Ambleside Sports
Celebrating the Lake District's Traditional sports of fell racing, hound trailing, grass track cycle racing and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, Ambleside Sports traditionally take place on the last Thursday in July.
Plan Around Ambleside Sports
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Ambleside Sports Details
The origins of organised sports in Ambleside have variously been traced back to the granting of the market charter and the annual fair. As far back as the 17th and 18th centuries sporting events were held in Low Wood Bay where events included regattas with rowing races as well as cock-fighting and bare fist boxing (both of which would be unacceptable today). In 1809 Professor John Wilson (aka Christopher North of Elleray) offered the then huge sum of five guineas and a silver belt to the winner of the Ambleside contest. The Golden Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign, was the initiative for an organised Sports in Ambleside in 1886. It was so well received that one enthusiastic report stated: "It is a long time since any of this class of sports were held at Ambleside, but having broken the ice, as it were, it is the intention, so I hear, of those gentlemen who took the initiative in the above, to try to make them annual." In 1887 the sports commenced shortly after 5pm with prizes from the trades people and "a sum of money from the gentry". Events included: wrestling, 100 yards flat race, running high leap, putting the stone, hop skip and jump, hurdle race, fell race, running long leap and potato race. In 1892 an appropriate name was initiated by the cycle club, Ambleside and District Amateur Athletic Sports. There followed a chequered history. Both the Boer War (1899-1902) and the Great War (1914-18) took their toll. In 1920 the Sports resumed but soon lapsed until after the Second World War. In 1945 the Hound Trailing Association arranged a series of three trails and a boys' fell race. The setting for the "new" sports was and remains Rydal Park, through kind permission of Rydal Estates and its tenant farmers. Grid Reference: NY 36914 05685 Address (near): Rydal Park A591, Ambleside LA22 0PL, UK
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Low
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Nearby Parks Around Ambleside Sports
Compare nearby parks around Ambleside Sports when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Ambleside Sports
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Ambleside Sports while the map context is still fresh.
0.5 mi away
Rydal Hall
Rydal Hall is the Diocese of Carlisle Conference, Retreat and Holiday Centre and Home to the Rydal Hall Community
0.7 mi away
The Armitt Museum, Gallery and Library
Open throughout the year Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm. The Armitt is a unique combination of museum, library and gallery devoted to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the Lake District.
0.9 mi away
Rydal Water
Small Rydal Water is just east of more popular Grasmere Lake and offers a serene spot for hiking and swimming.
1.4 mi away
Ambleside Roman Fort
Entry is free and the site is open during daylight hours.
1.6 mi away
Grasmere
One of the smaller lakes in the Lake District, great for swimming and paddling.
