Tommy Sedgwick, the Bellman at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, is already counting down the months to next year’s event, on August 30, 2026, knowing it will mark 50 years since he broke the record in the Senior Guides fell race.
In 2025, however, he enjoyed seeing his legacy on the fell in another way, proudly watching family members competing in various races.
His daughter, Helen Ilsley, has followed in her father’s footsteps. She has won many fell races in her time and came home as a veteran runner in an impressive 71st place in the Senior Guides race, in a field of 149. Helen also won the Yorkshire Three Peaks race prior to getting married. She is now an international triathlete, who has competed in World and European Championships.
Her son, Jack Ilsley, finished a little ahead of her, in 53rd. His main sport is rugby but he enjoys running at Grasmere. Her other son, Ben Ilsley, is also predominantly a rugby player but competed in the Under-12s fell race.
Tommy’s granddaughter, Sophie Marshall, was also on the fell as a Senior Guides race competitor. Her past record includes winning the Under-12s race but these days she is busy in her role as a midwife. Meanwhile, her brother Thomas Marshall, came in 18th in the Senior Guides race. He won the Under-17s race in 2018, before joining the army.
Cheering all on were Tommy’s eldest daughter and Sophie and Thomas’s mother, Judith. She is a past winner of both the Under-17s and Senior Guides race at Grasmere, but could not compete due to recent knee surgery.
Tommy, from Sedbergh, himself competed as a veteran up to the age of 60, when he finally realised all his feats had taken the toll on his knees. Since then, he has been honoured to take on the role of Bellman, officially in charge of declaring the show open and closed.
The Sedgwick family’s involvements at the event was just one example of the family feel to Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show 2025. This was evidenced across wrestling competitions, track and field events, fell races and hound trailing. Brothers and sisters, dads and lads and mums and sons competed in their respective events, highlighting how Lakeland sports are embedded in family life in the county and beyond.
It was also a day that brought in first-time families, enjoying traditional Lakeland sports for the first time and taking in the brand-new paragliding Hike and Fly race. One first-time visitor even spoke of their fantastic day out on their radio show on Palm Radio, in Torbay, Devon.
Tommy Sedgwick’s legacy in the Senior Guides race will be highlighted next year, when the anniversary of his record-breaking achievement is marked. For now, it is what his family are doing to help preserve the ancient sport of fell running that is making him proud, although he is also seen as something of a father figure to all junior fell runners.
Tommy says he is always keen to encourage young talent, without telling young runners what they should and shouldn’t be doing. He says, “When we were training, we were always given advice from old fell runners, trying to guide you, and they meant well. I’d say listen to those who’ve got advice, but adapt it to yourself. Just enjoy it. Keep it in perspective and enjoy it.”
His words are also inspiring youngsters in another way. They are being used in a comprehension exercise within a new Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show education pack being used in local schools. This is also downloadable at www.grasmeresports.com
Preparations for the 2026 event are already underway, as Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show continues to underline the importance of grassroots Cumbrian sports and demonstrate why it is deemed ‘the one’ to be at, and compete at, each year. With a desire to extend a welcome to even more families, it has a busy year ahead.
