The historic Fell, or Guides Races have been part of Grasmere Sports from the very beginning. The first race was up Silver Howe in 1868 (a 1,300 feet/396 metre hill) and won by George Birkett in a time of 22 minutes and a prize of £3.
In 1919 the Sports moved to its current location and the new race was up Butter Crag (966 feet/294 metres) and was won by J Pooley with a time of 14 minutes and 26 seconds.
Between 1969 and 1979 there was a great rivalry between Fred Reeves and Tommy Sedgwick with Fred winning 8 times and Tommy three times. For the first time in history, times below 13 minutes were recorded with Tommy setting the record in 1976 of 12 minutes 24 seconds followed by Fred setting the current record of 12 minutes 21 seconds in 1978, which has yet to be beaten.
Since Fred set the record in 1978 there have only been 7 years where the time has been less than 13 minutes, notably by Rob Jebb in 2007 when he completed the course in 12 minutes 35 seconds.
Last year Jane Hunt interviewed Tommy Sedgwick (now the Sports' Bellman and once known as "brainless and brakeless") for a podcast about his experiences of fell running and it can be heard here:
www.podcastworld.io/episodes/fellrunning-in-grasmere-the-past-and-the-present-53g3odb8
Ladies first entered the Fell Race in 1984 when Lord Longsdale's daughter Caroline Lowther was the first to win the race. The current record holder is Victoria Wilkinson in 2017 with a time of 15 minutes and 5 seconds.
The current record for the Under 14 Guides race was set by Isla Jebb in 2024 with a time of 7 minutes 14 seconds. Conditions on the day were very wet indeed.
Entries for the races are all made on the day, and close 15 minutes before the start of each race. Full details of all the races (times approximate) are laid out below. Prizes and sponsors will be finalised in early July. as in previous years a prize of £500 will be awarded if the adult mens or ladies records are broken.
Prizes are given to "the first local" for each category. Locals are residents of Grasmere, Rydal, Chapel Stile, Skelwith, Elterwater, Wythburn & Loughrigg. Runners to specify which parish they are resident in, and proof of residency may be required.
All ages groups are ‘age on the day’ – evidence of age may be required.
12:50 Under 9’s Guides Race (lower age limit 6 years) – To first wall on fell and return
Records to date: Boys, James Bowen, 4min 20s (2013); Girls, Isla Jebb, 4min 52s (2019)
1st Boy £20 & medal; 2nd £15 & medal: 3rd £10 & medal
1st Girl £20 & medal; 2nd £15 & medal; 3rd £10 & medal
First Local £10
Sponsored by: Yew Tree Barn
First Local sponsored by: Taylor & Keeling Families
F11: Jack Payne Tray to the winner of the Under 9's Guides Race
13:40 Under 12’s Guides Race – To flags just over the wall and return
Records to date: Boys, Frazer Sproul 4min 45s (2015); Girls, Hannah Bethwaite 5min 17s (2007)
1st Boy £25 & medal; 2nd £20 & medal; 3rd £15 & medal
1st Girl £25 & medal; 2nd £20 & medal; 3rd £15 & medal
First Local £15
Sponsored by: Levens Hall
First Local sponsored by: Taylor & Keeling Families
14:30 Under 14’s Guides Race – To 2nd flag halfway up the fell and return
Records to date: Boys, Frazer Sproul 6min 33s (2017); Girls, Charlotte Rawstron 7min 26s (2019)
1st Boy £30 & medal; 2nd £25 & medal; 3rd £20 & medal
1st Girl £30 & medal; 2nd £25 & medal; 3rd £20 & medal
First Local £20
Sponsored by: UllswaterSteamers
First Local sponsored by: The Yan at Broadrayne
15:10 Under 17’s Guides Race
The English Hill Championship Event 2023 - Height of fell at turning point 208.78 m.
Records to date: Boys, G Moffat 9min 03s (1975); Girls, Eve Whittaker 11min 02s (2019)
1st Boy £60 & medal; 2nd £40 & medal; 3rd £25 & medal
1st Girl £60 & medal; 2nd £40 & medal; 3rd £25 & medal
First Local £25
Sponsored by: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
First Local sponsored by: Harrison Drury
F12: J & ME Batchelor Cup to the winner
F13: Tom Sedgwick Challenge Cup to the first girl
16:10 SENIOR GUIDES RACE
The World Famous English Hill Championship Event 2023 - Height of fell at turning point 294.437 m.
Records to date: Men, Fred Reeves 12min 21s (1978)
Lady, Victoria Wilkinson 15min 05s (2017)
£500 cash prize offered by Pete Bland Sports to the first person to break the record set by Fred Reeves in 1978.
£500 cash prize offered to the first lady who breaks the record set by Victoria Wilkinson in 2017
1st Man £175 & Championship Medal; 2nd £120 & medal; 3rd £90 & medal; 4th £70; 5th £60; 6th £45; 7th £35; 8th £25; 9th £20; 10th £15
Sponsored by: Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon
1st Lady £175 & medal; 2nd £120 & medal; 3rd £90 & medal; 4th £70; 5th £60; 6th £45
Sponsored by: Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon
F14: Wakefield Rode Bowl to the first Lady
1st Veteran £50 & medal; 2nd £25 & medal; 3rd £10 & medal
1st Lady Veteran £50 & medal; 2nd £25 & medal; 3rd £10 & medal
F15: E B Hart-Jackson Memorial Trophy to the first veteran
1st Local £50 & medal
Sponsored by: Yew Tree Barn
F16: Bill Teasdale King of the Fells Trophy to the first local
Updated: 6th August 2024
All ages groups are ‘age on the day’ – evidence of age may be required.
Entries for local categories, to state parish of residence - proof may be required.
The Showfield
Stock Lane
Grasmere
Cumbria
LA22 9SL
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