Charlotte Prepares to be Queen of the Fells Once More

An 18-year-old athlete from Otley has featured in a new podcast that highlights her achievements within the world of fell running and how she is preparing to defend her women’s title at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, on August 25, on the 40th anniversary of women being able to compete in her event.

Charlotte Rawstron, a member of the Skyrac athletics club, based in Yeadon, has revealed what it takes to be a committed and successful fell runner, as she prepares to defend her Senior Ladies title.  

She won this last year, on her first appearance in the Senior Guides race, having only just graduated from the Under-17s race.  Her success meant that she had won every age category in the fell running programme at Grasmere in Cumbria – regarded as potentially the most prestigious fell running event of all and one whose heritage stretches back to the mid-19th century.

Charlotte last year scooped the glittering Wakefield Rose Bowl trophy, donated by the Wakefield family, whose members included Lord Wakefield, a former England rugby union captain.

She will be defending the title this year, bar any mishaps, seeking to improve on her time of 16 minutes and three seconds, although believing that it would take a perfect run to beat the ladies record of 15 minutes and 5 seconds.  This was set in 2017, by Victoria Wilkinson and there is £500 on offer to anyone who can better it.

Anything can happen on a fell that involves a 294-metre ascent and descent, plus obstacles such as wall, fence, rock, boulders and bracken, enroute to the finish line.  In the podcast, Charlotte explains how she has previously followed the wrong course – but still managed to win – and how, when it comes to the obstacles, there is no time to think but simply use instinct to jump them.  She also highlights how it is virtually impossible to apply the brakes on the way down.

The whole event is a fantastic day out for the family, who turned out in numbers to watch Charlotte last year. She must again wait for the entire day before heading to the start line for her race this year – something that is hard for a runner who likes to compete in the morning.  She does, however, credit the fairground teacups with contributing to her 2023 success! 

She eloquently describes the community feel to an event that many Yorkshire families cross the Pennines to experience, whether they are competing in fell racing, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, track events or hound trailing or not.  Many just love the great day out in the glorious Lake District landscape and the essence of what is still a very traditional event, the like of which is hard to find elsewhere these days.

She also describes how, on the approach to the finish line, she can hear whispers from the crowd, saying things such as: “This is the first woman home.”

With competitors able to enter on the day, and up to 15 minutes before the race, Charlotte has little or no idea of who she could be facing, other than friends with whom she tours the outdoor athletics circuit.  

Having just finished her A-levels, she is now taking a gap year out, in which she can focus more on an athletics career that could take her to a future Olympics, having already competed for England in international events. 

In the meantime, she will be looking forward to seeing the Olympics women’s 800-metre event, believing GB has some excellent athletes in that race.  She will also be dusting off her running shoes and heading to Grasmere for defence of her title on Sunday, August 25.

To see whether or not Charlotte can achieve her goal, head to the event yourself.  Best-value tickets can be bought in advance online, from www.grasmeresports.com You can also listen to the podcast with Charlotte at https://bit.ly/3WBAWD1

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.