Harry Keeps Career Ambition on Track After Grasmere Sports Win

A teenager from Whitehaven has made great progress in his quest to one day become a sports reporter, by being named Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Young Sports Reporter 2024.

Harry Taylor (13), entered the contest by stating why he thought he would make a great reporter.  Having been selected, he was set the quest of producing a report of the annual traditional sporting event that would wow the judges.

Before attending the August 25 show, to watch the action, take notes and shape his report, he was provided with a briefing on sports writing, delivered by Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s PR agency and Young Sports reporter trophy sponsor, Catapult PR.

Managing director of Catapult PR, Jane Hunt, who has previously promoted major sports sponsorships such as those of the England national football team, Everton FC and Stoke City FC, took Harry through some tips and provided a briefing document, to help him put together an interesting, factually sound and evocative report.

Harry also showed a huge amount of initiative, by talking to the Carlisle United media officer, to get further inspiration.

He demonstrated a clear direction, by choosing to concentrate on the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling action.  With wrestling and taekwondo being some of his own sporting pastimes, alongside rugby, football and running, he felt an affinity with this very traditional sport.

Harry and his family then attended the show, which experienced heavy rain throughout the day.  Despite the monsoon weather, and dreadfully challenging conditions in the wrestling arena, he still managed to produce a highly engaging report.  This is now published on the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show website.

As a reward for his hard work and excellent reporting skills, Harry was invited to the showground in Grasmere. There, members of the committee presented him with not just the trophy but also a £120 Mini Shot camera and a special certificate that they had provided.

Harry says: “It was great fun to write the report and a very valuable experience that I am sure will help me achieve my dream of one day becoming a sports reporter.  I’ve picked up some useful tips but have also been able to apply them in a really exciting way, combining what I’ve learned about sports reporting with general writing skills picked up at school.”

Harry is a pupil at St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Whitehaven.  He attended the presentation with his mother, Jennifer, his father, Darren, and younger brother Rex, who have all been invited to attend Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show in 2025, when the weather may hopefully be kinder to all.

Ends

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.