Kelsa Rowland Evans is pulling out all the stops – literally – so that her 16-year-old daughter Eire can go to South Africa in September.

Eire is part of the England Under-18 girls’ tug-of-war team and she is hoping to take part in the world championships which are being held at Cape Town from 18th-23rd September.

A boys’ under-18 team is also due to take part – both squads are made up of eight pullers and two reserves – but both teams’ participation is conditional on sufficient money being raised to fund the trip.

That’s where Eire’s mum Kelsa comes in because she is the head of fundraising.

“We are trying to raise £20,000,” she said, “and we need to raise half the total by July to pay deposits.

“We need to raise £1,000 for each competitor to pay for transport, accommodation, food and training.”

Kelsa added that if they failed to raise sufficient funds it was likely that just one mixed team – five boys and five girls – would be sent to compete.

If England do send two teams, it’s likely that Gloucestershire will be very well represented with as many as three girls and two boys from the county hoping to be selected.

Kelsa’s daughter Eire is captain of the girls’ team even though she has only just turned 16.

“After all the hard work and training everyone has put in, it would be such a shame if we were unable to attend the world championships this year,” said the Ribston Hall High School pupil in Gloucester.

“Some of us are able to contribute, but others can’t and we are a team so we will all be helping each other out.”

Zac Warren, the captain of the boys’ team, is equally hopeful that people will dig deep to help them fulfil their dream

The Bournside School pupil in Cheltenham said: “We will be extremely grateful for any support the general public or local businesses could give us and will work extra hard to make them all proud of us.”

The other THREE competitors from Gloucestershire hoping to make the teams are Beth Parsons, Emily Gilbert and Riley Westbury.

Last year the tug-of-war European and world championships were held in England.

It was the first time an under-18 girls’ team had represented England and despite coming up against teams from countries such as South Africa, Sweden and China where their national sport is tug-of-war, they performed superbly to finish fourth.

The boys’ team were also up against some very tough teams but still managed to finish in the top 10.

To make a donation to help this year’s teams compete in South Africa, visit the Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/england-tug-of-war-u18