Hoylake lifeboat crew pulled off victory against Hoylake Sailing Club in the annual Slater Trophy Boxing Day Tug o’War.
The friendly competition was established in 1972 by Arthur Slater of Hoylake Sailing Club and Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Danny Triggs.
It is now a firm festive fixture in the local community calendar, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.
The trophy is a small teapot that bears the name of the winning team, which started life in the boardroom of Cammell Laird shipbuilders in the 1960s when the Polaris programme’s Resolution-class submarines were under construction.
The teapot was thrown out, dented and dull, into a McDermott’s sprout box and found its way to Hoylake.
Watched by hundreds of spectators at midday on Boxing Day, the RNLI were victorious in foggy conditions on the front, after two pulls.
The teapot was presented to Hoylake RNLI by 101-year-old Terri Slater, the widow of of co-founder Arthur.
Hoylake RNLI said: “Congratulations to our Hoylake lifeboat team, who this year were sporting red wool bobble hats to mark our charity’s 200th anniversary and in tribute to lifeboat crews of the past who originally wore this iconic knitwear.
“Thank you to the Sailing Club for a superb competition once again this year and for your kind hospitality.”
The RNLI added: “The hundreds of spectators who turned out to cheer on both teams made this event as special as always.
“Thank you to everyone who also donated to the RNLI to support our lifesaving work. We’ll see you all again for next year’s tournament!”
Photo credits: Hoylake RNLI
