Fell Runners Do White Rose Proud at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show

Fell Runners Do White Rose Proud at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show

Runners from Yorkshire made a huge mark at the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, on Sunday August 28, with individuals from the White Rose county winning the Senior Guides fell race – the prestige event in the fell racing programme – and smashing the under-17s ladies record.

The Senior Guides race, so named because Victorian visitors would employ a guide to help them negotiate the Cumbrian fells, was won by 18-year-old Grant Finlay, who runs for Sheffield’s Dark Peak Fell Runners.  

He led a 146-runner field home in a time of 13 minutes and 32 seconds, after a race of 1.6 miles (2.5km), with an ascent of 886 feet (270 metres).  This was an admirable time for the young runner, although it did not challenge the 44-year-old record of Fred Reeves, who ran 12 minutes and 21.6 seconds in 1978.

The Under-17s ladies record fell to Charlotte Rawstron (aged 16), who runs for Skyrac in Guiseley.  She recorded a time of 11 minutes 34 seconds, over a shorter distance than the Seniors race, beating the previous record by 16 seconds when coming home third overall.  

Ahead of her finished winner, Finlay Goodman (aged 14), of Brighton & Hove, and Settle Harriers runner, Jack Sanderson (aged 14).  Finlay also took the 800-metres title for boys aged 9-16.

In the Under-9s fell race, the spoils went to first-placed Calum McGoldrick of Settle Harriers, who ran that fell race course in 4 minutes and 51 seconds, eight seconds faster than local runner, Peter Butler of Ambleside Athletics Club.  

Skyrac produced the winner of the Under-14s fell race, with Jacob Palmer winning the gold medal ahead of Edison Marsden of Bury Athletics Club.  Jacob also finished second in the 800-metres race for boys aged 9-16 years.

The first woman home in the Senior Guides race was also doing it for Yorkshire.  Eve Whitaker, from Harrogate Harriers, crossed the finishing line in a very respectable 15 minutes and 44 seconds.

Other female runners from Yorkshire also achieved success in their races.  Megan Wilkinson of Keighley and Craven was the second girl home in the Under-17s fell race, behind Charlotte Rawstron.  Second home in the Under-14 girls’ fell race was Isabella Wright, who also runs for Keighley and Craven.

In the Under-12 girls’ fell race, Mia McGoldrick of Settle Harriers won the silver medal. Mark McGoldrick was placed third in the Veteran Men’s rankings in the Seniors’ Guide Race and also runs for Settle.  Placed second, just ahead of him, was Rob Hope of Pudsey Bramley Athletics Club, who also finished third in the men’s 800-metre race.

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Sports and Field Manager, Deborah Black, says: “The Yorkshire runners were fantastic this year and we saw the White Rose flag in evidence an awful lot around the podium, as they battled fiercely and showed how strong Yorkshire’s athletics scene is.

“We hope that this contingent’s success will encourage others to follow suit next year and that those who won medals will go on to even faster times and possible new records in 2023.”

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show will take place on Sunday, August 28, 2023, in its regular August Bank Holiday slot.

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Editors notes

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show is an iconic event taking place in the heart of the English Lake District on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Its long historic roots date back to 1868 and it is renowned for its fell running, hound trails and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling competitions, as well as being a fantastic family day out.