Nationals 28th & 29th November 2026.
Read fully before entering this competition
Venue
KINGS HEATH CRICKET & SPORTS CLUB, 247 Alcester Road South, Birmingham, B14 6DT UK
Weigh in times:
You can weigh in on Friday night 730 - 9pm for Saturday & or Sunday.
OR
Weigh in on Saturday 930-1100am for Saturday & or Sunday.
OR
Weigh in on Sunday 930-1100am
Left arm tournament Saturday.
Right arm tournament Sunday.
Both days:
Weigh in closes 1100. Latecomers between 1100 & 1130 can pull +105kg only.
After 1130 no more registrations.
Compulsory safety briefing 1130
Pulling starts as close to 1200 as possible
Entry fee for the competition is £40.
2025 PAA members get a reduction & only pay £25. Entry fee is the same amount whether participating on one or both arms.
Cash only on the day. There are ATM's at local shopping parade nearby (see map at bottom of page)
ONLINE ENTRIES - use link button at bottom of page.
By placing in the top 3 you will be awarded pro status.
One weight class can be entered: U70kg, U78kg, U86kg, U95kg, U105kg, 105kg+ (Superheavyweights)
MASTERS 50+ can also pull in a weight class of their own weight or higher.
If only one lady enters the competition she can pull in her weight class or higiher.
If time allows there will be an overall right class at the end of where any of the finalists (left or right) can participate in a Warzone style final to determine the winner.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Look young? Have origins outside of the UK? Unknown to us previously?
BRING ID WITH YOU. UK Passport with supporting documents if issue date after NOVEMBER 21 or Driving licence/official government documents dated before NOVEMBER 2021'. If unsure contact us well in advance before Monday 23rd November via the GET IN TOUCH BUTTON. We will not have time to make detailed investigations on the day.
We have a list of competitors from the last seven years both PRO & NOVICE. This list is updated after every tournament & only those on that list can pull. These are ones who have been recorded as safe competitors. No new names will be accepted for entry into this competition after Monday 23rd November 2026. If you haven't been to a PAA competition before or are unsure if we know of you, check your team captain has included you on their list of safe pullers. If you do not have a team captain, you'll need to demonstrate to one or an established pro that we know of that you are safe to pull & they will need to contact us.
You must have been a resident of the UK or Ireland at a permanent address for the past 5 years & a commitment not to pull for any other nation in continental or World championships, or in their nationals championships. If you are new/unknown to us you will need to have proof of your residency. If you can't you will not pull. If we find you have pulled for another nation after pulling our nationals you won't be pulling. On the day we do not have time to check online data - bring something easy to verify: UK/IRISH PASSPORT or DRIVING LICENCE issued before 2021 is ideal, Home office letter of residency issued before 2021. We won't be checking online forms or website links. Check beforehand if you are unsure via the get in touch button so that you do not have a wasted journey.
If you haven't pulled in a PAA competition before & we don't know you we won't let you in. If novice & unsure talk with your team/club as to whether it would be good for you at this stage to compete. The winners won't be taking it easy on new people like they are instructed to do in the regional competiitons so at least a few months of experience & dedication to conditioning should be considered before entering.
We do not have the facility to run a junior tournament. We are not able to accommodate anyone under the age of 18 to participate in the competition or future events or to be allowed to use the equipment provided for the pullers. Under 18's are the responsibility of their parents.
Tournament Scoring
Some people are unfamiliar with how a tournament works. Why has he gone again & I didn't get called? Have I been left out? Is it fixed?I think it worth explaining especially for the new people.We do triple elimination. That means that you get three chances. Everyone starts on the A side winners list. First loss puts you into the B category. Two losses & your into the C part of the bracket. Third loss & you are out.
One of the finalists will fight their way through from a loss to get another chance, sometimes against the person who beat them earlier. The A side finalist is unbeaten so only needs 1 pin to get gold. The B side finalist needs to make the other puller lose twice, whilst he might already have lost twice & fought back from the the C bracket. If there are 8, 16 or 32 pullers then everyone has the same chance in the draw. Other numbers mean that some people randomly get a bye - which is there was no one to pull against so they advance forwards without having to fight for it. Thus in double eliimination tournaments a certain amount of "Luck of the draw" plays a part in the outcome. This can't be avoided under the format.The scoring system we use currently isn't reliant on an internet connection or interfered with by adverts obscuring the screen. It was purpose built for our tournaments & has been adapted to account for many circumstances. It might seem unusual that someone pulls twice before your turn - it happens often in the bigger classes. As more people are eliminated the rest between matches gets smaller if there are quick pins. With a lot of matches to fit in during the day it is tough if you wait a long while & then get eliminated instantly in each of your matches. No one said it would be easy. People have lost because they were out of the room when they were called to pull. Others signed in on the wrong sheets, missed the roll call, pulled the wrong person on the wrong table due to having a similar sounding name to someone else & a dozen other mishaps. Tensions can run high, no one wants to lose. Sometimes the scoring team makes a mistake. We're trying to find the champion of each weight class in the fairest way we can. Scoring & refereeing is done by volunteers who love the sport.Good luck.
Travel & accomodation
There is a car park behind the venue with the entrance opposite Livingstone road. A bus stop outside the venue on route 50 connects to the city centre with links by train to Birmingham Airport. Check local time tables & strike action. A google search of "ALCHESTER ROAD BIRMINGHAM HOTEL" will give many options.
Cash machine & shops from the venue:
Online entry can be made by clicking the button below & filling out the online form. Entering online reduces admin time on the day to help start on time. If you wish to remain anonymous enter on the day as normal. Entry list below will be updated at least every monday, please check your name on it - but give us time too. - Duplicate entries: last one will count. Changes can be made at weigh in/registration. Confirm attendance each morning of the tournament to ensure name is on start list. Below are entries already submitted which we have accepted. Those in red at the bottom have not been accepted but might be if further information is received. LIST LAST UPDATED MONDAY 9th NOVEMBER.
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If your entry is on the list below, we need further information - either on the day in the form of proof of age or residency or a confirmation from team captain that you are safe to pull. Both the entry form & the text on the page above details the requirements for entry. Please re read & take action if you wish to pull. Unknown pullers will not be accepted on the day. Pullers unknown to stated team captains will not be accepted on the day.
