"IT IS up to you what you do today because tomorrow it is history"

The Olympic spirit was in evidence in Tucker Mason's stirring opening speech to the 2004 Grasmere Sports.

Ringing the antique bell traditionally used to start bouts of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, Mr Mason's words were an inspiration to the athletes waiting to compete.

Chairman of Grasmere Sports Victor Gubbins welcomed the thousands of spectators who had come from far and wide to watch feats of speed, strength and endurance.

He also emphasised the significance of the event to the local community in keeping the tradition of Lakeland sports alive.

"These games can almost be classed as the world championships in Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling. If you win Grasmere then that's really something," he said.

Kicking off the gruelling chase up Butter Crags were the junior fell runners.

The winner of the under 12s guide race was Tom Doyle, of Kendal's Helm Hill Runners, who eased home well ahead of the chasing pack in 5 mins 57 secs.

Tom, 11, from Ulverston, won the race despite a dramatic fall and a wrong turning. But he still managed to take the first prize trophy in fine style although he admitted to being "a bit worried" when he saw the rest of the field hot on his heels.

The U14s race was won by Jonathan Walker, of Cumberland Fell Runners, while Settle's David Shepherd took the honours in the U17 guides race after winning an English championship race at Sedbergh the previous day.

Event organiser Dr Chris Lane took time out from his hectic schedule to watch the junior fell runners cross the line.

Despite the "struggle" of organising the sports in the torrential storms before the event, the sunshine of Sunday morning had put him in a more optimistic mood.

The crowds stopped in their tracks at the sight of this year's aerial activities. Members of the Cumbria Soaring Club made the day's most dramatic entry, swooping down on the show ring from a nearby fell beneath their paragliders.

This was the first time that soaring had been included in the line-up but the club literally rose to the challenge, competing for the most accurate landing in the middle of the show ring.

Winner of the event was Egremont man Dave Ashcroft who said: " We normally go for distance rather than spot landing in competitions and the thermals from the parked cars gave us an extra lift at the end, making landing more difficult."

Winner of the five-mile open restricted hound trail Bretton defended her title for the second year running. Delighted owner Julie Burkinshaw, of Keswick, said that the four-year-old's triumph was nothing short of a miracle.

She said: "She knocked a tendon in her knee joint and punctured her lungs, so she is very lucky to be alive, let alone to win."

The Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling senior competition was dominated by wrestlers from north of the border.

Winner of the women's 10st class was Scotswoman Michelle Carroll and her compatriot, Rab Clark, picked up double honours in the men's 11 and 12 stone category.

Mr Clark, from the Red Road Wrestling Club, Glasgow, has won 11 titles at Grasmere Sports and puts his success down to "plenty of practice and sheer determination."

Cumbrian pride was restored, however, in the all-Carlisle 13st clash between David Atkinson and Richard Fox, which was won by Fox.

Five-year-old Adam Wrigley, from Bolton-le-Sands, brought out the soft side of the wrestling crowd when he bravely took part as the youngest entrant in the under 12s event.

Despite losing his round to an older competitor the tough tot's family said he would not be deterred.

Sixteen competitors lined up at the start of the Mountain Bike Dash. Joe Richards, 20, of Lakes Road Club, powered up the fell and, despite wrecking his brakes in a fall, he made it to the line well ahead of his fellow competitors.

"I looked at everyone taking part and I thought it was going to be hard but managed to pull it off," he said.

Rob Jebb, 29, of Bingley Harriers took top spot in the showpiece senior guides race, well ahead of the rest of the field, finishing 22 seconds in front of his nearest rival.

Despite his impressive margin of victory, Rob, who lives in Staveley, said he found the descent particularly exhausting due to the heather being longer than usual this year.

He was followed over the line by Pudsey and Bramley's Rob Hope and his Bingley team-mate Ian Holmes.

Helm Hill's Jennifer Dunn won the ladies' race finishing in 16th postion overall in 18-25, 24 seconds ahead of Bingley's Sharon Taylor, who lives in Staveley.

Results...

Senior guides race: 1 Rob Jebb; 2 Rob Hope; 3 Ian Holmes. Under 17: 1 David Shepherd; 2 Matthew Hurst; 3 Adam Crowe. Under 14: 1 Jonathan Walker; 2 Michael Kenyon; 3 Jamie Stuart. Under 12: 1 Tom Doyle; 2 Luke Croasdale; 3 Ryan Croasdale. Under 9: 1 Evan Bland; 2 Daniel Watt; 3 Robbie Metcalf.

Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling. Boys under 12: 1 C. Ridley; 2 S. Mason; 3 D. Ewart. Girls under 15: 1 T. Hodgson; 2 L. Jones; 3 M. Taylor. Boys under 15: 1 G. Brocklebank; 2 S. Wilkinson; 3 W. Noimai. Girls under 18: 1 T. Hodgson; 3 M. Taylor; 3 L. Jones. Boys under 18: 1 D. Barnes; 2 Joe Harrington; 3 R. Fox. Women 10-stone: 1 M. Carroll; 2 M. Taylor; 3 L. Armstrong. Men 11-stone: 1 R. Clark; 2 John Harrington; 3 A. Clark. Men 12-stone: 1 R. Clark; 2 J. Taylor; 3 John Harrington. Men 13-stone: 1 R. Fox; 2 D. Atkinson; 3 A. Walton. Men 14-stone: 1 D. Atkinson; 2 A. Walton; 3 J. Robson. Women, All Weights: 1 M. Carroll; 2 G. Stainton; 3 T. Hodgson. Men, All Weights: 1 T. Hodgson; 2 J. Threlfall; 3 T. Brocklebank. Boys costume: 1 R. Fox; 2 John Harrington; 3 Ben Brocklebank. Senior: 1 T. Hodgson; 2 P. Barnes; 3 D. Atkinson. Guiness Trophy: R. Clark.