A LARGE number of hardy souls braved gale-force winds and driving rain to visit the Lakeland Country Fair at Torver last Sunday.

Despite the dreadful weather, the traditional country fair did its best to provide a shop window for Cumbrian skills and activities.

There were demonstrations of skills such as sheep clipping from Peter Dixon and Stephen Dugdale, stick-making with Bob Cannan, swill basket making by Owen Jones, leatherwork by Laurel Benson, fly tying from Dave Nixon and rug weaving by Linda Cameron.

Gary McClure of Woodland Free Range Meats performed demonstrations of Cumbrian cookery for an appreciative audience. In the main ring spectators watched the children's sports and a dog show, followed by a display of hounds by the North Lonsdale Foxhounds and Black Combe Beagles.

Two branches of Young Farmers - Lowick and Broughton - had a tug-of-war for the Crook Barn Trophy which was won by Lowick. After the hound display much amusement was caused by the horn-blowing competition followed by the ever-popular terrier racing.

The dog rings were kept busy all afternoon with terriers, lurchers, whippets, foxhounds and beagles, all with good numbers of entries.

And Alf Harrington and his team ran the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling with their usual efficiency and good humour.

Many of the trade stands were not able to get their tents up because of the wind, although some did manage it, including Peter Gott with his wild boar meat, Haverigg Smokery and the Herdwick Sheep Breeders.

There were some casualties of the weather - the ferret tents blew down putting an end to the ferret racing and the falconry display had to be omitted as well.

There were encouraging numbers of entries for the junior fell races and the children all seemed delighted with their Tshirts and mementoes.

The Senior Fell Race, which normally takes runners to the top of Coniston Old Man, had to be re-routed. It was won by Ambleside’s Garry Greenhow in 29-34 from Borrowdale’s Jim Davies (30-38) and Howgill’s Tim Cowin (32-19). First lady was Hollie Orr of Black Combe Runners in 34-51.

RESULTS: STICKS: Novice stick or crook (wood): 1 & 2 Gordon Bottomley; Lady’s Walking Stick: 1 Gordon Bottomley, 2 Mike Earl, 3 B Cannan; Thumbstick: 1 S Whitwell, 2 Mike Earl, 3 B Cannan; Horn Crook: 1 B Cannan, 2 S Whitwell, 3 B Cannanl; Ornamental Horn: 1 Mike Earl, 2 & 3 B Cannan; Wood Walking Stick: 1 B Cannan, 2 S Whitwell, 3 M Earl; Wood Crook: 1 & 3 S Whitwell, 2 B Cannan; Horn Walking Stick: 1 & 21 B Cannan, 3 S Whitwell; Ornamental Wood: 1 B Cannan, 2 M Earl, 3 S Whitwell; Champion Stick: Bob Cannan; Reserve Champion: S Whitwell.

TERRIER SHOW: Lakeland/Fell Type Pup: 1 S & T Robertson (Charlie), 2 J & G Norman (Taz), 3 C Armstrong (Jess); Border Pup: 1 S Clayton (Doris); 2 Meiria (Madge); 3 P Johnson (Billy); Jack Russell Pup: 1 Mr Bland (Sydney), 2 Lee Graham (Mere); Lakeland Dog: 1 G & J Norman (Ted), 2 R Robson (Red), 3 R Robson (Rob); Lakeland Bitch:

1. G & J Norman (Trouble) 2. S & T Robertson (Fern) 3. A Cummings (Tess); Crossbred Dog: 1 S & T Robertson (Mac), 2 T Metcalfe (Mick), 3 C Webb (Billy); Crossbred Bitch: 1 G Bottomley (Bella), 2 T Metcalfe (Dina), 3 Mr Webb (Millie); Border Dog: 1 Mr Jolly (Creg), 2 Mr Pearson (Digger), 3 Mr Jolly (Joe); Border Bitch: 1 A Johnson (Molly), 2 L Jackson (Bess), 3 W Hocking (Bramble); Jack Russell Dog: 1 G & J Norman (Tam), 2 S & T Robertson (Daz), 3 T Metcalfe (Toby); Jack Russell Bitch: 1 G & J Norman (Missy), 2. Mr Bland (Spud), 3 T Shepherd (Rose); Any other Variety Dog: 1 Chambers (Rory). Best Pair: 1 G & J Norman (Taz & Trouble), 2 Mr Towers (Molly & Digger), 3 C Armstrong (Rock & Jess); Veteran: 1 G & J Norman (Trouble), 2 T Shepherd (Peggy), 3 L Jackson (Sam); Champion Terrier: Ian Jolly (Crag); Reserve Champion: S & T Robertson; Champion Pup: S & T Robertson (Charlie).

LURCHER SHOW: Rough Pup: 1 Blenkarn (Lucy); Smooth Pup: 1 G Todhunter (Chester); Champion Pup: G Todhunter (Chester); Rough Dog 24" and under: 1 J Whitton (Red); Rough Bitch 24” and under: 1 J Crellin (Gypsy); Smooth Dog 24" and under: 1 G Todhunter (Fido); Smooth Bitch 24" and under: 1 M Short (Nell); Rough Dog over 24": 1 Mr Rawlings (Eric); Rough Bitch over 24":

1 J Crellin (Flint); Smooth Dog over 24": 1 Mr Dean (Milo); Smooth Bitch over 24”: 1 R Maxwell (Izzy); Whippet Pup: 1 M Short (Cilla); Whippet Dog: J Hine (Robbie); Whippet Bitch: 1 B Shutt (Kell); Veteran: 1 N Wilson (Izzie); Champion Lurcher: J Crellin (Gypsy); Reserve Champion: J Crellin (Flint); Champion Whippet: B Short (Kell).

FOXHOUND SHOW: Best Walked: 1. Coniston Wagtail; 2 Coniston Dido; 3 Barmaid. Couples: 1 N Lonsdale; 2 & 3 Coniston. Group of four hounds: 1 Coniston; 2 Eskdale & Ennerdale; 3 Ullswater. Unentered Dog: 1. Ullswater Dalesman 2. Coniston Leader 3. Cumberland Pewler. Entered Dog: 1 Melbreak Gambler; 2 Ullswater Sweeper; 3 Coniston Matchem.Unentered Bitch:

1 Coniston Charity; 2 N Lonsdale Trouble; 3 Cumberland Farmers Promise. Entered Bitch: 1 Coniston Wagtail; 2 Ullswater Barmaid; 3 Coniston Dido. Reserve Champion: Melbreak Gambler.

Best Group of Hounds: Coniston

BEAGLE SHOW: Couple: 1 Bleasdale Playboy & Plockton; 2 Black Combe Laughter & Lively; 3 Cumbria Drama & Derwent. Group of four hounds: 1 Black Combe. Unentered Dog: Black Combe Farthing. Champion Beagle: Bleasdale Beagles Plockton. Reserve Champion: Black Combe Beagles Farthing. Johnston Trophy (group of four hounds): Black Combe Beagles.

CUMBERLAND & WESTMORLAND WRESTLING: Ladies Open: 1 Abi Marston, 2 Gemma Coulthard; Under 12 years: 1 Ryan Armstrong, 2 Ben Albion, 3 Gemma Coulthard; Under 15 years: 1 George Wilson, 2 Thomas Hayhurst, 3 Ryan Armstrong. Under 18 years: 1 George Wilson, 2 Joshua Threlfall, 3. Robert Albion. 11.5 Stone: 1 Joshua Threlfall, 2 Thomas Hayhurst, 3 Ben Harrison. 13 Stone: 1 Graham Brocklebank, 2 Thomas Hayhurst, 3 Joshua Threlfall. All Weights: 1 Thomas Brocklebank, 2 Joe Threlfall, 3 Stewart Fleming. Winner of Nat West Bank Shield: Thomas Brocklebank.

HORN BLOWING COMPETITION: 16 & under: 1 Isaac Shackleton, 2 Alison Park, 3 Archie Carr. Ladies: 1 Rose Smail, 2 Jane Parton, 3 June Chapman. Men: 1 Gordon Bottomley, 2 James Swanbury, 3 Nicholas Smail.

JUNIOR FELL RACES: Under 10 Boys: 1 George Sidaway (CFR), 4.56; 2 Warren Fleming (u/a), 5.09; 3 Luke Simmonds (Hoad Hill) 5.25. Under 10 Girls: 1 Olesia Winder (Hoad Hill), 4.57; 2 Isabel Richardson, Holmfirth, 5.02; 3 Kirsty Maher (Lancs & Morecambe), 5.13. Under 12 Boys: 1 Sam Smith (Wharfedale), 10.04; 2 Josh Roevants (Helm Hill), 10.19; 3 Jake Wood (u/a), 10.50.

Under 12 Girls: 1 Courtney Hutchinson (Broughton), 11.57; 2 Katelynn Brockbank (Broughton), 12.32. Under 14 Boys: 1 Joe Edmondson (Broughton), 9.05 2. Lewis Harknett (Harlow) 9.30 3. Logan Hargreaves (Wharfedale) 9.52. Under 14 Girls: 1 Natasha Miles (Winchester), 10.25; 2 Eilidh Miller (Broughton), 11.27; 3 Leah Albion (Broughton) 13.37. Under 16 Girls: 1 Georgia Stevens (Helm Hill), 18.45.

CHILDRENS SPORTS

Balls in the Basket: 5-6: Molly Woods, Haverthwaite; 7-8:Connor Young (Millom). Egg & Spoon, Pre-school: Molly Harris, Barrow; 5-6: Sofia Harris, Barrow; 7-8: Lily Stephens, Selside;

Obstacle Race: 5-6: Ewan Irvine, Darlington; 7-8: Kirsty Maher, Lancaster. Flat Race: Pre-school/5-6: Sofia Harris, Barrow ; 7-8: Annie Hodgson, Hawkshead. Round the Field: Pre-school/5-6: Sofia Harris, Barrow; 7-8 Annie Hodgson, Hawkshead; 9-11 Kirsty Maher, Lancaster.

DISPLAYS & DEMONSTRATIONS: 1 Linda Cameron (rug weaving) 2 Peter Dixon & Stephen Dugdale (sheep clipping), 3 Laurel Benson (leatherwork).

TRADE STANDS: 1 Gary McClure (Woodland Free Range Meat), 2 Mr A Towers (plants), 3 Riding for the Disabled.

OVERALL CHAMPION DOG: Terrier “Crag” owned by Ian Jolly