Grasmere Sports 2016
After a night of torrential rain it was a pleasant surprise that the weather for the 166th annual Grasmere Sports and Show was dry and fine.
Adamson Brass Band
Proceedings were given a rousing start by the Adamson Brass Band, always a crowd pleaser.
Young Runners Grasmere
Young runners first and there were plenty of entrants for the sprint and fell races.
Fell Race Route Grasmere
Meanwhile the crowds were being entertained by Andy Jester who was keeping everyone amazed by a bit of nifty fire balancing and eating.
Andy Jester
Breathing Fire
Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling is always an important part of Grasmere Sports and this year the 11 stone World championships were held in Grasmere. I spotted competitors from Scotland who call their style “backhold”. There were also competitors from Brittany France recognisable by the word Gouren on their tops.
Grasmere Sports Wrestling
Icelandic Wrestler
Icelandic wrestlers also took part. Their style is called Glima. Glima was the most widespread sport in the Viking age, and was practiced by both men and women. Glima was so important to Viking society that their god Thor was also the Viking god of wrestling.
More info at http://www.cumberland-westmorland-wrestling-association.com
French Gouren Wrestler
Time for a cup of tea or coffee, thirsty work this Sports watching!
Thelma the Tiny Tearoom
A new addition this year was Thelma the Tiny Tearoom, while old friends were also doing good business at the Coffee Bug. Too much choice.
Coffee Bug
Elsewhere on the field our very own Taffy Thomas the Storyteller was keeping everyone entertained.
Taffy Thomas Grasmere Storyteller
Further along the field the hounds were going through their paces.
Hounds at Grasmere
Hound trailing is a very popular event. More information can be found here. http://www.houndtrailing.org.uk
Fell gathers Roadshow
Animals of another type were also attracting attention. Herdwick and other breeds of sheep were shown and discussed.
Sheep Watching
It’s always good to see children taking part in the good old classic egg and spoon, Sack race and three legged race.
Three legged race
and parents like to get involved too. Balancing a bean bag was very popular with parent and child teams.
Family races at Grasmere
Of course the main feature at Grasmere are the Guides Races. An amazing feat as runners head up and down the fell side. This year there was a bonus £500 to run for, for both men or ladies beating the current records. No records broken this year so the money rolls over again to next year.
Senior Guides Race Grasmere
I really don’t think there is a finer sight than all the runners streaming up the fell side.
Grasmere Race close finish
It was an exciting race to the finish!
Guides Race Winners 2016
Well done Sam Tosh, Simon Bailey and Rob Hope.
The ladies weren’t far behind.
Female Grasmere race winners
Sharon Taylor, Steph Curtis and Ruby Sykes ran a brilliant race.
Grasmere Tigers
I noticed one of our oldest residents Mary watching the race. Wonder what she thought of the two tigers next to her? Mind you there have been reports of a large black cat like animal at Penny Rock so watch out!
While the race was on I had been keeping an eye on a special bunch of runners. I had met them earlier as they prepared to race for the Rosemere Cancer charity http://www.rosemere.org.uk
Rosemere Foundation Runners
Fresh and raring to go, they still had a smile on their faces right at the end!
Made it to the finish
A friend of mine Alison comes up from York especially to help at Grasmere Sports. She took this great photo of the Guides race flag the night before.
Guides Race Flag Grasmere by Alison Taylor
So it will be the 167th Grasmere Sports Next year to look forward to. We do however have another sporting event passing through the village this Monday. The Tour of Britain is cycling through Grasmere this Monday. Can’t wait as several Olympians will be taking part. Just got to decide where to watch it.
Grasmere Rushbearing 2016
Grasmere Rushbearing 2016 was rather a wet one. It became obvious fairly early on in the day that the rain wasn’t going to ease up.
Grasmere Rushbearing Maiden
With good spirit everyone dressed for the weather and started to parade through the town.
Procession passes along Churchstile
I thought the owner of Bridge House Hotel in the centre of this photo looked rather happy about something and later discovered she had become a Grandmother for the second time very early that morning!
Singing the Rushbearing Hymn
Normally everyone gathers on the village green to sing the traditional Rushbearing hymns but the ground was a bit soggy so a stop was made on College Street instead.
Grasmere Rushbearing Maidens
I couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for the Rushbearing maidens. While everyone else had the benefit of a waterproof coat they had to tough it out in traditional costume.
A rather wet Rushbearing
I noticed more than one person dashing in to Lucia’s for a takeaway coffee to warm up with.
Children in the parade
Time to head back to St Oswald’s Church
Bearings and Umbrellas
I think umbrellas brighten up the parade on a rainy day.
Processing down Church Stile Grasmere
Taffy Thomas the storyteller always has a good view point from the Storytellers Garden.
A welcome sight
Back at church and time to get inside and dry off before a welcome cup of tea.
Grasmere Rushbearing Parade
Now all the time I was watching there was one thing that I kept thinking. How heavy must the cloth the Rushbearing Maidens were carrying have got as it was absolutely sodden by the end.
Grasmere Rushbearing Maidens 2016
So well done girls you did a great job!
Anyone who wants to see photos of sunny Rushbearing parades need look no further than this blog. You win some and you lose some but no matter the weather the show goes on.
Grasmere Celebrates The Queen’s 90th Birthday
We really have been having some gorgeous weather in Grasmere recently. It has been wonderful to see people sitting outside pubs and cafes soaking up the sunshine. Business has picked up since the A591 has reopened and things are more or less back to normal.
Grasmere flags are flying
Almost overnight flags have appeared in the village as Grasmere gets ready to celebrate The Queen’s 90th Birthday.
Grasmere celebrations
If you are in Grasmere on Saturday 11th June why not come and join us. From 1-4pm we will be inviting people to bring their own picnic to the park. A little bird tells me The Wordsworth Hotel and Spa might even be offering complementary strawberries and cream.
Miller Howe Cafe Grasmere
In the park on Saturday there will be sports and trophies for all ages, Kendal Concert Band will be playing and Grasmere Glee Club. Grasmere Players will also be performing.
Heaton Cooper Grasmere Window
On Sunday 12th June at 4pm there will be a service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s Life.
St Oswald’s Church Grasmere
A well known face in Grasmere Cameron Butland will be back to lead the service and there will be tea and cake for everyone afterwards.
St Oswald’s Grasmere
So as you can see we are all ready to celebrate, lets hope the weather holds out just a little longer.
Grasmere Village
How many more flags will spring up tomorrow?
Cunninghams Grasmere
You will just have to visit us and see over the weekend.
Mountain Warehouse Grasmere
Written in memory of my Father in law who built the shop above. Long time lover and resident of Grasmere.
Eric Shaw. Died 25/5/2016 a month from his 99th Birthday.
Eric Grasmere Sports aged 7
Grasmere Rushbearing 2015
Doesn’t time fly past. Another year another Rushbearing Ceremony in Grasmere.
Hope Rules A Land Forever Green
I have written about the history of Grasmere Rushbearing many times in this blog, but it never fails to be one of my favourite days in the village.
Grasmere Rushbearing 2015
After a weather forecast that wasn’t looking good at all, the procession took place with dry weather. I was actually at work but dashed down the hill to view the procession and take some photos. I always have a dilemma about where to stand but my good friend Taffy the Grasmere Storyteller took the decision out of my hands when he offered a cup of tea in the Storytellers Garden to enjoy while watching.
Enjoying a cuppa with Taffy
A great Lake District tradition begins.
Hold these banners high
And here comes the band.
Here comes the band
Villagers young and old(er) took part.
Children enjoy the parade
Even our local thespian Doctor takes part. Still can’t forget his performance as Toad of Toad Hall in Grasmere Players production a few years ago.
As always the highlight of the parade are the Rushbearing Maidens.
Rushbearing Maidens 2015
Rushbearing Maidens
Through the village they process until they reach Moss Parrock in the centre of the village for the Rushbearing hymn. Back through the village again to the Church.
Return journey
Alex who was holding the cross at the start of the parade had been baking scones all day at National Trust Allan Bank and literally ran down the hill to take part. He looks amazingly relaxed! By now these bearings feel heavier and heavier!.
Back to church
The Rev’d Cameron Butland leads the way back to church for the Rushbearing service. A little bird tells me this may be his last Grasmere Rushbearing Parade.
Grasmere Rushbearing 2015
So another Rushbearing Parade escaped the rain! See you in 2016.
A good friend who I met through the wonders of Twitter @Loftylion9 was watching the parade with me. She took the beautiful shot below and gave me permission to use it.
Rushbearing Maidens
Below is a link to the history of Rushbearing that I previously wrote on this blog.
https://grasmerevillage.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/grasmere-rushbearing-ceremony
Glorious Grasmere
A family gathering and a staycation in Grasmere. It’s not often you book in to a Hotel which is just a few steps from your own front door. With people arriving from Scotland, Manchester and London, it was suggested we all book in to a Hotel so no one had to cook or organise anything. It was brilliant! The weather was extremely kind and the Bridge House Hotel couldn’t have been more perfect. Ample parking in the centre of the village, lovely grounds to sit in, and the food… well the food was just amazing. As we had young children visiting the option of a smaller portion of a main meal or a kid’s meal was ideal.
Glorious Grasmere
As we were being fed so well, a bit of exercise was needed. With ages ranging from three to eighty three a walk round the lake seemed like the best plan. Having procured bread from the hotel kitchen to feed the ducks, off we set….. and didn’t get far. As we had a few tea lovers with us, we had to stop at Faeryland tea gardens on the waters edge. They have the most amazing range of teas, and everyone enjoyed the selection. There was a brief debate about whether to go out in a rowing boat but we decided to stick to the original plan.
Rowing Boats at Grasmere
Although the start of the walk is on Red Bank road, it is not long till you come to a house with a red postbox in the wall and just beyond, the path to the lake shore. The sun was blazing down (not often I get to write this) and everyone was desperate to reach the water and have a paddle.
Time for a paddle
Another young member of the family suddenly spotted Allan Bank the National Trust property in the distance, and had to be bribed with a visit the next day to keep him walking! Loads of fun for everyone and he had remembered a previous visit.
Look! Allan Bank!
Another distraction was just along the path. Children love this tree.
Grasmere Tree
It was fantastic to see everyone enjoying the sunshine. The beach at the end of the lake was packed with people.
Sunny Grasmere
There really is nowhere better than Grasmere when the weather is kind. People were starting to flag a bit, so we decided to come back through Penny Rock woods and walk along the pavement at the side of the lake.
Grasmere Beach
The thought of a drink on the terrace at the Daffodil Hotel kept everyone going. While the older members of the family enjoyed the views and refreshment, the younger ones were still full of energy and found an old boat in the grounds to play on.
Help me up!
“Did you enjoy your walk” I asked ? I think the answer was clear!
Grasmere fun
Definitely a Glorious day in Grasmere, and a perfect walk for all ages. Even better no meals to make that evening. Who says holidaying in your own village can’t be fun.
Let The Games Begin. Grasmere Sports 2012
The Olympics may have been held in London this year, but here in Grasmere we have our own “Olympics” every year.
Young Guides Race Winners
The 162nd World Famous Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show was held this Bank Holiday weekend. As usual competitors arrived from many countries not just locally.
Breton Wrestling Competitor
I have written previously about the history of the sports in this blog so let’s just have a look at events this year.
Young Wrestlers
One of the most popular events is the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling. Different Countries have different styles. Switzerland has Schwingen, Iceland has Glima, Brittany has Gouren, and Britain has Cornish style and of course the famous Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling. As you can see above, they start them young!
Weighing in at the wrestling
Once the referee says “Wrestle” they start and the crowd really gets behind it. It’s quite a quick sport and you can easily pick up the finer points.
Wrestling Grasmere Sports
Generally the usual way to win is to get your opponent down on the ground so that he touches the ground with any part of the body except the soles of his feet before you do. You can also win if a wrestler breaks his hold.
Up and Over. Cumberland Wrestling
Of course like every sport there are correct terms for different techniques. Dog-falls, hanks, hipes and chips are some of the terminology you will hear as they battle it out.
Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
“Best of Three” is the winner. In case you think it’s only the men who wrestle, I can assure you the women take part too.
Female Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
So many shows have been cancelled because of the rain we have had this summer. In fact I was at a show earlier in the week where they were hauling the cars on to the sports field by tractor. Now i’ve seen cars being hauled off many a time but never on!. So the first part of the morning had gone well at Grasmere, then the heavens opened.
Rain at Grasmere Sports
It was only a downpour of about 20 minutes but it certainly had folk scurrying for cover. I don’t think the craft tents knew what had hit them. Luckily it was over quickly and the rest of the day was fantastic with warm sunshine. However it made the fells a bit slippy for the fell running.
Here comes the band
The Guides Races are the highlight of Grasmere Sports and the band appeared to send off the runners in the Senior Guides Race.
Ready to start. Senior Guides Race Grasmere
Last year there was a field of over 140 competitors, the most ever. This year that record was broken and 191 people took part.
Guide Race Route Grasmere Sports
And off they went, streaming across the main road on the way up to the summit of Butter Crags.
Grasmere Sports Senior Guide Race
And it wasn’t long till the leaders were breaking away and they had reached the first wall.
Onwards and Upwards Grasmere Sports
Fred Reeves set the record for the Senior Guides Race in 1978 so there is always a bit of excitement that this will be the year that it’s broken.
Rob Hope Senior Guides Race Winner Grasmere
Great times, but no record breaking this year, so Pete Bland Sports can keep the £500 additional prize money they put up again this year.
Senior Guides Race Winners Grasmere 2012
First was Rob Hope, Second, Rob Jebb and Third, Mike Addison. Note to parents. Perhaps if you want to raise a future fell runner it might be an idea to call them Rob!
First Woman Home, Grasmere Senior Guides Race 2012
And the winners kept coming.
First Veteran Home. Grasmere Sports 2012
It’s all in the taking part. And while many may not have broken any records they can be proud of the effort they put in. Even our local MP took part again.
MP Tim Farron. Grasmere Sports 2012
Now earlier I mentioned that sudden downpour we had and that it had made the fell side slippy. Well not everyone came out unscathed. One competitor fell near the top and had a damaged ankle. Additional entertainment was provided by Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue having to attend. They were heading up the hill as the last runners were still coming down. Mind you they were on the field already.
LAMRT Head up the hill at Grasmere Sports
So that’s my round up of Grasmere Sports for this year, and here comes Bellman Mr Tommy Sedgwick to ring the bell and finish this year’s events. Today he used the bell that was used to open the sports in 1885.
Tommy Sedgwick. Bellman Grasmere Sports
Hope to see you at Grasmere Sports next year,
A Perfect Summer Day in Grasmere.
A few weeks ago we had a little taste of what Summer should be like in Grasmere.
Rowing Boats Grasmere
A certain family member had been wanting to go out on a rowing boat on Grasmere for ages and I had kept saying it was too cold.
Ready to go, Boats at Grasmere
Trust me to land myself without an excuse when I woke to the most beautiful sunny morning and went into the kitchen announcing “isn’t it warm today”. That was it, rowing boat day had arrived!
Grasmere Reflections
To be honest I had a reason to go out on the lake myself, but once it was agreed that I was taking photos and not rowing I really started enjoying myself.
Helm Crag Grasmere from the Lake
It was a stunning day weather wise and still early so not many folk about.
Rounding the island Grasmere
We headed out to the Island in the centre of the mere. This got me thinking as we got nearer and nearer, how much it had got overgrown. I can’t remember the last time I saw the farmer taking sheep across to graze on a rowing boat. It used to be a regular occurrence. It was also common for flocks of sheep to be brought down Stock Lane in the centre of the village. Quite often the cry of “sheep!” prompted us to run and close our shop doors, in case they decided to pay a visit. I never had sheep in the shop but I did once have a flock tramp through the house when someone who shall remain nameless left the front gate and front door open!. A very “sheepish” (sorry couldn’t resist that) farmer appeared at the door with a box of chocolates to apologise.
Canoe on Grasmere
A few more lake users were appearing so we headed over to have a look at the new Waterside Hotel. Formerly the Prince of Wales it is due to open this Summer.
Waterside Hotel Grasmere
I had been desperate to see what it looked like from the water, and this was the perfect view.
Waterside Hotel
It was good to see what was happening from a different angle.
Balcony Waterside Hotel
There will be some lovely views from these windows. Time was moving on so we went round by the Waterside Boathouse and rowed to the top of the lake.
Waterside Hotel Boathouse
It was a quick row to the top of the lake, and by now the sun was really shining.
Rowing on Grasmere
Walkers were appearing on the walk round the shore.
Lake Shore Walk Grasmere
The views are stunning in every direction from the lake, it really is the most perfect place to take in the surroundings.
Looking down the lake
It looked as though lots of people were starting to get the same idea as us, and more boats were appearing as we headed back to Faeryland where we had started from.
Rowing on Grasmere
Nesting on the bank just before we got back to the landing stage were some swans, we just had time to watch them enjoying the sun.
Swans Grasmere
Then just before we docked we spotted a Heron in the shallows.
Grasmere Heron
Feeling guilty that I hadn’t done a single bit of rowing, I felt it only right to offer refreshments. A pot of Faeryland’s own blend tea.
Tea at Faeryland Grasmere
So a perfect sunny day in Grasmere. No need to open an umbrella. Well not for the usual reasons anyway!
A perfect day for rowing on Grasmere
