Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show
Last updated at 13:14, Thursday, 01 September 2011
THE annual Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show was held on Sunday, and this year proved as popular and successful as ever.
The day’s events featured traditional Lakeland sports including Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, hound trailing, fell running and field racing, as well as the show’s blue ribbon event, the Senior Guides Race.
This year saw a record number of entries for the race, with 152 runners tackling the tough route up and down Castle Crag.
The event’s organisers also re-introduced the previously popular children’s 200m and 800m track racing.
Sports manager George Gale said: “It went down very well.
“The only reason why the racing was taken out many years ago was because, going back 15 years, sport and running wasn’t what people wished to see. So we brought in other things in the form of the arena acts. But now, people like to see athletics again.”
As well as featuring the more traditional Lakeland sports the show, which has been running for more than 160 years, has evolved over the years.
Many of the day’s events now aim to meet modern interests with Sunday’s acts including acrobatic performances and mountain biking displays. Mr Gale said: “We’ve got to keep moving with the times because that’s what people want.
“The event grows year on year, and once you start bringing in new things, plus bringing events like the track racing back in, more and more people hear about it and you get more and more competitors coming to take part.”
As well as the sports events, catering for competitors who travelled from all over the country to take part, there was plenty for families and non-sports people to enjoy throughout the day.
Entertainment included a pet dog show, a working terrier display and a family tug of war competition, and visitors were also able to browse more than 90 trade stands and enjoy performances from Barrow’s own pipe band. Mr Gale said: “It went very well, we had around 4,000 people here.
“We’re very pleased, and all the people here seem to have had a wonderful time.
“The track racing was a big success and will continue next year, and we’ll be looking to expand again by looking at what the people who came this year want to see in the future.”
First published at 10:28, Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Have your say
flat foot racing should never have been taken out.It's what kept the sports going for over 100 years.
Posted by GEORGE BURROW on 10 October 2011 at 00:05