WHEN Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show officially began 150 years ago, Wordsworth was two years in the grave, Queen Victoria on the throne, and the telephone almost a quarter of a century from invention.

On Sunday, the people returned again, and Bracken Fell, a place rarely touched by so many feet and paws, teamed with eager sportsmen and determined dogs, as they battled for prizes on Lakeland soil.

A wail of whistles, shouting and cheering erupted as the hounds homed into view, and tore down the steep slope towards their callers, with tails wagging and tongues dripping.

The dogs sniffed their way round the trail laid by Grasmere men Alan Coates and Jeff Palmer, who spent an hour-and-half each dragging the aniseed and paraffin rags around the testing course of Seat Sandal, Tongue Ghyll, Stone Arthur, Greenhead Ghyll and Castle Crags, after farmer Alan Riley fashioned a path through the bracken.

But the hound-trailers' din could not compete with the noise from the tug-of-war between Ambleside Rugby Union Club, and The Derby Arms at Witherslack.

With each team bellowing war cries, it was clearly a case of the bigger, older and heavier of the 15-a-side code, against the lighter pub regulars, in the quest for control of the red ribbon.

Stern resistance was offered by The Derby in the first pull, but Ambleside edged it, and then easily took the second.

Ambleside team captain Isaac Benson, 28, said: "Weight won it at the end of the day, the will to win and determination."

In the Grand Arena, BBC 2 commentator of One Man and His Dog series, Gus Darmody, had the crowd spellbound as his sheepdogs herded geese like they were remote-controlled.

"In this day and age of computers, it's great that people come down to see a fella working with animals," said Mr Darmody.

2002 proved a vintage year in the wrestling arena as top class French contestants took on talent from Cumberland, Westmorland and Scotland.

Grasmere champion and renowned tactician Tom Harrington MBE looked on as his pupils David Atkinson and Andrew Carlile came of age.

In the 11-stone bout, Carlile of Carlisle reigned supreme, flooring Breton Tudy le Meur.

"I've come second three times in a row, and third last year so this means a lot to me," said Carlile.

His sparring partner Atkinson also headed home with the 12-stone title.

By 5pm, as the final strains of Scotland The Brave drifted high up over the fells and the St Andrew's Pipe Band left the arena, Bellman Tucker Mason signalled the close of the proceedings.

"I think we have to thank the Good Lord for giving us such a good day," he said, and as the sun streamed through the clouds, the crowd clapped along in agreement.

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