TRADITION and community were at the heart of this year's Ambleside Sports, with many of its highlights coming from the bright young stars of the future.

Hundreds gathered around Rydal Park to enjoy five packed hours worth of traditional sports and racing.

The first event of the day, the nine-mile Rydal Round, kicked off proceedings with 115 runners making their way around the Fairfield Horseshoe.

Simon Bailey was champion, making it around in 1hr 23mins 37secs and Ambleside runner Kelli Roberts was first lady back with a time of 1hr 40mins 9secs.

"I enjoyed it," she said. "It was slippy. It felt alright. The first bit was quite fast but then it got quite cold."

A total of 95 racers took on the day's blue riband event, the senior guides fell race. It was Pudsey & Bramley's Rob Hope, who also took first place at Coniston Country Fair's fell race, who won the event with a time of 14mins 15secs.

"I had so much lactic from Coniston Country Fair still that I thought this is going to be really hard," he said. "I warmed up into it and myself and Joss had a really good battle all the way to the top and we stayed together until halfway down and then he tripped over and I just got passed him and just held off until the end."

In the under-14 guides race it was the promising Fraser Sproul who took victory. Having finished second in the national Inter-Counties Club Championships earlier this year, he made it over the finishing line after 11mins 47secs.

"I was happy because I've been at high altitude recently training in Italy," the 13-year-old Sedbergh School student said. "And I came back and was struggling to breathe a bit so I wasn't too sure and was very nervous."

Meanwhile, the under-12 guides race proved hugely popular with 91 runners taking part and Dexta Thomspon finishing first with a time of 8mins 42secs.

It was Olesia Winder who was the first girl to finish the race, with a time of 9mins 42secs. It was the second year in a row that the 12-year-old had taken the win for the girls. Proud dad and running coach Tim Winder watched her cross the line.

"I like the competitiveness of the day and you always got loads running," he said. "We're getting a lot of younger ones at the club now."

And family was at the heart of the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling matches. Thomas Brocklebank took the win in the All Weights, beating his brothers Ben and Graham for the title.

In the ladies open it was Dent's Connie Hodgson, who last year won the All Weights World Championship and comes from a family with a wrestling heritage. The 21-year-old is keen to promote the sport.

"We've been going around the local schools and there are some good wrestlers girls and boys so it would be good for some of them to get involved," she said.

Katie Lukas of the Beacon Wheelers cleaned up in the cycling, taking victory in the ladies 500m, 800m and the 1500m.

New for this year was The Gerry Meneaud Memorial Trophy, awarded to the top hound trailer of the day, Alan Little and his hound Jenny's Delight.

Mr Meneaud was a keen committee member for Ambleside Sports who sadly passed away last year.

Chair of the committee, Jak Hirst, said: "I've got a feeling he's looking down on us and smiling that we're keeping it going."

Mr Hirst said that he had been 'well impressed' with how the day had gone. He highlighted the number of young people who had helped make the event happen.

"It is really fantastic," he said. "Somehow or other lots of organisations, once the generation leaving it go the follow up isn't there and lots of things seem to die. I think seeing all the young helpers we've had coming along, I'm sure the future is there."

Track

Junior Under 17, 90m - James Barlow

Under 17, 200m - James Barlow

Under 17, 400m - Melissa Sproul

Under 17 800m - Alexander Thompson

Senior 90m - Craig Sowerby

Senior 200m - David Hush

Senior 400m - Lea Stephenson

Senior 800m - Luke Bowen

Senior 1600m - Greg Walker

Track athlete of the day

Luke Bowen

Rydal Round

First man - Simon Bailey

First lady - Kelli Roberts

Under 12 guides

First boy - Dexta Thomspon

First girl - Olesia Winder

Under 14 guides

First boy - Fraser Sproul

First girl - Alice Jones

Under 17 guides

First boy - Joe Hudson

First girl - Rosie Woodhams

Senior guides

First man - Rob Hope

First lady - Hannah Horseborough

Cycle

Junior 300m - Scott Fisher

Junior 800m - Felix Cooper

Ladies 500m, 800m and 1500m, Katie Lukas

Mens 500m - Rowan Elliott

Mens 800m - David Mitchinson

Mens 3200m - Travis Pell

Devil Take the Hindmost - David Mitchinson

Hound Trail

Senior - Jenny's Delight (Gerry Meneaud trophy)

Senior maiden's - Come Home Alfie

Pups - Overwater Stanley

Puppy maidens - Steel End

Open Restricted - Jenny's Rose

Wrestling under 12 - Rosie Hodgson

Girls under 13 - Gemma Coulthard

Boys under 15 - Thomas Davidson

Under 18 - George Wilson

Boys under 8 stone - Tyke Benson

Ladies 10.5 - Connie Hodgson

Ladies Open - Connie Hodgson

11.5 stone - Jack Brown

12.5 stone - Jack Brown

14 stone - Richard Walton

All weights - Thomas Brocklebank

Senior costume - Jack Brown

Junior costume - Gemma Coulthard

Overall winner - Gemma Coulthard