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  1. Traditional Lakeland Sports
    Traditional Sports

You are here: Home > What's On > Challenge Events > Traditional Sports

Traditional Sports

From horse leaping and pipe-smoking to open-air wrestling and sheep shows, the choice of peculiar sports is remarkable – and in some cases, very old: the Egremont Crab Fair has been running since 1267, while the sport of hound trailing began in the middle of the 18th century. Test your fell running fitness at the annual Grasmere Gallop, or try some ghyll scrambling. Get down and dirty with a bout of Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling, held at local shows throughout the summer months. Most of Cumbria’s traditional sports are rooted firmly in the countryside, and are designed to celebrate the changing seasons and a host of agricultural pursuits. Although that doesn’t explain why there should be a competition to crown the world’s biggest liar or who can pull the best face…
 

Highlights

Runners at the Appleby Rotary 10k and Eden Valley Fun Run in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria
Appleby Rotary 10k and Eden Valley Fun Run

A 10k fast scenic one lap road race on a slightly undulating course set in the stunning Eden valley…

Wild GOAT Festival at Holker Hall in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria
Wild GOAT Festival

Join us at the Wild Goat Festival for a mix of Sporting Events, Music, Food and heaps of fun…

Flyer for Birkett Trophy Cruise with Ullswater 'Steamers' in the Lake District, Cumbria
Birkett Trophy Cruise with Ullswater 'Steamers'

Come along and join our spectator cruise for the Ullswater Yacht Club's biggest event of the year,…

Trail Runners on the Montane Trail 10 & 20 Ullswater Way in the Lake District, Cumbria
Montane Trail 10 & 20 Ullswater Way

The Montane Trail 10 & 20 Ullswater Way starts and finishes at Jenkins Field in Glenridding. The…

Advert for THE LAP Running Event in Ambleside, Lake District
THE LAP

THE LAP is a 47mile trail running ultra marathon, open to runners and walkers that circumnavigates…

Horses Jumping at Summer Jump Horse Racing at Cartmel Racecourse in Cartmel, Cumbria
Summer Jump Horse Racing

An exciting day out for the whole family, avid punters and friendship groups alike! Enjoy the huge…

Royal Ascot Ladies Race Day at the Inn on the Lake in Glenridding, Lake District
Royal Ascot Ladies Race Day

Put on your finest frock and take your seat in the "Royal Enclosure" for a live television…

Advert for Festival of Running in Workington, Cumbria
Festival of Running

A 1k, 5k, and 10k race organised in partnership with Cumberland Athletic Club.

Grasmere Gallop and OMM Festival in Grasmere, Lake District
Grasmere Gallop and OMM Festival

Grasmere Gallop has teamed up with the OMM Festival for an epic outdoor trail running weekend in…

Coast to Coast In a Day
Coast to Coast In a Day

A stunning 150 mile with 4500m of ascent road ride from the mountainous Western Lake District,…

Trail Runners at the new 13 Valleys Ultra Running Event in the Lake District, Cumbria
13 Valleys

13 Valleys Ultra is an exciting new trail running event that will take place in the stunning Lake…

Chillswim Coniston 5.25mile End to End in the Lake District, Cumbria
Chillswim Coniston 5.25mile End to End

End to end swim of Coniston Water - 5.25 mile fully supported open water swim.

Keswick Half Marathon in Keswick, Lake District
Keswick Half Marathon

Keswick Half Marathon is one of the most scenic half marathons in the country with the challenging…

Whinlatter Tails Canicross Race
Whinlatter Tails Canicross Race

A new series of canicross races, held in England's only mountain forest. The perfect location for…

Trail Runners Training for the 13 Valleys Ultra Event in the Lake District, Cumbria
13 Valleys Ultra Training Weekends

If you're a beginner or intermediate trail runner looking to improve your skills, our training…

Windermere One Way Swim
Windermere One Way Swim

The Windermere One Way Swim starts at beautiful and sheltered Fell Foot Park at the southern end of…

BLDSA Coniston Swims in Coniston Water in the Lake District, Cumbria
BLDSA Coniston Swims

British Long Distance Swimming Association - Founded in 1956 - run by swimmers for swimmers. The…

Family Swimming at the Great North Swim at Brockhole on Windermere in the Lake District, Cumbria
Great North Swim

Dive into nature and join us at the UK’s biggest open water swimming event. So what do you say -…

Participants at Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Coniston in the Lake District, Cumbria
Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Coniston

The Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Coniston is event 3 of the Epic Lakes Open Water Swim Series. It…

Lakes in a Day in the Lake District, Cumbria
Lakes in a Day

A 50 mile ultra run, with 4000m ascent – a journey on foot from the very top of the Lake District…

Happy Participant at Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Ullswater in the Lake District, Cumbria
Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Ullswater

The Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Ullswater takes place from Jenkins Field, in Glenridding, which…

Participant Swimming at Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Windermere in the Lake District, Cumbria
Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Windermere

There will be the option when entering the mile or the 5km races to swim without a wetsuit (Skin…

The Maverick Adidas Terrex X-Series Lake District 2023 in the Lake District, Cumbria
The Maverick Adidas Terrex X-Series Lake District 2023

Trail running in the Lake District. All 4 routes start in Grasmere and take you on a rugged climb…

Poster for the Staveley5k in Staveley, Lake District
Staveley5k

5km fun run everyone welcome

PrevPrev
  • 1Appleby Rotary 10k and Eden Valley Fun Run
  • 2Wild GOAT Festival
  • 3Birkett Trophy Cruise with Ullswater 'Steamers'
  • 4Montane Trail 10 & 20 Ullswater Way
  • 5THE LAP
  • 6Summer Jump Horse Racing
  • 7Royal Ascot Ladies Race Day
  • 8Festival of Running
  • 9Grasmere Gallop and OMM Festival
  • 10Coast to Coast In a Day
  • 1113 Valleys
  • 12Chillswim Coniston 5.25mile End to End
  • 13Keswick Half Marathon
  • 14Whinlatter Tails Canicross Race
  • 1513 Valleys Ultra Training Weekends
  • 16Windermere One Way Swim
  • 17BLDSA Coniston Swims
  • 18Great North Swim
  • 19Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Coniston
  • 20Lakes in a Day
  • 21Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Ullswater
  • 22Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Windermere
  • 23The Maverick Adidas Terrex X-Series Lake District 2023
  • 24Staveley5k
NextNext

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