Nell Bank Relays & League Awards
Junior Ilkley Harriers, established 2003

Well done to all the children racing in the Nell Bank Relays yesterday. Thankyou to all the volunteers and to Nell Bank for the use of their fabulous venue for our grand finale. Results can be found here.

2025 Details

Saturday 15th March 2025, Nell Bank Centre, Ilkley.

IMPORTANT - Parking details. Please park at the Swimming Pool and walk through (PLEASE DO NOT PARK NEAR NELL BANK ON DENTON ROAD). One teacher/adult representative from each school may park in the small car park at Nell Bank.

This event is restricted to KS2 children from the 12 Wharfedale Primary Schools in the League.

Nell Bank is a DOG FREE AREA so please leave your dog at home, there are no exceptions.

Refreshments and toilet facilities are available at Nell Bank but all activity areas are strictly out of bounds.

We will be using the Nell Bank field for the relay (map below).

Relay Format
Teams of 3 runners in 3 categories - all girls, all boys and mixed. There will be two separate Relay races. One for U11 (Years 5/6 in any combination) and the second for U9 (Years 3/4 in any combination). Stay within age categories, have 3 different runners per team and no doubling up across teams. Schools can enter as many teams as they like.

U11's (Years 5/6) will do a 6 x one lap relay. Leg 1 runner hands over to leg 2 --> leg 3 --> leg 1 --> leg 2 --> leg 3 --> finish. So all three runners will do two laps.
U9's (Years 3/4) will do a 3 x one lap relay. Leg 1 runner --> Leg 2 --> leg 3 --> finish.

Proposed schedule:
9 - 9.20 Register teams - confirm/change runners names & collect race numbers.
9.25 Course/relay format briefing for all Year 5/6 Relay runners.
9.30 - 10am Year 5/6 Relays.
10am* Yr 3/4 Relay runners briefing. * after last 5/6 finisher if later than 10 am
10-05 - 10.25 Year 3/4 Relays.
10.30* Presentation of Awards. (* or earlier/later after last 3/4 finisher)

The Award presentation is likely to finish at 11.20 and we would like everyone to stay until the end. After the U9 relay please could children assemble with their schools on the field/car park and walk up to the amphitheatre together accompanied by a teacher or responsible adult. Children will be asked to remove their footwear and leave them outside before taking their seats in the amphitheatre.

Presentation of Awards

Please note that any queries regarding positioning of KS2 children in any of the five races of the season must have been given to the league organiser by email by the date given on the race 5 results. There is no way of changing the results/league tables after this date as we are working to a schedule.

All children who have competed in 4/5 races in each of the 8 League competitions will be presented with awards. Please encourage as many of these children as possible to be present.

The following certificates and engraved plates will be awarded.
Relay certificate to 1st,2nd,3rd placed teams in U9/U11 races - Girls, Boys, Mixed.
Engraved plate to 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th and 6th placed individuals in the League - G/B, 3,4,5,6
Finish position certificate to all children who have competed in 4/5 races in the series - G/B, 3,4,5,6.

Pre-Enter Teams
In order for the day to run as smooth as possible we would like schools to pre-enter teams (give runners name in running order, Relay category (Girls/Boys/Mixed) and whether U9 (Years 3/4) or U11 (Years 5/6). If team changes need to be made it should be done between 9am and 9.20 on race day or by e-mail before race day to Shirley Wood (shirley@ilkleyharriers.org.uk). Spare runners will be made into composite school teams and although they will be non-competitive they will appear in the results. In addition there will be a few spare older 'Junior Harriers' available to make up teams and run if required.

Race day Registration
On race day could a representative from each school be responsible for collecting an envelope containing team race numbers and safety pins. Numbers should be kept by competitors as a souvenir.

Photo links: Nell Bank XC races; and Nell Bank prizewinners 2015 shots, all by Kevin Boyle photographybybcreative.com.