, which raised $450 for the cause.
“It was great,” chief librarian Margaret Sedgwick said Monday.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
