2024 Fell Races Programme

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.

From 12:50 Onwards

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

Entries for the races are all made on the day, and close 15 minutes before the start of each race.

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.

Our Details

Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show

The Showfield

Stock Lane

Grasmere

Cumbria

LA22 9SL

Copyright

Much of the content on this website is copyright of ‘Grasmere Sports – The First 150 Years’ and must not be copied,reproduced or distributed in any way without the express permission of the author.

2024 Fell Races Programme