Mud Sports and Children’s Beach Takeover

For the first time since 2019 we were able to hold the famous Mud Sports and Children’s Beach Takeover on the Sunday Morning of Regatta.

Even at 9.30 when the beach was filling up with spectators and participants it was already hot. Luckily there was still plenty of mud for the mud sports and sand for the beach games. The day always starts with raking the sand to make sure that as far as possible it is clear of glass and any other rubbish.

Then the fun begins with the Race across the River, Mud Tug of War and the Children’s Beach takeover and tug of war – all reigned over by Neptune who also has the very important job of making sure that the tide comes in for the afternoon’s activities on the water.

Race Across the River

Sunday Traditionally starts with the race across the river.  It looks easy but as the runners and slider each year rediscover it is far from that.

The race starts from the shore end of the East hard and the runners run along to the end of the hard, into the channel to the other side and round a mark. Then they slosh back through the mud and the channel and when thoroughly wet and muddy they run back down the hard to be greeted by Neptune.

The race featured in the series Griff’s Great Britain when Griff Rhys Jones ran the course as part of the ‘search for the Mersea Native’ episode.

There are races for under 16’s, women and men.

Rheanna Pavey on her way to winning the women’s race

Joe Hughes on his way to winning the men’s race (credit Tony Cruise)

The under 16’s race in progress

Mud Tug of War

For those who want the fully Manningtree Mud experience there is the Tug of Way (in the mud!)

The competition take place with teams in the mud either side of the East hard and conditions start off muddy, and get progressively more muddy as successive Teams take their places and sink further in to the mud with each pull.

With no tug of war competition since 2019 when Rose Builders took the honours in both the women’s and the men’s competition this year was a bumper year with five men’s teams and six women’s teams taking part.

Men’s Teams: Anglia Water Mud Rats, Manningtree Mermen, Mistley Rugby Club, Red Lion, Rose Builders Rose Rogues

Women’s Teams: Manningtree Mermaids Mermaids Against Sewage, Merminators, Pavey Pullers, Red Lion, Rose Builders Rose Buds, Mother Tuggers

Both the women’s and the men’s competition were hard fought over many, many, pulls. In the end the Mud Rats took the honours in the men’s Tug, and Mermaids Against Sewage in the women’s Tug.

Winning women’s team – Manningtree Mermaids

Winning men’s team Anglia Water Water Rats

Children’s Beach Takeover and Tug of War

While the adults are enjoying the mud the children get to enjoy the sand with a variety of beach games.  It was hot work this year as children took part in a variety of games from egg and spoon to filling buckets in relay with water from a mug with holes in it that had to be carried on the head! There were lots of giggles and stickers and sweets all round.

The event finished with the now traditional children’s tug of war on the beach.