The woman who successfully oversaw the renaissance of Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, after COVID cancellations, will step down from her role at the end of the year.
Deborah Black will retire from her role of sports and field manager on December 31, after delivering another show on August 28.
She took on the job after the 2018 show, from Squadron Leader George Gale.
Having delivered a very successful 2019 show, just six months later it became apparent that a social event, even outdoors, would be an impossibility in the Covid era. A year after that, the decision was taken to cancel the 2021 show as well, as things were still so uncertain.
August 2022 saw the rebirth of the show, with competitors and visitors flocking in their thousands to the showground. Deborah triumphantly saw advance ticket sales boom, before fell racers and hounds took to the fells once more and Cumberland & Westmorland wrestlers battled it out to win glittering trophies.
The 2022 event was undoubtedly poignant, however, with the show having suffered the loss of some key personalities to COVID. Deborah’s hope is that 2023 will be a true celebration of all that they contributed and kept alive in Grasmere.
While Deborah has already arranged all of the trade stalls for the 2023 event, booked most entertainers and made many of the arrangements required for the show, one thing she will be assisting with, in the coming months, is the recruitment of her successor.
Deborah said: “It’s all about being the lynch-pin. The successful person for this job is someone who has a lot of common sense, good administrative skills and a great sense of humour. They need to be able to communicate with people from all walks of life and be realistic enough to recognise that organising the most prestigious sports event in Cumbria will not be a walk in the park.
“The hours are flexible but they are often 12-hour days in June, July and August. That’s the business end of organising the show and total commitment is required, day in day out, at this time of year.
“Having said that, the show involves a number of people who are passionate about their own individual areas, be that fell racing, hound trailing, Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling, field events or catering, so the manager’s role is really that of co-ordinating all of their efforts and ensuring that they combine to make a sensational spectacle.”
Deborah will be on hand to answer any questions that prospective candidates for the role may have and will still be in situ until December, to assist with any handover.
She herself came into the role having run other Lakeland events since her youth and was a former secretary of Cartmel Show. For her, when the opportunity to be sports and field manager of the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show came up, it was too great a temptation to resist.
“Grasmere Sports, as it’s so lovingly known, is just iconic in the Lake District and is truly the area’s premier sporting event,” she said. “It’s filled with so much tradition and history that I just jumped at the chance to manage it.
“Despite the crisis years, it’s delivered on all of my expectations. There’s nothing like seeing the field empty, after a glorious day of sport and fun, and to sit there and reflect on all of the images of the day, knowing that all went well or, if there was a hiccup, that we coped with it and overcame it. It is truly rewarding.”
Deborah is stepping down so that she can spend more time with her family, having seen one daughter just married and with another wedding to plan.
Life shall be different for the entire family next year, as Deborah and her husband literally live on the sports field prior to the event in August, taking to their caravan, so that they are on-hand whenever needed. The whole family have also been involved in the day itself, judging, organising and assisting.
Despite all the turmoil and upset of 2020 and 2021, Deborah has no regrets at having taken on the role. When asked what makes it such a special job, she instantly says, “The people,” pointing to all the personalities that are involved with the day, from stand riggers and entertainers to the members, directors and competitors.
“You have to be able to cope with whatever the day throws at you and be resourceful but, if you can do that, you can have a wonderful time in this role and experience a real joy in what you are delivering to the local community and visitors from afar. You are literally keeping valued traditions alive for future generations to enjoy and being a custodian of Lakeland life. My advice to anyone considering applying for the job is to give it a go. It could just be the best thing you do.”
