Credit: Jane Hunt
It was a family affair at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, as the true essence of the event shone through and glorious weather provided the exact opposite to 2024 conditions.
First-time family visitors were in evidence throughout the crowds, with many querying how the hound racing trail is laid, checking on the rules of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling and enquiring where on the fell they should be keeping their eyes peeled for hounds and runners.
Families made the most of the entertainment provided by Drum Nation, a traditional fairground scam artist, the Fat Cat Brass Band, Wonder Wheelers cycles and Circus Avago.
Pizzas, hotdogs and burgers flew off stalls, as traders benefited from long queues. The large crafts marquee provided respite from the heat, classic cars gleamed in the sun and the fun dog show attracted a sizeable fan base of its own.
A rich vein of family relationships ran through much of the sporting successes.
In the Guides races, Calum McGoldrick took the Under-12s title having completed a stunning fell race. Within a short space of time, he was able to watch older sister Mia become the first girl home in the Under-14s race. Father Mark then finished in 16th place in the Senior Guides race.
The dynasty continued when Thomas Jebb was announced as third in the 200m race.
Further Jebb family successes included a third place for Isabelle Jebb in the Under-17s girls race. Rob Jebb, who won the Senior Guides race 9 times, including six years in succession and three times under 13 minutes, finished this year’s race in an impressive 11th while partner, Sharon Taylor, placed third in the women’s race.
More family ties were evidenced when Ulverston’s Noah Cook stormed to victory in the Under-14s race, ahead of Jos Jebb and Thomas Jebb.
Although not a record-breaking time, the 6 minutes 57 seconds was a phenomenal run, 19 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
His mother, Rebecca, then took second place in the women’s 800 metres – the sort of athletics she now enjoys, having formerly been a heptathlete in her late teens and early 20s.
Noah said, “I’m delighted to win the Under-14s race at Grasmere, as I was unable to compete here in 2024, having won the Under-12 Grasmere title in 2023. We all had a brilliant day in the sunshine and I really enjoyed the event. It has been part of a fantastic season for me.”
Hanks, inside hipes and back heels, were fully appreciated by the vast crowd at the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling arena where Kendal Wrestling Club members brother and sister Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson were both triumphant. Thomas took the Men’s Under-21 title and Elizabeth the women’s 10 stones.
International family ties, through Celtic wrestling traditions, were more than evidenced in the women’s All-Weights contest, won by Breton wrestler, Léa Quillien.
She beat the Queen of Glima – the Icelandic form of backhold wrestling, Kristín Embla Guðjónsdóttir, in the final.
Third went to Breton teammate, Pauline Sellin. The men’s All-Weights title was seized by Thomas Gibson whilst a few went to Northumberland wrestler, Jack Brown (12 Stones and 14 Stones).
Léa had tipped her team’s Anaëlle Le Piolet to take a title this year, along with Corentin Le Guen. Both came second, in the Women’s 10 Stones and Men’s 11 Stones respectively, with Corentin losing out to Max Bates.
Anaëlle did win the women’s costume competition, however, with new fancy Breton socks really standing out.
The long-standing 50-year record of Sedbergh’s Graham Moffat in the Under-17s race did not tumble, but the greatest threat to it for many a year was presented by winner, Jake Ireland from Macclesfield. As Matt Bland said, to get anywhere near Graham’s record was “unbelievable”.
His fellow England team mate, Zeke Sumner, from Little Langdale and winner of the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Pete Bland Bursary in 2024, finished in second, ahead of Brighton’s Oliver Goodman. Izzy Wright was the first girl home.
Fell running legend, Tommy Sedgwick, now the show’s bellman, said, “That was a good stab at it this year. I’ll have to be telling Graham not to rest too easy, when I next see him, as some of these youngsters are now coming after his record.”
The 1978 record of 12 minutes 21 seconds, set by Fred Reeves when breaking Tommy’s 1976 record, was never under threat in the Senior Guides Race.
The race did demonstrate the need for perseverance though, with Keswick AC runner, John Batterick, having placed several times previously, without ever winning. He came home ahead of fellow Keswick AC runner, Calum Tinnion, in 13 minutes and 41 seconds. Try, try and try again is the motto.
In the absence of last year’s ladies winner, Charlotte Rawstron, winner of titles in all age groups at Grasmere, the title was wide open.
It this year went to Sheffield athlete, Steel City Striders runner, Abbie Pearce. Second place went to another Pete Bland bursary winner (2023), Rose Gilldaley.
The inaugural Grasmere Hike and Fly paragliding event attracted a fan base of its own, with many intrigued to see how this would work.
In good conditions, the race was completed remarkably quickly by winner Tom Hodgkin, followed home by Lt Col Richard Mackie and ‘Dangerous’ Dave Ashcroft in third.
Having attracted pilots from as far away as London and the south coast, the event should have a great future, now it has been welcomed into the programme.
The spoils though went to Jenny’s Chance (Puppy Race), Kinniside Bobby (Open Restricted), Young Harry (Veteran) and Baroness Ava (Senior).
Grasmere chairman John Hibbert said: “Without the support of everyone who comes through the gate, either as part of a competing or visiting family, or just independent travellers venturing into a new world for the first time, or giving their dog a great day out, we could not continue to keep our Victorian-era event alive.
“We need all of the people who attend, and have a great time, to be our ambassadors and spread the word.
“If you were ‘invested’ in the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, make sure others can experience the same thing. If you ‘loved’ the hound racing, tell others. And if you want to one day compete in the Grasmere Hike and Fly, give it a go and join a paragliding club.
“People put Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show in their diary each year, whether they are an overseas back hold wrestler, or runners who come from Brighton, for a reason. Discover that reason for yourself, by visiting us next year.”
