Ambleside celebrates its annual Rushbearing (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Ambleside celebrates its annual Rushbearing

12:46pm Monday 9th July 2012 in News

AMBLESIDE Rushbearing took place in bright sunshine last Saturday to prove the local saying: “It never rains on Rushbearing”.

Local children re-enacted the ancient custom of Rushbearing, processing round the village with flower-decked bunches of newly-picked sweet-smelling rushes, once used as insulation on the ancient earthen floors of churches.

The tradition died when stone flags replaced earth floors, but continues in Cumbria at Ambleside, Grasmere, Warcop, Great Musgrave and Urswick.

The traditional bearing of the Harp of David was carried by Luke Todd and the World by Gerrard Meneaud. The churchwardens’ staves were carried by Jane Gomersall and Rodney Potts and the Crown by Christine Wright.

In place of honour near the front of the procession was Jessie Wilson, who at 101 has seen a century of Rushbearings. Children, teachers and helpers followed carrying their decorated bunches of rushes, with younger family members in flower-decked prams.

Led by Burneside Brass Band, the procession paused at the Market Place for the raising of the bearings and the singing of the Rushbearing hymn. An open air service followed outside St Mary’s Parish Church conducted by the Loughrigg Team Rector, the Rev Tim Ball, who related the Biblical story of Moses in the bullrushes. The bearings were carried into church for the end of the service, after which everyone received the traditional reward of a slice of gingerbread, with tea for the children.

Ambleside Fire Fighters organised the Rushbearing Sports which followed. The Clive Braithwaite Memorial Silver Cups for the first boy and first girl home in the Loughrigg Fell Race was won by Luke Bowen (12mins and 38 secs) and Alice Boston (15 mins and 3 secs).

The top three winning boys and girls were all presented with free family tickets and entry to the Junior Guides Race at Ambleside Sports on July 26.

Rushbearing Sports were organised by Ambleside’s firefighters and results were: Flat Race, Pre-School Girls: 1 Connie Irvin; 2 Kara Vandermerwe; 3 Lucy Dixon. Pre-School Boys: 1 Thomas Elliott; 2 Terry Wood; 3 Jamie Bowe. Nursery Girls: 1 Lily Marsh; 2 Erin Kirkham; 3 Alice Robinson. Nursery Boys, 1 Cameron Baxter; 2 Charlie Scott; 3 Alfie Scott. Reception Girls: 1 Jessica Crowe; 2 Ruby Elliott; 3 Olivia Claife. Reception Boys: 1 Charlie Blackburn; 2 Jack Scott; 3 Paddy Wood. Year 1 Girls: 1 Maisie Evans. Year 1 Boys: 1 Danny Lafferty; 2 George Evans; 3 Sonny Marsh. Year 2 Girls: 1 Amelie Tyson; 2 Fabienne Meschino; 3 Molly Savage. Year 2 Boys: 1 Harry Bowen; 2 James Bowen; 3 Edward Lilly..

Egg and Spoon Race, Pre-School Girls: 1 Connie Irvin; 2 Lucy Dixon; 3 Josie Thompson. Pre-School Boys: 2 Terry Wood; 3 Tom Ashworth. Nursery Girls: 1 Lily Marsh; 2 Erin Kirkham; 3 Alice Robinson. Nursery Boys: 1 Charlie Scott; 2 Cameron Baxter; 3 Joseph Britt. Reception Girls: 1 Jessica Crowe; 2 Ruby Elliott; 3 Olivia Claife. Reception Boys: 1 Samuel Bowe; 2 Paddy Wood; 3 Rowan Ashworth. Year 1 Girls: 1 Kayleigh Cornish; 2 Fabienne Meschino; 3 Amelie Tyson. Year 1 Boys: 1 Sonny Marsh; 2 George Evans; 3 Danny Lafferty. Year 2 Boys: 1 Edward Lilly; 2 James Bowen; 3 Harry Bowen.

Flat Race 70 metres: Year 3 Girls: 1 Libby Scaife; 2 Bethan Rowley; 3 Giselle Meschino. Year 3 Boys: 1Gordon Blackburn; 2 Alex Jackson; 3 Daniel Sanderson. Year 4 Girls: 1 Tessa Knowles; 2 Emily Scott; 3 Lisa Morton. Year 4 Boys: 1 Alfie Savage; 2 Rio Clarke; 3 Tom Burke. Year 5 Girls: 1 Lucy Beetham; 2 Laura Balding; 3 Ellie Crook. Year 5 Boys: 1 Barney Brendling; 2 Harry Sanderson; 3 Ben Faulkner. Year 6 Girls: 1 Sophie Dean; 2 Alice Boston; 3 Megan Wisse. Year 6 Boys: 1 Sam Rhone; 2 Andrew Brotherton; 3 Alexander Knowles.

Three Legged Race 50 metres, Year 3 Girls: 1 Lisa Morton & Molly Wisse; 2 Bethan Rowley & Georgia Britt; 3 Sadie Irvin & Josie Brown. Year 3 Boys: 1 Danny Sanderson & Alex Jackson; 2 Josh Dixon & Gordon Blackburn. Year 4 Girls: 1 Faye Logan & Emily Scott; 2 Lisa Morton & Molly Wisse; 3 Tessa Knowles & Martha Jaworski. Year 4 Boys: 1 Danny Sanderson & Tom Burke; 2 Alfie Savage & Rio Clarke. Year 5 Girls: 1 Lucy Beetham & Laura Balding; 2 Jessica Britt & Kirsten Larsson; 3 Ellie Crook & Melissa Walker. Year 5 Boys: 1 Mark Halton & Nathan Tyson; 2 Barney Brendling & Ben Faulkner. Year 6 Girls: 1 Sophie Dean & Jemma Blackwell; 2 Shannon Lafferty & Indiana M Green; 3 Alice Boston & Megan Wisse. Year 6 Boys: 1 Andrew Brotherton & Sam Rhone; 2 Alexander Knowles & Harrison M Green. Secondary Girls: 1 Olivia McGee & Keeley Snowden.

Sack Race, Year 3 Girls: 1 Bethan Rowley; 2 Libby Scaife; 3 Josie Brown. Year 3 Boys: 1 Daniel Sanderson; 2 Gordon Blackburn; 3 Alex Jackson. Year 4 Girls: 1 Lisa Morton; 2 Tessa Knowles; 3 Faye Logan. Year 4 Boys: 1 Alfie Savage; 2 Rio Clarke; 3 Tom Burke. Year 5 Girls: 1 Lucy Beetham; 2 Laura Balding; 3 Kirsten Larsson. Year 5 Boys: 1 Harry Sanderson; 2 Barney Brendling; 3 Nathan Tyson. Year 6 Girls: 1 Indiana M Green; 2 Jemma Blackwell; 3 Shannon Lafferty. Year 6 Boys: 1 Sam Rhone; 2 Andrew Brotherton; 3 Alexander Knowles. Secondary Girls: 1 Olivia McGee; 2 Keeley Snowden; 3 Hannah Durkin.