STONE-WALLING enthusiasts descended on South Lakeland at the weekend for the Friends of the Lake District's annual competition, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

The event, organised in conjunction with the Cumbria branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association, at Strickland Tenement, Crosthwaite, lured competitors from far-flung

corners of the country including Devon and northern Scotland.

Kirkby Lonsdale's Andrew Mason achieved first place in the professional class and Anthony Wood, of Alston, took first place in the improvers' class.

Novices Stuart Parish, of Ulverston, and Steve Helling, of Garth Row, gained second and third place in the amateur class.

Ian Brodie, director of the Friends of the Lake District, said the event was designed to stimulate interest in the traditional craft and had been "superb", attracting a 100-strong crowd.

The day also saw committee member of the Cumbria branch of the DSWA Ted Ellwood, of Oxenholme, given honorary life membership to the National Association of Dry Stone Walling for his decades of dedication to the countryside craft.

May 15, 2003 12:00