Ilkley Harriers Athletic Club

Latest news and results ...

Please send any Harriers results to news@ilkleyharriers.org.uk - they'll be forwarded to Jonathan and Petra for this website, and to Peter, Jill and Will for the newspaper report.

Ilkley Gazette Report – w/c 10 Aug 2026

Mon 10 Aug 2026

[Harriers at the Littondale four-mile road race, photo credit: Woodentops]

From Caroline Howe & Nicola Budding…  

From village galas to fell tops: Harriers make their mark

With mass participation events largely taking a hiatus for the holiday month of August, the racing calendar focus shifted this week to traditional galas and village events.

Sam Bentham won the Arncliffe Gala Fell Race in a field of 150 in a time of 11:07. George Whittlestone was the second Harrier home in 15:11, and other Harriers completing the 1.6m/400 ft BOFRA race included John Hayes, Alison Weston, Paul Atkinson and Fiona Schneider. 122 took part in the junior races, with Joseph Bentham taking third place in the under-17 race.

On the same day, the four-mile Littondale road race took place – a counter in the Harriers race league. This incentive resulted in a great showing of over 20 Harriers on the start line. Matt Newell finished seventh in 21:57, followed by Ian Young (25:05) and Kyle Bethell (25:32) also in the top 20 out of a 200-strong field. There were first-place age category performances by Jonathan Turner (M55) in 26:04, Justin Pierce (M50) in 28:12 and Derek Oliver (M65) in 28:26. Steve Newell, George Whittlestone (completing his third race of the week!), John Hayes, Mike Williams and Rachel Carter were all second in their respective age categories.

Thursday evening was the Eshton Moor Fell Race, organised by Wharfedale Harriers. The five-mile, 550ft race is an out-and-back along the track of the Pennine Way to the woods near Calton. George Whittlestone finished an impressive fourth overall and first MU23 in 37:03, while Rachel Carter was second female and first F50 in 42:31, and Alison Weston was first F60 in 48:39. Other Harriers participating included Iain Young in seventh (39:21), John Hayes in 12th (40:10), Jonathan Turner 19th (41:54) and Holly Digne-Malcolm 27th (45:08).

In the junior races there were some outstanding results. Michael Moore finished first boy in the under-14 race. Isobel Moore finished first girl in the under-12 race and Thomas Bailey was third boy. Alice Gardner added another podium finish – third girl in the under-17 race.

Further afield, Dan Paterson and Mark Judkowski tackled the 40th Lowther Lakeland Fell & Trail Race, which starts in the picturesque surroundings of Lowther Castle. This scenic route crosses Askham Fell and the Lowther Valley, 13 miles in total with roughly 1400ft of ascent.  Dan finished in 2:07:09 with Mark not far behind in 2:11:26.

Notable parkrun performances over the weekend included: Alex Wolfenden, first at Roberts Park in 16:35; Steve Coy, second at Rotherham in 18:42; and Jane McCarthy, second at Glengarriff in 22:28. Both Alex and Steve scored 80%+ age gradings. There were many top ten finishes, and the award for taking part in the parkrun farthest away goes to Pippa and David Singleton in Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly welcoming club, open to all. If you would like to try us out, please register first on the training page at www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk and then come along to our main club night at 6.45pm on Tuesdays, meet upstairs at Ilkley tennis and squash club.

Ilkley Gazette Report – w/c 3 Aug 2026

Mon 3 Aug 2026

[Peter Roll and Geoffrey White at the Round Hill Fell Race, photo credit: Woodentops]

From Peter Shelley & Nicola Budding…  

Juniors and young Harriers to the fore as runners take to the Cumbrian and Yorkshire Fells

Ambleside hosted its annual day of traditional Lakeland sports on Thursday including wrestling, grass track cycling and hound trails. Fell and guide races were the focus for a strong youth and junior Harrier contingent. The ‘Rydal Round’ kicked off proceedings with a 14.5km race incorporating 915m of ascent over the summits of Fairfield and Hart Crag. Sam Bentham underlined his credentials, taking an excellent win in 1:18:50 nearly two minutes clear of the competition. Samesh Chotai finished a strong 14th of 109 in 1:35:35. Both Harriers competed again in the Sports Senior Fell Race later in the day to take 4th and 19th places respectively followed by George Whittlestone in 23rd of 97 finishers.

All the day’s fell races followed a similar up and down format over different distances with a tough outward climb before a fast and challenging descent. This included the U14 boys race in which Michael Moore claimed a strong 5th place and the U12 boys where Thomas Bailey and Oscar Spooner battled well to finish 11th and 29th respectively.

Juniors represented the club again to great effect on Sunday at Farleton Knott Fell Race courtesy of the Dallam Tower Estate. Michael Moore continued his excellent week with another podium finish, taking 3rd in the U14 Race. In the U12 race, Thomas Bailey improved on his Thursday result to finish 5th, while Oscar Spooner came home in 43rd. Isobel Moore had a fantastic race, finishing 2nd girl. In the seniors race George Whittlestone was 14th and Emma Moore 69th.

Saturday saw the running of the Borrowdale Fell Race, one of the Lakeland Classics.  Visiting the summits of Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Dalehead, the route covers 27km of tough terrain and 2,000m of ascent. Alison Weston used her experience to pace it well, picking up places steadily to finish in 4:57:21 and 143rd place winning the F60 category and beating her race times from the previous five years. Daughter Nea Weston followed Alison home in 5:32:32 to take 172th place.

Closer to home, the Round Hill Fell Race took place on Sunday organised by Otley AC. Prevailing dry conditions throughout the weekend saved runners the challenge of the Denton Moor bogs on the 14.1 km route which includes 335m of ascent. Peter Roll finished 22nd and 4th M60. Geoffrey White was 34th, Jo Foster 49th and 1st L55 and Penny Coulthard was 60th.

In Saturday’s parkruns Helen Thurston ran a personal best 21:16 at East Holmes Field. Rafe Garner was 1st JM11-14 in 22:54. Martin Stubbs ran a pb to finish 3rd of 16 in the MV60-64 category. Sue Verspyck also achieved a pb and 4th VW60-64.  

At Roberts Park Michael Moore crossed the line in 19:53 as 1st JM11-14. Isobel Moore celebrated a parkrun pb of 21:22, finishing 1st JW10. Lerryn O’Neil was 1st JW10 at The Cinder Track parkrun near Whitby.

Alexander Wolfenden went the furthest and fastest finishing 1st overall in 17:02 and setting a new course record at Coolum Eco parkrun in Queensland!

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly welcoming club, open to all. If you would like to try us out, please register first on the training page at www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk and then come along to our main club night at 6.45pm on Tuesdays, meet upstairs at Ilkley tennis and squash club.

Ilkley Gazette Report w/c 27 Jul 2026

Tue 28 Jul 2026

From Jill Ezard….

Photo credit Woodentops

Harriers go the extra mile

The racing week started early with four Harriers taking part in the sixth event of the Evensplits Leeds 5k race series. This event sees participants racing against their previous times making use of the flat and fast cycle circuit at the Brownlee Centre. The track was true to its reputation with all four Harriers posting great results. Matt Newell took first place overall finishing in 16:28. Kyle Bethell finished in 18:51 a touch ahead of Steve Newell who took first place in his age group in 20:54. Marie Watson secured a PB and second place in her age group with a time of 22:17. There are just four events left in the series for anyone wanting to improve their 5k times.

The remaining races for the club this week were not so quick to finish. On Saturday ten Harriers headed to Greenfield, Greater Manchester to take on the Alderman’s Ascent, an innocuous sounding 8.5k run. Taking in a lung busting 400m of ascent the race is far from a walk in the park and this year again, was one of the counters for the English Fell Running Championships. It’s a classic fell route, visiting the iconic ‘Pots and Pans’ monument before heading out to the highest point at Shaw Rocks. A long, technical downhill does not signal the end as participants face the long uphill to the shoulder of Alderman’s Hill where it is finally downhill all the way. Harriers took two podium places in the race: Ben Rothery continued to show his fell running prowess winning the race in 35:21, keeping him at the top of the table in the standings for the 2026 championships; Sam Bentham took third place overall and second in his age category in 37:01, placing him equal third in the championship standings; Ed Hobbs was next over the line in 39:01 followed by Jack Cummings in 40:53. It was a great fell turn out for the female Harriers: Katie Poulter was the first to finish in 56:31 closely followed by Alison Weston in 01:01:35; Shauna Burke and Rebecca Mon-Williams were close behind in 1:03:14 and 1:05:22 respectively; Alison Bennett took fifth place in her age category finishing in 1:12:11; and Jacqui Weston completed her first fell race in 1:21:47.

In contrast Jaysson Sawyer was the only Harrier to venture north for the Northumberland Coastal Run, a challenging and unmarked 14k run on road, sand and trail. Running to beat the tides, participants run from Beadnell Harbour to the Alnmouth Estuary with a strict cut off time. Jaysson was not in any danger of missing the three and a half hour cut off completing the course in a fantastic 1:32:17 in ninth place overall and fifth in his age category. 

And the runs just got longer as three Harriers headed to the lakes to take part in the Montane Lakeland 100/50 races. Kate Archer opted for the 50 mile event, a challenging race with nearly 3000 metres of ascent covering the last half of the longer event. Far from being an easy option the route starts from the northern end of Ullswater within the grand Dalemain Estate before following the eastern shore line as far as Howtown. A quick climb and descent followed by a trek along the banks of Haweswater sees participants at Mardale Head. The route from here visits Long Sleddale, Kentmere, Ambleside, Langdale and Tilberthwaite before the final climb and descent to the finish at Coniston. Kate had a superb run completing the event in a staggering 9:58:20 taking tenth place and fourth in her age category. 

Whilst Kate had a leisurely start at 10am on Saturday morning, Kirsty Wicks and Helen Ward had already been on the 100 mile course for 16 hours, having started the event in Coniston at 6pm on Friday evening. From Coniston the first half of the route heads south before completing a clockwise loop which takes in the Dunnerdale fells, Eskdale, Wasdale and Buttermere before arriving in Keswick. From here the route heads to Matterdale before the halfway point at Haweswater. Taking in the whole of the Lakeland fells and a punishing 6300m of ascent, this is a race that many want to conquer but few succeed. And this year was no different with over 35% of participants not making it to the finish line. Huge congratulations to Kirsty and Helen therefore who both completed the race, finishing within seconds of each other in 38:02:44 and 38:03:51 respectively.  A fantastic achievement!

And finally, the Harriers were out in force at parkruns at home and abroad this week with 48 people taking part in events. There were top ten placings for Samesh Chotai (1) at Bowling Park, Michael Odell (2) and Steve Coy (9) at East Holmes Field, Sally Malir (7) at Lister Park, Rachel Carter (3) at Mitchelton in Australia, Finn Maxwell (6) at Roberts Park and Jaysson Sawyer (2) at Wallaceneuk. Samesh’s first place may have bagged him an age grading of 80.22% but it couldn’t beat Geoff Howard whose run placed him at 84.22%. Well done to everyone who took part.

Lakeland 50 & 100 – Fri/Sun 24/26 Jul 2026

Sun 26 Jul 2026

From Kate Archer…

I managed to secure an entry in the ballot to the Lakeland 50, the shorter option to the Lakeland 100 ‘Ultra Tour of the Lake District’ (which is actually 105 miles, while the 50 is ‘only’ 49). We arrived in Coniston on Friday afternoon. The atmosphere on the event field is great, with most of the over 2,000 runners camping, a lot with their families. We enjoyed a beer on the field at registration on the Friday afternoon before the 100-mile runners, which included Helen Ward and Kirsty Wicks, set off at 6pm. The 50-mile event starts at 10am the next day from Dalemain and is the second half of the longer race.

I have run both races before, but was still surprised at how tough it was, despite the weather being kind (not too hot or wet). The climbs are long and the tracks are rocky. But there are frequent well-stocked checkpoints and lots of supporters on the route which keep spirits high. I was running with a few others into the last checkpoint when someone said we might be able to make it back within 10 hours. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to cover the last 3.5 miles in the required time, especially as there is a steep climb (Jacob’s ladder) before the final descent. I made it to the road about a mile from the finish with 9 mins remaining on the clock so it was then what felt like a sprint to cross the finish line in 9:58:20, 10^th F. Looking at the results, I was shortly followed by another Harrier, Charlie Kay, who finished in 10:42.

Kirsty and Helen battled through two nights and finished the 100 within a minute of each other, in 38:02 and 38:03 respectively. The drop-out rate is about 50% so a huge achievement!

Ilkley Gazette Report w/c 20 Jul 2026

Tue 21 Jul 2026

From Nigel Illingworth and Nicola Budding…

Harriers storm to titles, records and fell-running glory

Ilkley Harriers enjoyed a packed week of racing, with standout performances across the Harrogate District Summer Race League (HDSRL) finale, classic fell races, junior competitions and parkrun events, including team titles, individual wins, course records and a host of personal bests.

The HDSRL season reached its traditional, high-spirited conclusion this week with the running of the Norman Smith Handicap Race, hosted by Otley AC.The unique event—which serves as both the final race of the series and the official presentation ceremony—sees runners set off in small groups at 30-second intervals based on their performances in the previous four races. In theory, the handicap format is designed to bring the entire field together for a dramatic finish, ensuring every participant remains in contention until the final strides of the 5.3-mile course.

In the individual handicap results for the race itself, Matthew Thackwray finished in first place with a net time of 28:05. He was followed by Harry Brook-Dobson, who took fourth in 32:38, and Jaysson Sawyer, who finished fifth in 33:20. Over 50 Harriers took part in the league, with many more lending their support through volunteering. Among the highlights of the evening was the presence of Ilkley and Otley stalwart Antonio Cardinale; currently recovering from illness, he was on hand to enjoy the atmosphere and catch up with teammates. The focus later shifted to the cricket club for the series presentations, where Ilkley Harriers were rewarded for a dominant summer of team and individual success. Following a series of outstanding performances, Matthew Thackwray was officially crowned the Overall Series Champion, while teammate Matt Newell secured an excellent third place overall. The men’s team enjoyed a trophy-laden evening, taking home the titles for first Vets Team, first Supervets Team, and first Elite Team, while also securing third place in the competitive Main Team category. In the age-group standings, both Thackwray and Jonathan Turner collected prizes for their consistent performances across the series. The Harriers’ female contingent also put in a solid shift, finishing tenth in the overall team rankings and seventh in the Vets category.

 

On Sunday, the Cracoe Fell Race, a staple of the British Open Fell Running Association (BOFRA) circuit, lived up to its reputation as a “short and sharp” test of mettle this past weekend. Known for its raw, traditional character, the race provided the usual stern challenge, starting with its infamous “trailer and wall” obstacle before sending runners on a gruelling 2.6-mile dash to the landmark pinnacle and back. Ilkley Harriers were out in force, tackling the steep terrain with notable success. Gawain Moore put in a stellar performance, finishing third overall and claiming the first MV45 spot in 24:06. He was followed by George Whittlestone, who secured 11^th place overall in 26:00. In the ladies’ categories, Katie Poulter showcased her strength to finish as first LV40 in a time of 30:06. The junior runners also represented the club with great enthusiasm across the younger age categories. In the Under-12 race, Isobel Moore crossed the line in ninth position, taking second girl with a time of 8:53, while Harris Poulter finished 14^th in 9:25 and Oscar Spooner completed the course in 12:19. Georgia Poulter also put in a determined effort in the Under-9 category, finishing in 3:48.

 

The Pinnacle Ridge Extreme lived up to its billing as the UK’s most technical and “pure” Skyrunning challenge this past weekend, but for one Ilkley Harrier, the brutal Lake District course proved to be the stage for a spectacular masterclass. Based out of Patterdale Hall in Glenridding, this elite event is designed only for those as comfortable climbing as they are running. Covering 28km with a staggering 2,700m of ascent, the route is a relentless test of mental and physical fortitude, featuring five graded scrambles and iconic, exposed traverses including Striding Edge, Swirral Edge, and the namesake Pinnacle Ridge itself. With entry strictly vetted to ensure participants possess high-level alpine and lead climbing experience, the field was limited to fewer than 100 of the sport’s most capable mountain specialists.Among this exclusive group, Ilkley Harrier Ben Rothery delivered a performance that will long be remembered by those who witnessed it. Demonstrating exceptional confidence on the loose scree and technical ridges, Rothery navigated the course with clinical precision to take the victory. Not only did he claim the top spot in the MSEN category, but he did so by setting a blistering new course record of 3:37:25.

 

The Pete Bland Kentmere Horseshoe remains one of the most prestigious “classic” fixtures in the English Lake District, and this year’s running served as another poignant tribute to the race’s namesake, a legendary figure in the fell running community. Covering approximately 12.3 miles with 3,300 feet of ascent, the clockwise circuit around the head of the Kentmere Valley is a rigorous test of endurance, requiring both genuine navigational skill and a reliable head for the exposed ridges of Ill Bell, High Street, and Kentmere Pike. Representing Ilkley Harriers in a field defined by its high-quality mountain specialists, Oli Murphy delivered a standout performance. Navigating the brutal climbs and technical descents with composure, Murphy crossed the finish line in an impressive tenth place, clocking a competitive time of 1:39:52. In a race where the course records stand as daunting benchmarks for elite performance, Murphy’s top-ten finish serves as a testament to his strength and consistency across the rugged Lakeland fells.

Elsewhere, it has been a busy and successful week for the club’s junior section. Tuesday evening saw six Junior Harrier teams enjoy a sunny evening of competition at the Junior Relays at Golden Acre Park. Meanwhile, at the West Yorkshire Track & Field League held at Thornes Park in Wakefield, Heather Crolla claimed a dominant victory in the U16 Girls Discus with a throw of 22.75m, while Rosa Crolla secured second in the U14 Girls Discus with 16.87m. Finally, the club is celebrating strong final standings in the FRA Junior Fell Running Championships, with impressive performances from Joseph Bentham (sixth U18 Boys), George Whittlestone (seventh U20 Boys), Oscar Shinn (eighth U20 Boys), and Michael Moore (eighth U14 Boys).

 

It was a weekend of remarkable speed for the Ilkley Harriers at parkrun events both local and international, with a flurry of personal bests recorded across the board. At East Holmes Field, Stephen Coy led the way with an outstanding first-place finish, clocking 18:37 for a new personal best and a high age-grading of 81.2%. He was followed closely by James Horrex in third (19:11). In the women’s field, Sally Armitage and Louise Nash both celebrated new personal bests, finishing eighth and ninth respectively, while further personal bests were achieved by Gaenor Coy (26:26), Rafe Garner (22:49), and Robin Ashe (33:45). The form continued at Lister Park, where Nura Allen took third female (23:34 PB) and Mariam Allen claimed fourth female (24:18 PB). Harry Brook-Dobson finished sixth male in 19:55, with Sally Malir crossing as sixth female in 24:55. Meanwhile, at Chevin Forest, James Ryder secured tenth place in 23:13. Harriers also made their mark on the global stage. At Atherton Parkrun in Australia, Alexander Wolfenden dominated the field to finish first in 16:44, with Rachel Carter taking second female in 21:37 and Julian Carter finishing sixth male in 22:08. Across in Italy, Samesh Chotai put in a commanding performance to secure first place at the Farfalle Parkrun with a swift 17:32.

HDSRL #5 – Norman Smith Handicap Race and Presentation Evening – Wed 15 Jul 2026

Sun 19 Jul 2026

From Alison Bennett…

It was a night of eager anticipation and excitement as to who would win the HDRSL handicap race, hosted by Otley AC.  

Start times for the event are determined by performances in the preceding races and runners set off in small groups at 30 second intervals with the fastest runners setting off last. In theory all runners should cross the finish line simultaneously, but this also means that everyone is in with a chance of winning by outperforming their handicap. This year the 5.3 mile handicap race was won by Alexandra Whapples of Vocalink Running Club. Ilkley Harriers first finisher was Phil Chappell in 13^th place.

It was great to see Antonio Cardinale, a fixture of these events in the past but currently recovering from illness, being present to watch the start and finish, enjoy the atmosphere and catch up with team-mates from Otley and Ilkley.

Afterwards, runners made their way to Otley Cricket Club for refreshments and the race series presentations. Outstanding performances in the races determined that Ilkley’s Matthew Thackwray was awarded Overall Champion with Matt Newell 3^rd. The men had a fantastic series receiving the trophies for:  1^st Vets Team, 1^st Supervets Team, 1^st Elite Team and were also 3^rd in the Main Team. Ilkley’s females were 10^th team and 7^th placed Vets. Age Category prizes were won by Matthew Thackwray and Jonathan Turner.

This series is a great opportunity for team camaraderie and socialising. Over 50 Ilkley Harriers took part running this year, but several others came to support and many more volunteered at the race hosted by the club. See you all, and more, next year!

Ilkley Gazette Report w/c 13 Jul 2026

Tue 14 Jul 2026

From Luke Watkeys and Nicola Budding…

Photo credit Paul Sugden

Ilkley Harriers dominate home half marathon in heatwave conditions

Our racing week began over in Derbyshire on Monday 6 July, when the Hathersage Gala Fell Race offered a quintessentially British, community-spirited evening run as part of the village’s gala week celebrations. This short and punchy Category BS race stretches 7.3 km (4.5 miles) with 325 m (1,066 feet) of climbing. Nathan Coy was the sole representative for the Harriers, delivering a strong performance to finish 23rd out of 220 finishers in the senior race with a time of 36:08.

Come Wednesday evening, the action shifted to the Lake District for the classic Seat Sandal Fell Race. The Category AS course squeezes roughly 700 m (2,297 feet) of severe vertical climbing into a brief 7.4 km (4.6 miles) route around Grasmere. Sam Bentham put on a spectacular performance for the club, conquering the brutal gradient to cross the line as the outright race winner in a superb time of 42:28.

On Friday evening, Michael Odell travelled to the University of York Sport Village Cycle Circuit for the monthly EvenSplits York 5K. The flat and fast circuit is a favourite for runners chasing personal bests. Michael, who serves as the race organiser for our town’s half marathon and 5K, managed to sneak in a high-quality run before a frantic weekend of volunteering duties. He delivered a fantastic performance on the track, finishing 15th out of 72 runners in a rapid 16:55.

Moving to the weekend, Saturday saw plenty of action in the Lake District. Emma Sheppard represented the club at the Lakeland Trails Ultra, taking on the 55k Challenge, a well-organised and testing ultra-marathon course through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Lakes, with the added element of the sunshine and heat. The route encompasses three mountain passes, with over 2,100 m (7,000 feet) of elevation. Out of 192 finishers, Emma delivered a fantastic performance, placing 25th overall and fourth in her category, crossing the line in 9:27:10.

Elsewhere in the Lakes, it was a battle against the elements at the Wasdale Fell Race, widely regarded as one of the toughest and most uncompromising events on the UK fell running calendar. Facing heatwave conditions, organisers implemented the first-ever ‘hot weather course’, shortening the route from 34 km with 2,750 m of elevation to 27 km (16.75 miles) with 1,800 m (6,000 feet) of climb. Runners still faced a brutal, sun-baked ascent through the bracken up Seatallan and Pillar, with many relying on mountain streams to refill bottles and pour water over their heads. The final sting in the tail was a steep climb up Lingmell Nose before descending to the finish, where the majority of the field immediately sat in the river afterwards to cool down. Alison Weston put in a tremendously gritty performance to finish 63rd overall in 5:01:01, claiming first place in her category. Charles Wain also took to the start line and gave it an honourable, hard-fought go, but was unfortunately forced to register a DNF as the oppressive conditions took their toll.

Sunday was headlined by the seventh edition of the ever-popular Ilkley Half Marathon, alongside the second running of the Ilkley 5K. For the second year in a row, the home event was held in gruelling heatwave conditions. The scenic half marathon route took runners through Ilkley, out to Addingham, and back via the country lanes before the final climb at Nesfield, often a shock for the uninitiated. Thankfully, the residents of Ilkley, Addingham, and surrounding villages came out in force, providing vital relief with water guns, hoses, and sweets to support the field of over 1,800 half-marathon finishers.

The day belonged to the Harriers, who dominated the top spots at the front of the field. Edward Hobbs claimed a spectacular victory, winning the half marathon in a blistering time of 1:08:44 to take first place. Jack Cummings followed closely, securing third place in 1:10:48, and Nathan Edmondson ensured a strong team showing by crossing the line in fifth place in 1:13:19. Oscar Stapleton completed the top-tier sweep, finishing 12th in 1:19:08. Nick Kealey delivered a fantastic performance to finish 22nd overall and win his category in 1:22:36. Kate Archer led the Ilkley ladies home with an outstanding run, finishing 104th overall and second in her category with a time of 1:30:49. Geoffrey Howard rounded out the podium success by claiming an inspirational victory in his category, crossing the line in 2:05:36.

Over in the Ilkley 5K, which attracted 283 runners, the club celebrated further category success. Daniel McKeown led the charge for the club, finishing seventh overall and claiming first place in his category in a rapid 18:04. Sebastian Livesley finished 13th overall, taking the top spot in the U13 category in 19:29. Milena Morgan shone in the ladies’ field, finishing 18th overall and second in the U15 category with a brilliant time of 20:10. Claire Mcloughlin and Georgina Hamill locked out the top positions in their category, finishing first and second in 22:19 and 22:21 respectively. Heidi Frank also tasted victory, winning the U17 category in 24:57, and Robin Ashe rounded out the category winners by taking first place in his category in 36:22.

 

Turning to parkrun, the home fixture at East Holmes Field attracted 186 participants, including ten Harriers. Kyle Bethell finished third in 20:26. Sam Angus followed closely in eighth place with a time of 21:39. Maddie Morris led the Ilkley ladies home, finishing 31st overall and sixth female in 25:31.

 

Further afield, Harriers were in action up and down the country and even overseas. Andrew Wilson took on the most exotic venue of the weekend, finishing the Mura di Lucca parkrun in Italy in 28:33. On home soil, Samesh Chotai enjoyed another outright victory on his parkrun tour, crossing the line first at Cliffe Castle in a rapid 17:38. There was a family affair over at Blaise Castle in Bristol where Stephen Coy led a trio of Harriers home in a highly placed seventh overall (20:30), supported by Nathan Coy in 29th (22:37) and Gaenor Coy in 126th (27:03). Two more top-ten finishes rounded out a superb weekend of running; Harry Brook-Dobson secured tenth place in a competitive field of 493 runners at Roberts Park in 19:34, and Jonathan Turner claimed an excellent eighth place at Lister Park in 20:53.

 

Wasdale Fell Race – Sat 11 Jul 2026

Mon 13 Jul 2026

From Alison Weston…

Saturday saw the first ‘hot weather course ‘ for Wasdale fell race, or maybe any fell race – there is usually only the bad weather alternative!

Shortened to 16.75 miles with 6,000 ft climbing instead of 21 miles with 9,000 ft and with more generous cut offs. Sadly the last bit was chopped off (Great Gable and Scafell) rather the fast runnable – ish start, up to Whin Rigg and then down to Greendale. Then a very hot and humid climb up through the bracken to a very needed stream and on to Seatallan. Contouring up towards the col between Red Pike and Little Scoat Fell we passed a few more little streams to refill bottles again and pour water onto our heads. Up to pillar I was counting on there being a bit of a breeze but no such luck. 

Then for this shortened course we descended from Black Sail pass to Wasdale Head with a sting in the tail climb up to Lingmell nose for the final checkpoint. I’m surprised prize giving didn’t take place in the river as that’s where the majority of runners sat afterwards!

Winner was Tom Spencer 2:56 hrs from Dark Peak with a 20 min lead.

Alison was 63rd out of 109 starters in 5:01hrs

1st LV60 (out of 2!)

Ilkley Gazette Report w/c 6 Jul 2026

Tue 7 Jul 2026

From Caroline Howe and Nicola Budding…

Photo credit Philip Bland

Hobbs and Cummings make it a Harriers one-two at popular Leeds race

It was a spectacular Ilkley one-two at the Eccup 10-mile road race at the weekend. The race takes place on closed roads following a scenic route through the country lanes around Eccup reservoir, making this Leeds’ most popular 10-mile road race. Ed Hobbs powered home over the undulating course to take an impressive victory in 51:25, three minutes ahead of team-mate Jack Cummings in 54:20. Robin Tuddenham was third Harrier in 1:05:31, while an excellent run by Lucy Kay saw her finish first in the F40 age category in 1:09:39 and sixth female overall. Tony Pye was close behind in 1:09:54, while Sally Malir was second F60 in 1:24:26.

In the junior Eccup races, Isobel Moore finished second female and sixth overall in the 1-mile race in 6:11. Michael Moore finished second in the 2-mile road race in 11:49. Great results by both.

Staying on the roads, the fourth instalment of the Harrogate District Road League was hosted by Ilkley Harriers on Tuesday evening. The runners were met with heavy rain as they made their way around the hilly 5-mile route. Despite many Ilkley Harriers taking on volunteering duties, there was also a large contingent of over 30 competing, with Harry Brook-Dobson first Harrier home in eighth place, followed by Nick Kealey in tenth, and first in the M50 category. Jaysson Sawyer, Alistair Brown, Jonathan Turner and Mike Williams were all second in their respective age categories. Kathryn Hamilton was the first female Harrier home and was third in the F40 age category, and Marie Watson was the next female Harrier and fourth in the same age category. Diane Kitchen meanwhile placed third in the F65 category.

Rachel Carter took on her first ultra distance event with the Pennine 39 – actually a 37-mile route which takes in wild trails, far horizons and majestic scenery in what is arguably the most stunning section of the Pennine Way. The challenging route relies on self-navigation and takes in the magnificent geological feature of High Cup Nick and Cross Fell, the highest point of England outside of the Lake District. Scrambling up wet rocks, gusty 30mph winds, and spending seven miles alone on Cross Fell ridge made this quite the experience for Rachel, who finished the challenge in 10^th place and first lady, within her 11-hour target.

Over in the Lakes, three pairs of Harriers took part in the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon. The event comprises six linear courses of varying lengths and technical difficulty, and one ‘score’ course where competitors choose which controls to visit over a two-day total of 12 hours. The first day finishes at a mid-way campsite. The event started this year from St John’s in the Vale, with the overnight camp near Dockray.

The weather was wet throughout, with low cloud and high winds, but the terrain was decent with lots of route choice, especially in the score class. Dave and Kelly Wilby finished 36th (10th mixed team) on Carrick Fell in 11 hours 2 minutes. Harry Brook-Dobson and Edwyn Oliver-Evans were sixth in Fairfield with a score of 590 points in 11 hour 43 minutes. Alison and Nea Weston were 13th in Fairfield class with 535 points and 13th (second female team) in 11 hours 44 minutes.

Staying in the Lakes, Sam Bentham won the Langdale Gala fell race, with a course record, in 16:21 over the 1.4 mile course which boasts 980ft of ascent.

Plenty of Harriers took on parkruns this weekend, with Samesh Chotai coming first at Bramley in 17:05. Harriers were represented far and wide, with other impressive finishing positions including Alex Foyn, third at Malmo Ribersborg; Sarah Marsden, fourth at Blackpool; and Alison Bennett, fifth at Loch Leven. Alison and Geoff Howard (Skipton) both achieved 80%+ age gradings.

Pennine 39 – Sat 4 Jul 2026

Mon 6 Jul 2026

From Rachel Carter…

I’ve never walked or run more than 26 miles, but this race caught my eye because seeing High Cup Nick, a U-shaped glacial valley in the North Pennines, has been on my to-see list for a few years. With the race blurb describing it as the most stunning section of the Pennine Way, taking in the infamous Cross Fell and Greg’s Hut, I thought I’d enter for a nice run-walk day out.

I was quite a late entry, so expected the distance to be a challenge. I hadn’t done a long run since training for the Three Peaks and Leeds Marathon and, beyond taking a few gels for those races, I had no experience of fuelling for longer distances. With an expected completion time of less than 11 hours, I was allocated the later 9am start from Bowlees and my game plan was simply to eat every 30-40 minutes and just keep going.

Needless to say, I succeeded. However the most memorable challenges of the day were not achieving the distance or fuelling my body, but scrambling up wet rocks beside Cauldron Snout (just don’t look down, I kept telling myself) and spending seven or so miles alone high on the Cross Fell ridge in the rain and gusty 30mph winds. Definitely type 2 fun in my book.

I was very grateful for the GPS line on my watch, as getting my map and compass out would have been a challenge. It guided me over a number of smaller peaks, marked by tall stone-built cairns that appeared out of the mist with little warning. After tagging the cairn at Cross Fell, the infamous Greg’s Hut appeared, then quickly disappeared again into the cloud before a very long, undulating descent to Garrigill in the valley.

The final few miles along a riverside path were very pleasant and I even took my jacket off and began to dry out. The finish is at Alston Youth Hostel, where I was warmly welcomed by the Nav 4 Adventure team with homemade soup, traybakes and shared tales of the day. I don’t think the event is really viewed as a race, and that’s certainly how I approached it, but the results sheet showed I was 10th out of 44 finishers and, just, first lady!

So would I do it again – not sure! I would certainly like to return to see High Cup Nick and Cross Fell (and the views it affords) in better weather, but maybe if I’m tempted to complete a longer distance again it might not involve the highest peak in England outside the Lake District.

Saunders Mountain Marathon – Sat/Sun 4/5 Jul 2026

Sun 5 Jul 2026

From Alison Weston…

Three pairs from the Harriers took part in the Saunders 2 day Lakeland mountain marathon starting this year from St John’s in the Vale, with the overnight camp near Dockray.

The weather was pretty wet most of the weekend with low cloud and high winds but the terrain was OK with lots of route choice, especially in the score class. Nice and sociable at the camp when the rain stopped and a very impressive number of portaloos! 

Results

Dave + Kelly Wilby 36th (10th mixed team) in Carrock Fell class (11hr2) 

Harry Brook-Dobson + Edwyn Oliver-Evans 6th in Fairfield class with a score of 590 points (11hr43)

Alison and Nea Weston 13th in Fairfield class with 535 points (2nd female team) 11hr44.

Harrogate District Summer Race League #4 Tue 30 Jun 2026

Thu 2 Jul 2026

From Alison Bennett…

Photo credit Gaenor Coy

It was a club night with a difference as 36 Ilkley Harriers were joined by 349 runners from other clubs as Ilkley hosted the 4^th race in the HDSRL. This event also required at least a further 35 club members to be helpers at the start, finish, marshalling around the course and serving food afterwards at the rugby club.  Huge thanks must go to Neil Chapman, who as race director, put in countless hours of preparation to ensure that the event could go ahead and his hard work resulted in a successful, enjoyable evening of which the club can be proud.

The starter’s gun was the signal not just for the race to begin, but also the rain and no one escaped being drenched. After a lap of West Holmes field, the 5-mile course took runners up the long, steep Owler Park Road, across the bridle way to Slates Lane, then to a speedy descent of Carters Lane before the final flat mile along Denton Road to the finish in the field at the rugby club.

The race was won by John Ashcroft of Otley. Ilkley had some strong performances. Leading the men in 8^th position was Harry Brook-Dobson followed by 10^th Nick Kealey (and 1^st in his age category), and 20^th Jaysson Sawyer. Jaysson, Alistair Brown, Jonathan Turner and Mike Williams were all 2^nd in their respective age categories. 

The first Ilkley lady to finish was Kathryn Hamilton 19^th female, followed by Marie Watson and Hannah Osieku in the top 50 females. 

The camaraderie on the evening was the standout feature of the event which wasn’t dampened by the weather. It was a joy to see so many club members drawn together either running or helping on an evening when most townsfolks would be staying at home; not knowing the fun they were missing out on.

This was the final competition race in the series before the handicap race and competition prize-giving at Otley on 15^th July. 

Results

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