The 2025 PR campaign for Cumbrian event, Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, has become a finalist for a prestigious PR Moment Award North, in April 2026.
The campaign, conceived and delivered by Catapult PR, which has been creating award-winning campaigns for Cumbrian clients since 2002, is in the running for the Community Engagement Campaign of the Year award at the PR Moment Awards.
Catapult PR, based in Lancashire and Carlisle, was appointed by Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show early in 2020. Due to pandemic cancellations, Catapult PR could not deliver its first campaign until 2023. Since then, it has produced a series of dynamic public relations and community initiatives, working with former Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show chairman, John Hibbert. It is now looking to replicate the success with another countryside event.
Catapult PR’s Grasmere Sports campaign in 2025 was particularly crucial, as the event suffered serious weather impacts in 2024. However, the benefits of having a strong, focused PR effort, year after year, paid off, as the benefits of 2024’s initiatives were leveraged in 2025.
In 2025, Catapult PR’s PR and content activity included devising an education pack for local schools. This was based solely around Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, its events, its heritage and its personalities. The pack’s launch was held in Grasmere School and a focus group of young pupils provided their feedback.
Other activity in 2025 involved a ‘search’ for a 50-year-old record holder, which proved successful thanks to Catapult PR’s tenacity. The campaign also encompassed a wide range of PR and marketing tactics, including podcasts, audiograms, innovative story lines for PR, research-led materials and videos for social media use.
Throughout, Catapult PR continued to forge strong links with organisers and competitors in sports that are the pillars of the traditional event – fell running, Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling and hound racing. Support beyond its Grasmere Sports remit was provided.
Catapult PR has represented clients across Cumbria since 1999, handling many campaigns for tourism and leisure clients but also achieving great successes for businesses in other sectors.
Other Cumbrian clients for whom Catapult PR has created award-winning campaigns include Holker Hall and Gardens, Lakes Aquarium and Levens Hall and Gardens.
The heritage sector is one in which the consultancy invests in its own consumer research, to assist clients. Catapult PR has recently published its own Heritage White Paper, as a result. This valuable research-led document assesses what visitors want of a heritage or history-focused attraction. The white paper is available as a free download from Catapult PR’s website.
Catapult PR has just celebrated its 28th anniversary and is looking for its next challenge, following on from its success for Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show. Another Lakeland or county show would be an ideal fit for the creative team at the committed agency.
“We would love to achieve similar impacts for another country show, outdoor event, or visitor attraction,” says managing director, Jane Hunt. “We have a strong track-record in tourism, leisure, heritage and community campaigns and feel we are underutilised by businesses and organisations in these sectors. Our knowledge of Cumbria also makes us an ideal choice for those in the county.”
Anyone wanting more information can visit www.catapultpr.co.uk or call Jane Hunt on 07711 628661.
