Legend Details What it Will Take to Beat the ‘Olympics’ Fell Running Record

The history of fell running will fall under the spotlight at the weekend, as those watching the Senior Guides race at Grasmere Sports again wonder whether Fred Reeves’ long-standing 1978 record of can finally be broken.

That question has been put to Tommy Sedgwick, Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Bellman for some years,  with the honour of officially opening the show.   If anyone is suited to advise, it is Tommy, as he came second in that 1978 race, in which he saw Fred take his record, set two years earlier in 1976 - a heatwave year.

Described as “brainless and brakeless” because of his fearless descent of the 295 metre fell, in which he did nothing to slow himself down, Tommy was a sight to behold whenever heading down from the fell’s summit.

The rivalry between Tommy and Fred has seen no equal since the 1970s.  In the eleven years between 1969 and 1979, Fred won eight of the Senior Guides races at Grasmere and Tommy won the other three, as well as finishing second to Fred on each occasion.  Tommy’s own major triumphs came at Alva in Scotland, where he won an incredible 12 times.

When quizzed about the likelihood of Fred’s record being broken, for a podcast ahead of Grasmere Sports 2023, Tommy says “I’m sure it will be”.  He goes on to talk about the focus he and Fred specifically placed on training for and winning Grasmere, however, and believes it will take that same commitment to the Grasmere Sports course, to take the record.

The fascinating insight into the rivalry but great friendship between the pair of fell racing icons, is already generating great interest, in terms of downloads.  The commitment shown to the sport shines through, as both Tommy and Fred battled to win at Grasmere – an event that fell racing guru, Pete Bland, described as the ‘Olympics’ of fell running.

Tommy also believes there are good youngsters coming through the ranks who could take the record, if they progress as well as he believes they can. Three of the junior fell runners who have already had successes are interviewed on the podcast too and their enthusiasm for the sport is evident.  All are running at Grasmere Sports on Sunday August 27.

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s Sports and Field manager, Deborah Black, says, “Tommy was a legend and we are proud to have him as our Bellman.  As the podcast explains, that decision was inspired by a friend who never got to see him in the role, so it is a poignant thing for him to do but something he loves.  He is rich in stories and these really bring the sport of fell racing alive, for both those involved in it and those who know nothing about it but will be compelled to see competitors in action, once they have listened to his words.”

Fred Reeves’ record for the 1.5-mile course stands at 12 minutes 21.6 seconds.   Last year’s Senior Guides race winner, Grant Finlay, recorded 13 minutes and 32 seconds, the sort of time many winners have achieved in the past few decades.  Whether anyone has focused on Grasmere, as the iconic race to win, will only be known once runners return on Sunday.

The Senior Guides Race is the climax of Grasmere Sports’ fell racing programme and is scheduled for 4.10pm.  Fell racing starts with the Under 9s race, at 12.50pm.

The Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show is also staging the World Championship in the All Weights category of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, with that scheduled for 15.30pm as the climax to the day’s wrestling programme.  With Breton, Icelandic and Scottish wrestlers back in Grasmere this year, after a pandemic absence, all eyes should be on the wrestling arena, as well as the fells.

Hound trail races will be run between 11am and 13.40pm and track and field races from 10.30am.  Anyone can enter these, fell racing and the wrestling contests, on the day.

A children’s circus workshop and show by Fire Man Dave, entertainment from Fat Cat Brass and Badman Soul, classic car display, dog show, Meet the Hound Trail Puppy and food and drink stalls will keep everyone busy in-between sporting action.  Children can also try out bicycles of all shapes and sizes, from a penny-farthing to an unrideable bike, courtesy of Wonder Wheelers.

Online tickets, at a reduced price, will be available until Saturday evening.  Head to www.grasmeresports.com to buy those, or else pay a few pounds more, at the gate, on Sunday August 27.  The doors open at 9am and the show opens at 10am, when Tommy Sedgwick rings the bell.

Those wanting to listen to the Tommy Sedgwick podcast will find it here bit.ly/3OFQQHn

 or on the Poodling Around podcast at Apple, Google, Spotify and other major podcast sources.

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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.