Upper Eden Rugby Union Club lost 27-5 to Carlisle in the Story Construction Cumbria Cup semi-final.

Holders Wetheriggs United were dumped out of the Westmorland Football League High Sheriff’s Cup a competition they had won for the last three years by Carlisle side Northbank Reserves.

February

Teenager Kris Hall followed in the footsteps of his father, Dougi, by getting behind the wheel of a rally car. Kris, aged 17, of Crackenthorpe, near Appleby, and 16-year-old navigator Ella Flynn, of Leeds, were the youngest combined age crew to compete in Britain this year. They were contesting the 205 Challenge 1.6 Championship.

Paul Nixon celebrated his call-up to the cricket World Cup in the West Indies and England’s shock 2-0 victory over Australia in the Commonwealth Bank tri-nations one-day series. The initial inclusion of the veteran Leicestershire wicketkeeper/batsman in the England squad for the one-day series raised a few eyebrows, but his performances behind the stumps and his general attitude and motivational skills have since won over most of his critics and led to his World Cup selection.

Penrith golfer Gary Lockerbie secured his best European Tour result so far, finishing tied for fifth place at the Malaysian Open. He netted around £25,000 following an eighth place at the South Africa Airways Open in December.

March

Penrith rally driver Paul Bird saw off some stiff opposition to record his third victory on the Malcolm Wilson rally. Having won the event the previous year, he successfully fended off the challenge of friend and rival Steve Perez to take victory by 20 seconds in the Subaru World Rally Car.

Border Harrier Mike Scott made it third time lucky when he took the honours in the Haweswater half-marathon, having finished second in 2005 and 2006. Scott is also an over-40 veteran. Penrith rector David Sargent was the first member of the host club, Eden Runners, to finish.

Wetheriggs United footballers beat Keswick 1-0 after extra-time to reach the semi-final of the Cumberland Cup, in which they lost 5-0 to Carlisle United Reserves at Brunton Park.

The first Cumbria Chojinkai Cadet Open Karate Championships were held at Penrith Leisure Centre. More than 370 competitors from England, Scotland and Wales took part.

April

Students from Newton Rigg, near Penrith, Phil Whyte, Mark Irving and Jonathan Potter, were selected for England college rugby union teams. Phil and Mark, both aged 17, made the England college team, while 18-year-old Jonathan was selected for the England A squad.

Penrith Town Football Club reached the final of the Northern League Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup despite a 3-2 extra-time defeat by Guisborough in the semi-final. Gusiborough then withdrew from the competition after admitting using ineligible players.

Keswick School’s Robert Miller was a super sub for England schools’ under-18s. He came off the bench to score a vital try in the team’s 15-6 victory over Scotland in the Six Nations festival.

Paul Nixon spoke of how he was “gutted” by England’s exit from the cricket World Cup in the West Indies following a humiliating defeat by South Africa. “I was desperate to win because I know I will never have another go,” said the 37-year-old Eden-born wicketkeeper.

Penrith’s John Airey became county snooker champion for the third time when he beat Robert Sim, of Whitehaven, in a nailbiting best of 11 frames final which finished in the early hours of the morning. Both players had won the title twice previously, Airey in 2001-02 and 2005-06.

Wetheriggs United Football Club won the Westmorland Senior Cup for the first time in 20 years as they beat Milnthorpe side Corinthians 3-0, goals coming from Andy Robertshaw (2) and Martyn Currie. They did not concede a goal during the whole tournament.

Penrith Rangers lifted the Westmorland FA Junior Cup at their second attempt, having lost four years ago. They beat Kirkoswald 3-2 after extra-time.

Penrith Town striker Michael Reed equalled the best ever season’s goal tally by a Penrith player when he scored in the Blues’ final league match of the season. Needing just one goal to equal Albert Clapperton’s league haul of 27 during season 1966-67, Reed headed Penrith in front during a 1-1 draw at Hebburn Town. Injury meant the 21-year-old ex-Carlisle United man played in only four of the last 16 games otherwise he would have beaten the record easily.

May

Carvetii United won the Westmorland Football League Division II championship and the Mason and Freeman Cup, the latter with victory over Ambleside. the score was 1-1 after extra-time, Carvetii taking the honours 6-5 on penalties.

Eden-based Gretna players Gavin Skelton and Danny Grainger spoke of their joy at helping the club win the Scottish first division championship and step up to the SPL. Former Carlisle United player Paul Murray, from Penrith, also joined the Scottish side who just five years ago finished seventh in the Unibond League.

Penrith cricketers pulled off a major coup in defeating holders Workington in the first round of the Thwaites County Cup.

Penrith teenager Laura Huggon celebrated a series of major swimming title wins throughout the UK. Laura, who is 16, was first in the girls’ 50m backstroke at the North West Region Youth Championship, held at the Manchester Aquatics Centre. Aged only 15 at the time, her opponents were mainly 17-year-olds. She also won the overall 15-year-old girls’ title in the county age group competition. She chose to swim 15 events out of a possible 16, securing first place in 11, while coming second or third in the other four. Laura swam in the Scottish national age groups, achieving third in the 100m backstroke and fifth in the 100m freestyle. In doing so she achieved the English national qualifying times to swim at the national youth championships in Sheffield.

Penrith Town FC lost 4-3 on penalties to Whickham in the final of the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup after the game finished1-1 after extra-time.

Andy Ridley stepped down as manager of Wetheriggs United FC after five highly successful years. After taking over from “Mala” Wilson he guided the team to four Westmorland League titles and numerous cup victories.

Former Keswick Cricket Club first teamer John Mason returned from college to play for the second XI at Cleator and set a new North Lancashire League first division amateur batting record with an innings of 161, including 15 fours and four sixes.

Fifteen-year-old Laura Leyland was being monitored by the England under-17 cricket selectors. Laura, of Borrowdale, came to the attention of Cumbria selectors when playing at under-13 level. A county umpire then recommended her for the north of England under-15 squad. She is predominantly a batsman, but also keeps wicket, and has played for the north of England reserves.

Tennis ace Gary Payton one of the country’s top veteran players was seeded number one for the British Open Clay Courts Championship at Bournemouth. It is a grade one ITF seniors event and included players from all over the world. Gary reached the semi-finals. The Kirkby Stephen Grammar School Sports College sports development officer was also Welsh number one and captain for the four nations championships held in Glasgow. In total, he played five games and won four, Wales finishing second to Scotland. Payton also took part in the world team tennis senior championships in Turkey, where he represented Great Britain, who finished sixth out of 24 teams.

Stars of screen and sport joined Paul Nixon at Keswick’s Fitz Park as part of his benefit year celebrations. Nixon, who grew up in Langwathby, was given a warm welcome by fans. The day featured a Twenty/20 match featuring England rugby union World Cup winner Martin Johnson, cast members from TV soap Emmerdale, and Nixon’s team-mates from Leicestershire, who also took part in a football match featuring Carlisle United players.

June

Young Keswick Cricket Club second team player Dan Gaskell took a hat-trick during his side’s game with Workington. It came in the penultimate over of the match and included two stumpings for the impressive Steve Clark and a clean bowled. His final figures were four for 25 from five overs.

At the Cumbria Track and Field Championships Eden Runners picked up a record haul of seven individual titles and a total of 27 medals in all.

Four Eden women were members of the Cumbria women’s senior hockey team who were crowned national champions. In the squad were Kirkby Stephen duo Lilly Prime and Lisa Potter, former Kirkby player Mel Whalley and Penrith’s Laura Raynes.

Rising Penrith rugby stars Kris Bratton and Richard Armstrong joined Newcastle Falcons Academy after being offered scholarships. From September, the pair both 16 began an advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence, having been among 10 promising youngsters chosen by the Falcons from across the North.

Keswick-based mountain biker Adam Brayton proved he is one of the best young riders in the country by coming sixth overall in a World Cup downhill race. The 18-year-old apprentice electrician from travelled to Switzerland to take part in the Champery World Cup event. It was his first time at such a high profile event which brought in 20,000 spectators. He has been racing for three years and this was his first year in the men’s World Cup competition.

Keswick publican David Maloney chalked up another success when his horse Oddsmaker won the famous Cumberland Plate at Carlisle. Trained by Brampton-based Maurice Barnes, formerly of Little Salkeld,the six-year-old produced an impressive display at 12-1 under Dean McKeown.

Penrith hosted the Cumbria Youth Games when 700 youngsters from across the county came to Eden for a day of competitive sport and friendly fun. Hundreds more gathered at six venues to watch and support seven to 18-year-olds taking part in 14 different sports. Copeland took the overall award, with South Lakeland second, Allerdale third and Eden fifth.

July

Lester Noble, of Brougham, and his brother, Lee, of Culgaith, won the Lord Birkett Trophy at Ullswater Yacht Club, for the fourth year in a row.

Penrith-born darts player Barbara Lee won the prestigious British Gold Cup in singles and doubles 22 years after her last victory in the competition. Barbara’s victory came at the famous Lakeside Country Club at Frimley Green, Surrey.

Millionaire businessman Ges Ratcliffe became Penrith Town’s new main sponsor. Ratcliffe, chief executive of Lancashire-based company DebtMatters, came to the rescue of the cash-strapped club by offering £15,000 a year. Mr. Ratcliffe’s company is also one of the main backers of Premier League side Bolton Wanderers.

August

Lakeland man Alistair Robinson joined some of Europe’s top young road racing cyclists in Belgium after being awarded a prestigious time trial association scholarship. Ali, of Dockray, Ullswater, works at Keswick Mountain Bikes.

It was announced that Eden rugby union stalwart John Owen would become Cumbria’s first ever president of the RFU, the sport’s governing body.

John, of Shap, was elected junior vice-president of the organisation for 2007/08. He will occupy the senior role the following year and will step up to the prestigious role of president in 2009/10.

A 13-strong squad representing Langwathby United took part in the McDonald’s Football Festival at the new Wembley Stadium. The Eden team played one match on the hallowed turf and also three fixtures at a nearby sports complex.

Penrith Cricket Club celebrated 100 years at their Tynefield Park home with a number of events on and off the pitch. They included a match between the club’s first team and an MCC XI, while the Eden Valley League cup final and a match between two veterans’ sides.

Kirkby Stephen’s Sarah Tunstall celebrated a call up to the England team for the World Mountain Running Trophy in Switzerland. Sarah went on to finish 17th overall, while another Eden athlete, Ben Bardsley, finished 60th overall in the men’s event.

September

Former Eden student Kate Turner won a silver medal while representing Great Britain at the World Triathlon Championships in Germany. The 21-year-old’s achievement was all the more incredible as it came just a year after she had taken up the sport.

Also flying the flag for Eden at the event was Appleby’s Stuart Robinson, who took 12th place in the veteran’s event for GB. Robinson would later go on to qualify for the 2008 event, to be held in Vancouver.

Helen Paul, joint head of girls’ PE at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, was named British Netball Teacher of the Year. The 32-year-old was shortlisted for the “Goalden Globes” awards, run by English Netball, having won the regional accolade, before scooping the top prize.

Penrith Cricket Club completed a successful season by winning a league and cup double. The Tynefield Park side won promotion to the North Lancashire League Premier Division they would later be crowned champions and the following day won the Sowerby Cup with a 25-run success against Vickerstown at Millom. Fifteen-year-old Ben Littleton was named cup final man of the match.

Grasstrack speedway star Jason Handley, of Crosby Garrett, won a record equalling seventh British title. The 37-year-old took the 350cc crown without dropping a point during a successful season.

Former world and commonwealth champion athlete Steve Cram was a visitor to Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School with a BBC film crew to feature the 250 pupils who were taking part in the Junior Great North Run in Newcastle the following month. No other school in the UK sent more youngsters to the event than QEGS.

Jessica Dawson-Coates, aged 13, of Kirkby Thore, scored on her competitive debut for Newcastle United’s under-16 girls side. Jessica, who also plays for Penrith United and the Cumbria School of Excellence under-14s, would go on to find the net several more times in matches for the Magpies.

October

Racehorse Monet’s Garden, trained at Greystoke by Nicky Richards and ridden by Tony Dobbin, won with the feature race at Aintree, the 21⁄2-mile grade two Old Roan Chase, beating last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and runner-up Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer respectively.

Kiwi Callum Rutledge signed for Penrith RUFC as a player and academy coach.

Alston brothers John and Mark Watson won the MMX Sidecarcross British Championship. The pair lifted the trophy having been runners-up in the previous two seasons.

Penrith Town and Penrith United agreed in principal to merge. This gave hope that a scheme to create a new football stadium on the outskirts of the town at Frenchfield could be vastly improved with funding from the Football Association to incorporate an all-weather pitch and a new headquarters for the Cumberland FA.

Meanwhile, on the pitch Penrith Town signed former Hibernian and Gretna player Derek Townsley. The utility player agreed to join the Blues from Newcastle Blue Star.

Penrith golfer Gary Lockerbie finished in the top 150 at the end of his first season on the European Tour. Lockerbie failed to secure full privileges for the 2008 season but is guaranteed entry to around 20 competitions having scooped prize money of around £116,000.

November

Paul Nixon was selected to play in the Indian Cricket League and joined Delhi Jets for the 20-game competition which offered a $1million prize for the winners. Among the big names taking part in the league were Brian Lara and Inzamam ul-Haq.

Members of Eden Runners made club history in the Cumbria Track League with an eventual haul of 25 medals, including 10 gold. There was further success as the under-11 team won the combined age group championship.

Janette McWhirter, a former county champion, won her 22nd Appleby Golf Club championship with a win over Joanne Tinsley.

Penrith Amateur Boxing Club teenager Danny Wilson was crowned North West Counties champion following a win over Liverpool’s Rob Wall in Manchester. It was the 18-year-old’s 12th straight victory although his bid to claim the national title was ended in the next round as he was defeated on points by Keith Jones, of Spennymoor.

December

Kirkby Stephen athlete Sarah Tunstall helped Great Britain to team gold at the European Cross-Country Championships in Spain. Sarah, aged 21, was part of a six-strong under-23 team. In the individual event she finished 24th.

Paul Nixon’s Delhi Jets side made it through to the Indian Cricket League semi-finals, where they were defeated by Chandigarh Lions. Nixon made to two crucial knocks to help his side into the last four of the Twenty20 tournament as he juggled his games for the Jets with events back in the UK to mark his benefit year.