Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show organisers are holding out for a hero in its grand finale race at the weekend, believing it is time a long-established fell running record was finally broken.
The Senior Guides Race record at the Lake District show was set by the legendary fell runner Fred Reeves in 1978 and his time of 12 minutes and 21.6 seconds has not been challenged since. Breaking the 13-minute barrier is something that seems to elude other fell runners who have followed in Reeves’ shoes.
The Butter Crags Course, which runs over a challenging fellside track rising 295 metres, is crying out for someone to take it on and triumph, say organisers.
This year heralds the start of a poignant new era for the fell races at Grasmere, so called because, back in the 18thand 19th centuries, visitors to the Lake District would employ a guide to help them negotiate the fells.
The man known as ‘Mr Fell Running’ – Pete Bland – who had organised the Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show’s fell races for many years, died of COVID and this year his son, Matt, will take over the organisation of the races.
“We will be dedicating the Senior Guides Race to Pete this year, so it would be fantastic to see the long-standing Fred Reeves record broken in his son’s first year of organising the Guides Races,” said Deborah Black, sports and field manager of the show.
“Having also had to cancel the past two shows, because of the pandemic – only the second and third time the event has ever been cancelled since 1868, with the first being during the Second World War, it would also help bring a real buzz to proceedings, in our renaissance year. We are sure it is something Pete would have loved to see happen but we need fell runners to go up a gear, as nobody has come close since Fred set the record.”
The Senior Guides Race is run as the grand finale within the programme of fell running at the show, so there are other races in which fell runners could also make their mark by breaking the current records. Fell races are run for under-nines, under-12s, under-14s and under-17s, as well as the seniors. The Senior Women’s record was set in 2017, by Victoria Wilkinson, and stands at 15 minutes 15 seconds.
If the long-standing record is to be broken, it will be quite some feat and probably the achievement of a dedicated runner. Reeves was an eight-time winner of the Grasmere Guides Race, standing 5 ft 10in and weighing around 9st 7lbs and is said to have had the potential to be a great marathon runner. He is known to have trained by running over 70 miles a week, mostly on hills and trails around Coniston, while also focusing on speed work.
He broke the Grasmere Sports record two years after runner Tommy Sedgwick had set a time that observers regarded as unbreakable. Tommy is now the Bellman of the Show, opening and closing it with the dramatic ringing of a bell and has been walking the course, reminiscing, this very week.
Reeves regarded Grasmere as the “one to win”, despite its steep ascent, because the crowds were always so impressive and spurred the runners on. He is also said to have always enjoyed a special pre-race snack of cheese and honey sandwiches 90 minutes before racing.
“Grasmere is definitely the one to win and a king amongst fell running courses,” said Deborah. “Let’s see if anyone can take Fred’s crown on Sunday, August 28.”
The first fell race of the day – the under-nines race – will go off at 12.50pm and the Senior Guides Race will start at 16.10pm. As well as the fell races, children who love athletic sport will be able to take part in sprint races, 200m races and an 800m track race. Adult runners can also enter their own 800m race.
In addition, there is the renowned Grasmere Sports Long Leap contest, in different age categories from under-eight to under-17, with this being a long jump competition. Fun children’s races, from egg and spoon to sack races, will also be run.
The fell running and athletics programme runs alongside a full schedule of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, starting with the Under 10s World Championship at 11am, and hound trail racing, which starts at 11am with the Puppy Trail race.
The Show will also feature music from the Fat Cat Brass Band, Little Nippers Terrier Racing, a Dog Show, a para-gliding ground demonstration, tug of war and one of the largest bird of prey demonstrations to be seen, courtesy of Ridgeside Falconry.
Headline act Wonder Wheelers will be bringing a huge array of bicycles along, allowing kids to try riding everything from a Penny Farthing to a unicycle and there will be an ‘unrideable bike’ challenge, featuring a bike that goes in the opposite direction from that steered!
This year, a new Wheelbarrow Competition should also bring colour and a new element to the show, with a special prize for the best wheelbarrow display.
Local families will also have the opportunity to view an array of archive photography, which will be part of a display organised by the Armitt Museum.
All event timings and details of how to register for all competitions and races can be found at www.grasmeresports.com
