RUSLAND Show and Sports is usually held on the third Saturday in August.

It began in 1871 when a group of six farmers and gardeners came up with the idea of holding a small flower show and plant sale.

It has grown over the years and has moved sites several times and is now held at Whitestock Meadow.

Sadly this year’s event has had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All traditional shows are at the mercy of the Cumbrian weather. Some years there will be glorious sunshine others will be wet and muddy!

Rusland Show in 1992 fell firmly into the latter category.

Barbour jackets and green wellies were out in force as driving rain swept down on the 110th show.

But no-one was deterred. 

Andy Holden, who won the fell race, commented: “Conditions were slippery underfoot, but the rain was lovely and cool.

"It’s a good steep climb but I ran it all the way.

"My legs were strong today.”

Mark McGlincy, of Skipton, was a star performer of the day, winning the half-mile, mile and 440 yards races.

“Today wasn’t about speed but about stamina,” he said.

“It suited strong runners.”

Attendance was down due to the weather – to about 1,000 compared with 1,500 in 1991 when the day was fine.

Show president Diana Stokes said: “The exhibits were better than ever this year.

"All the vegetables were outstanding.”

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Michael Jopling was at the event, smiling beneath an umbrella. “I often come to Rusland,” he said.

“It’s a lovely show.”

The former agricultural minister owned a share in a puppy called Chequers – named after the Prime Minister’s country retreat – which was competing in the hound trails.

“I’m not sufficiently confident to put money on it,” he said.

His judgement was sound – Chequers was unplaced.

David Baxter, the Cartmel county councillor, was another politician present. “I came third in the photographic section,” he said proudly. “But there were only three entries.”