Grasmere Sports Spirit Shines Through the Storm Clouds

Out of adversity comes triumph and that was the spirit that shone through at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show on Sunday August 25, as the impacts of torrential rain were felt across the Lake District.

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show had already highlighted how its ownership of the show field and part of the fellside gives it an advantage when it comes to weather management.  Whilst other events had to cancel, it bravely faced the elements and allowed dedicated sports enthusiasts to realize their dreams.

One of these was Robbie Pigg, who retained his World Championship title in the Men’s Under-18s (10 Stone) Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling competition.

Another was Jack Brown, wrestling to retain his World Championship trophy unexpectedly in Grasmere, following a late switch, due to the cancellation of the Keswick Show.  Jack was still able to put in the performance that saw him taking home the silverware in the Men’s 12 Stone championship.

All eyes were on the mixed (boys and girls) under-12s contest, with the Roger Robson Memorial Trophy awarded for the first time.  With so many keen youngsters desperate to lift a trophy, the significance of which was not lost on them given Roger’s impact on the sport, the honour finally went to Ollie Stainton.

Members of the Robson family presented the trophy and went on to see Roger's grandson win second place in the Men's All Weights contest.

Rosie Hodgson shone in the ladies wrestling competition, being crowned Under-18 Girls winner and All Weights Ladies champion, for which she took home the new Lowther Plate trophy.  

Icelandic wrestler, Hákon Gunnarsson, wrestled to victory in the equivalent men’s competition, sealing a brilliant success for the visitors, who also gained a second place in the Ladies All-Weights, through Embla Guojonsdottir.

From the overseas wrestlers, there was also a notable victory for Anaëlle le Piolet. from the Breton team, in the 10 Stone Ladies contest, with third place going to French compatriot, Léa Quillien, who took part in a podcast for Grasmere Sports, ahead of the day.  Anaëlle also took third place in the ladies’ costume competition.  

Wrestling in what has been described as “clarty conditions”, cannot have been easy for anyone, but particularly the Icelanders and Bretons, who usually wrestle indoors and have different rules to abide by.

The very fact that only three hound trailing races were able to run, due to the conditions, demonstrates how tough things were.  The Puppy Trail race was won by Huntsman’s Time and the Open Restricted by Clementine. The Veteran Trail race was won by Monsoon.

Guts, determination and resilience were the order of the day on the fell, from the moment 24 under-9s registered for their age group’s fell race, getting a drenching even on the start-line.  George Williams of Keswick AC led the field home, demonstrating that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

The Under-12s fell race winner was Jos Jebb of Helm Hill Runners, following in a family tradition of picking up trophies at Grasmere Sports.  Olivia Stones, of Kendal AAC, was the first girl over the finish line.

The Under-17s race went to Oliver Oldham of Leven Valley, who just pipped Zeke Sumner of Ambleside AC, by six seconds. Millie Jebb continued the family’s success in this race too, by winning the women’s race, whilst Isla Jebb won the women’s under-14s race and Rob Jebb was second veteran home.

Despite the slippery and unfavourable conditions, there were still some remarkable performances in the fell races.  Although no records were ever likely to be broken, the winning time of 13.39, by Matthew Elkington of Ambleside AC, was very respectable.  2022 champion, Finlay Grant, took second place, whilst another Ambleside AC athlete, Jack Wright, took third.

Charlotte Rawstron, who was the guest interviewee on another podcast for Grasmere Sports ahead of the event, retained her Ladies Senior Guides title.  Charlotte did have many viewers of the ITV Calendar news programme behind her, however, having featured on the evening news programme across the Pennines, to talk about her quest to cross the Grasmere finish line first once again. Charlotte has won every age category in the Grasmere fell race programme, as well as her back-to-back Senior titles.

Whilst the weather may have proved detrimental to show visitor numbers, and hugely disappointing for traders, it did demonstrate the determination of everyone involved to keep calm and carry on.   A golden retriever proudly sported a blue rosette from the fun dog show, children tried their best to learn hula hooping with Dimitri the circus performer and the Fat Cat Brass Band got a musical set in, before steady raindrops transformed into a deluge.

Through all of this, what shone brightly was the ability of people to grit their teeth and get on with things – the spirit that has kept the Grasmere Sports Show alive for over 170 years.  Whilst the weather conditions cannot be controlled, especially in a time of climate change, the desire to keep on going, no matter what, cannot be dampened by a ’bit of weather.’

As Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show looks to be blessed with hopefully better conditions in 2025, it is urging the local community to come together and devise innovative ways of creating the bedrock of sustainability that this most traditional of cultural Cumbrian events requires.

It had banked on a great idea from sponsor Grasmere Distillery, to  help raise money for Pavilion renovations.  Here, it was to keep the financial proceeds from the alcohol sales achieved during the show, having had product supplied free of charge.  With the weather keeping crowd numbers low, this has not quite paid off but similar innovative thinking, by other key stakeholders in the local community is required, to make the venue a vibrant sporting and social hub within Grasmere and the surrounding area.

Similarly, the first strides to much-enhanced sustainability were somewhat quashed by the weather, as a trial of replacing throwaway plastic glasses with retainable, souvenir, reusable glasses, could not be fully tested.  ‘Greening’ the show, in such ways, is another ambition to carry forward into 2025.

The takeout of the 2024 show is that ‘it is what it is’.  Records were never going to be broken in these conditions but sporting achievement could still shine, demonstrating the passion of all exponents of their sport.

Chairman of Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, John Hibbert, says, “There were definite plus points to the event, despite the weather.  We clearly saw the passion that competitors and local families have for the event and their willingness to brave the conditions and do their very best. The parking team ensured that no cars required any assistance in getting out of the various field locations. Awareness of the show also grew considerably beyond Cumbria this year and that has to be a positive.  

“Taking the glass-half-full philosophy, there is much to build on for 2025, when the heavens may, hopefully, be kinder to Lake District culture and tradition.”

Planning for the 2025 show will start immediately.  Any local business wishing to play their part in supporting a show clearly embedded in the hearts of people, who will turn out in the worst of weather, is very much encouraged to get in touch, by emailing manager@grasmeresports.com

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.