Runners will be lining up to beat a 50-year-old record at this year’s Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show.
Those taking part in the under-17s fell race on August 24 will be eyeing Graham Moffat’s time of 9 minutes and 3.6 seconds, which he achieved in 1975.
Graham, of Sedbergh, achieved the feat as a 16-year-old.
Athletes run up Butter Crag to a height of 208.78m, before turning and making their descent.
The closest that anyone is believed to have come to breaking Graham’s record was in 1989, when Johnny Bland set a time around 09:15.
Over the past 20 years, the closest times have been around 09:44 to 09:46.
Graham’s fell-racing record at Grasmere is older than that of the prestigious Senior Guides race, set by Fred Reeves in 1978.
it was at a time when Reeves had an annual battle with fellow athlete Tommy Sedgwick, now Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Bellman.
The pair were an inspiration for Graham.
Graham said: “Everyone needs heroes to look up to and I had Fred and Tommy. Unless there are role models like that, it’s hard for athletes to get the right motivation. I practised hard and took it seriously because I wanted to emulate their achievements.”
Graham had only just left school when he set the record.
It was his last year as an Under-17 runner and he progressed to the seniors race at Grasmere, in which he started to compete against his heroes. He placed third behind Fred and Tommy and also second behind another icon of the sport, Kenny Stuart.
His win in the Under-17s race was recorded as part of a highlights video of Grasmere Sports in 1975.
Graham’s number nine on his vest was given to Blue Peter presenter John Noakes, who was competing in the wrestling and the Senior Guides race.
Graham said: “I don’t remember much about the day but am very proud to think my record has stood for 50 years. I hope some youngster will one day get the right motivation and determination to beat the record.”
Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show chairman John Hibbert added: “It’s a 50-year record, celebrating its golden anniversary, and we probably need to witness the gold standard of fell running, if we are to see a new name in the record books,
“We’ve long talked about wanting to see someone break Fred Reeves’ record, but Graham Moffat’s record is even older. It’s incredible that nobody has beaten it over the past five decades, but perhaps this is the year that we will see it finally tumble.
“Athletes in that age category should have glory in their sights, as they could make a real name for themselves, if they can become a Grasmere Sports record-breaker.”
