Local Pride, Citizenship and Tradition Sit Behind Grasmere Sports Art Contest

Parents and teachers wanting to fuel the artistic creativity of younger minds can do just that, whilst also promoting a sense of citizenship, thanks to a Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show initiative.

Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling tradition has long seen families battling, not just in an arena but also in the fashion stakes. This has been by trying to create an embroidered wrestling vest that would stand out from all others.  To this day, there is still a prize for the best wrestling costume, with entries judged and rewarded on the day of Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show.

Now, children can also put their design skills to good use, but on paper, in a competition being organised by Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show ahead of the August 25 event.

Children can pick up the crayons, coloured pencils, collage papers or paints, and fill in a template with a design of their choice. It needs to be eye-catching and creative but also  convey the essence of their local area and the things that they love within it.

Vest designs brimming with local pride should be the result, whether that pride is based around the landscape, wildlife, local cuisine or something else.

There are two age categories for the competition – age 4-7 and age 8 to ll.  In each category, there is a £25 token for use at Pete Bland Sports for the winner and a £15 Pete Bland Sports voucher for the runner-up.  All of the best entries will be put on display in the craft tent at the August 25th show.

The template for the design can be downloaded from the show website at www.grasmeresports.com, where full instructions can be found.  Entries should be submitted by midnight on July 31, 2024.

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s manager, Richard Hooper, says, “We look forward to not just seeing some great Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling vest designs but also finding out what it is that our young people love about their local area and what is important to them.  The citizenship element to our initiative is an important one, although we shall ultimately be picking the best designs that incorporate the essence of life in the Lake District.

“The competition is also important at a citizenship level, because it helps keep the tradition of one of Cumberland and Westmorland’s most traditional sports alive.  We hope that teachers will convey the history of the sport to pupils, whilst also allowing them to tackle the design task.”

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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.