Showtime in the Lakes: Country Fairs and Sporting Events

IT'S showtime in the Lakes as the curtain goes up on the best country fairs in the county. We have amazing animals, rapid runners, terrific terriers and wonders on wheels. You'll find all the fun of the traditional fair, too. So here's our round-up of Lake District country fairs and sporting events this summer:<\/p>

Coniston Country Fair

Gorgeous setting on the shore of Coniston water and when it comes to showtime in the Lakes, this is one of our favourites. If you want to see Olympian effort Coniston-style, there's a race to the top of the Old Man, and back. You can even take part if you wish. Terrier racing is strictly for the dogs, but it's a lot more fun that betting on a politician. Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling is a tradition that's being revived, and local schoolchildren are now learning from the former champions. Come and see them in action. The experts will demonstrate how to build a dry-stone wall, there's vintage tractors on display, along with freshly-baked cakes in the produce tent. It's on Sunday July 31, starting at 11.30.<\/p>

Rusland Show

A tiny village in a tiny, hidden valley, Rusland is the place to go for a really traditional taste of showtime in the Lakes. It's a community-led event, with exhibits of flowers, jams and chutneys, home made cakes, and local art and crafts. You're welcome to join in with some the the traditions, too, such as tug of war, and egg throwing. And there's a fell race for adults as well as a very popular event for children. Plenty of food for everyone, and a beer tent, of course. This is a very beautiful, quiet area of gentle rolling fells, moorland, woodland, fields and wetlands, with farms, hamlets and small villages. The children's author Arthur Ransome, creator of the Swallows and Amazons stories, is buried here in the churchyard. And if anyone knows why it's called after the Dutch for Russia, let us know. It's at Whitestock Meadow, August 17.<\/p>

Grasmere Sports

Mainly a sporting event, but here at Grasmere there's plenty more to keep everyone entertained for the whole day. It all started around 150 years ago when shepherds and farm workers attending the local sheep fair decided to show off their skills at wrestling. And fell running. You can see these still, along with the newer sport of mountain bike racing. Lots of stalls, food galore, plenty of music to keep you entertained. This is a busy event but there's plenty of car parking. Incidentally, it was in 1909 that the motor car appeared on the scene here in any numbers. For the first time a large part of the field was given over to a temporary car park as well as a bicycle park. Horse drawn carriages were still parked around the arena to act as 'grandstands' for their occupants. Mark your diary now: Sunday August 25.<\/p>

Rydal Sheepdog Trials and Hound Show

If it's showtime in the Lakes, there must be sheep involved, and here at Rydal the sheep and their dogs are the star attractions. Not just sheepdogs though, because there's hound racing too, contests to judge terriers, and competitions for the best shepherds' crooks and sticks. But everywhere you look you'll see sheep, and the demonstrations of rounding them up by some of the best dogs in the country are a wonderful spectator sport. There's trade stalls too, and plenty of food for sale, and a beer tent. Of course. It's on Thursday August 15.<\/p>

Ambleside Sports

Here at Cedar Manor we are both supporters and sponsors of Ambleside Sports, and it's always a thrill to go along to this huge event which lasts all day. It's on the same field beside the main A591 north of Ambleside where the Rydal sheepdog trials will be the following month. And it's always the last Thursday in July. This is also a community event, organised entirely by a team of local volunteers and you'll see them at work in the week leading up to the show. They clear the field with spades and buckets on what's known as SS Sunday (sheep shovelling, some might say, or shovelling what the sheep drop behind), put up the marquees, hire the fairground rides and food providers - and collapse in the beer tent when it's all over. Get there in time for the opening ceremony at noon when the thunder drummers announce the beginning of the festivities, and runners set off in the Rydal Round. There's hound trails, fell and track races for youngsters and the not so young, and one of our favourite events, the Devil Take the Hindmost race on the grass cycle track. Rydal Field, Thursday July 25.<\/p>