With the Grasmere Sports now entering its 168th year, Jo Spencer looks back at its origins as the Lake District’s most renowned sporting event.

AS THE beautiful village of Grasmere prepares, once again, to welcome a cast of thousands to its most famous sporting event, it’s an extraordinary thought that the organisers of this historical affair were doing just the same in the mid-1800s.

The Grasmere Sports is steeped in rich history and tradition, and each year, welcomes visitors from all over the UK eager to witness Cumbrian tradition at its finest.

“We welcome in the region of 5,000 spectators each year,” explained Grasmere Sports Committee chairman Hal Bagot. “Of course, they come for the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, hound trails, fell running and dog shows, but they also come to be a part of one of Cumbria’s most historic events.”

The Grasmere Sports can trace its origins back to the mid-nineteenth century’s annual Grasmere Sheep Fair, which took place on the first Tuesday in September. The Sports were largely social occasions to round off the working day, but with shepherds, stone-wallers and strong young farmhands for hire, in attendance, it was entirely natural for a competitive element to be introduced into the garden fete atmosphere surrounding these fairs.

Wrestling on the village green in the evening following the Grasmere Rushbearing in August became a feature and has long been a sport associated with the county of Cumbria. In 1811, the Marquis of Queensbury and Lord Lonsdale were among 12,000 people watching the wrestling at Carlisle Races. In 1851, the Ulverston Sports hosted at least one major wrestling match for the championship of England, watched by 10,000 people.

The side bet of £300 was a tremendous amount of money; factory workers at that time were lucky to earn 15 shillings per week.

The most notable wrestling championships in the Lake District were held in Windermere at the Ferry Sports and Regatta. Visiting the Ferry Sports in 1858, Charles Dickens recorded that, between the lightweight and heavy weight wrestling: “There are all sorts of other amusements; running matches, for a mile or so; dog trails; jumping matches; but the greatest of all treats at the Ferry is the pole leaping.”

Undoubtedly the arrival of the railway to Windermere in 1847 provided easier access to the Lake District (for the upper-middle classes at least) and would no doubt have contributed to the increasing attendance and success of the Grasmere Sports.

In 1868, the Sports featured the first guides race (now fell race) to the top of Silver Howe, with wrestling, high jumping, pole vaulting, flat races and even a boat race in the programme, and from 1870, the Sports began to assume an increasing importance in the Lake District’s programme of events, with individuals such as the Earl of Cadogan, Earl of Lonsdale, Earl of Bradford and Sir Robert Farquhar, taking an interest in its planning and development.

Indeed, with Lord Lonsdale and other notable figures becoming 'Patrons', crowds swelled to more than 10,000 and Grasmere Sports became the place for athletes to compete and for ladies to parade the latest fashions.

Despite the modest prize money, winning a coveted wrestling belt at Grasmere became so much more important than a large cash sum elsewhere. The event cemented itself as the very best in the north of England.

Today, Grasmere Sports’ 15 board directors are charged with the careful and considered planning and execution of the event. The three main sports attractions remain the most popular: the fell race, Cumberland and Westmorland-style wrestling, and the hound trails, although the dog shows, children’s sprint races, long leap and veteran car display are increasingly favoured activities that have joined the more traditional pursuits.

This year, new acts, such as the H&M dog display team and ‘Dangerous Steve’, (who juggles fire and chainsaws), will add to a packed programme. Successfully blending the old and the new is a challenge – and a responsibility – as Hal explained: “As directors, we have a duty to retain and respect the heritage and tradition of this wonderful family event, whilst providing a fresh and modern approach to the activities we provide.

“We hope that Grasmere Sports will continue to thrive as the Lake District’s most famous sporting event.”

For more information about the Grasmere Sports 2018 event and to book tickets, please visit www.grasmeresports.com or call 07783 504029. (Online tickets: Adults: £11; children 5-14 years: £4; under 5s: free; On the gate: Adults: £12; children 5-14 years: £5; under 5s: free)