Brighton Boys Conquer the Fell in Wordsworth’s Former Village

Brothers from Brighton & Hove Athletic Club triumphed at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, in Cumbria, on the August Bank Holiday weekend, coming away with three medals, having taken on the best of the north in the sports of fell running and middle distance running.

14-year-old Finlay Goodman first seized the gold medal in the 800 metres boys aged 9-16 race at the event, before leading the entire field home in the Under-17s fell race, despite giving an age advantage to many runners.

The course for the Under-17s fell race climbs the intimidating fell in Grasmere, known as Butter Crags and, although not going as far up the 270-metre ascent as the Senior Guides race runners, Finlay covered a fair amount of that course, running through steep and challenging terrain.

He was followed home by two Yorkshire runners, Jack Sanderson of Settle Harriers and Charlotte Rawstron of Skyrac in Guiseley and recorded a time of 10 minutes and 19 seconds.

Meanwhile, his brother Oliver came second in the Under-12s fell race, finishing four seconds behind local runner, Isla Jebb, and 12 seconds ahead of third-placed Jos Jebb, who are both part of a fairly well-known local fell racing family in the Lake District.  Oliver’s time over the under-12s course was 5 minutes and 28 seconds.

The Senior Guides Race was this year won by an 18-year-old runner from Sheffield, Grant Finlay, who took the title with a time of 13 minutes and 32 seconds.  The Senior Guides Race title, run in the village that was once famously home to the poet, William Wordsworth, did not tumble, however.   It is 44 years since it was set by Fred Reeves, who recorded a time of 12 minutes and 21.6 seconds and nobody has really come close since.

Commenting on Twitter, the Goodman boys’ father, posting as @sheepboy_sussex said, “Cracking day at Grasmere Sports at the weekend.  Such a good, friendly family event.  Boys enjoyed the fell race; not sure about daughter, after she had a  tumble.  Good effort by all the runners.  Eldest wants to move up here now.“

The tweet was accompanied by a photo of Finlay leaping through a gap in a traditional Lake District dry-stone wall, part of the challenging fell race course.

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Sports and Field Manager, Deborah Black, says; “The Goodman family travelled a long way to participate in our long-established  and prestigious Lakeland event, which dates back to 1868.  They achieved some fantastic things but we are desperate to see the Fred Reeves record broken by the modern generation and, perhaps if they did move up here, one of the Goodman family could make that happen.  In the meantime, we applaud them for participating and think they may have travelled further than any other of our fell race competitors.”

Anyone wishing to try to emulate the Goodmans’ achievement, can travel to Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, which will take place on August 28, 2023.  For more details, visit www.grasmeresports.com                                                                                               

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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.