Published on 12 September 2019
Theatre nurse Matt Jose helped pull off a victory at an international Tug of War competition, bringing home a haul that included trophies for individual and team performance.
Matt, who works at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, was part of Team UK who triumphed in the contest in Chicago last week.
He and his team members had competitors on the ropes and were rewarded with a team prize of $5,000, as well as $100 for Matt as top ‘front puller’.
It was the first time they were able to compete in the competition, but they first became tied up with tug of war a year ago.
Matt, 36, who lives in Canterbury, said: “I have friends who share my passion for the sport and we started meeting after work. After several months of training and juggling other responsibilities we formed a team and entered our first competitions.
“We were delighted to outperform some of the reigning champions at a national level, and because of that we were invited to participate in the international competition.
“It is considered a prestige event and teams take part from across the world.”
Competitors from Canada, the Middle East, South Asia and elsewhere in America travelled to Chicago for the competition, and battled it out in front of cheering crowds.
Matt said: “It was an unforgettable and memorable experience.
“We were delighted to win the competition, not just because of the prizes but also because it was an amazing adventure that started with an afternoon gathering of friends.
“It’s almost unbelievable to see how it turned out and I’m so proud of the team’s performance.
“I’d also like to thank my colleagues for their support and inspiration during the competition period.”
