Ilkley Harriers are proud to have staged the English Junior Uphill Fell Championships in 2007. We staged uphill races before in 2004 as the Black Forest trials race and the inaugural junior English Uphill Championships in 2005. This year there were new courses, and lots of great prizes from sponsors UP & RUNNING and RONHILL.
2007 Report
Many thanks to the 125 juniors (and 10 seniors) who raced over the challenging Junior Uphill Championship courses. 32 clubs were represented with two competitors coming from as far away as Cornwall. Despite bad weather warnings for the area the weather held good throughout the three races and spectators enjoyed some brilliant competitive racing. The first race of the day saw 47 U8+U10 being cheered all the way to White Wells where they enjoyed their reward of a mini chocolate bar and ice pop. The second race had 46 U12+U14's race the tough 2.2km climb right up onto high moor. The 32 U16+U18 followed the same course as the younger age race for the first couple of kilometers but then had an additional triangle loop above Rocky Valley with a nasty hill climb which proved to be for many one of the hardest parts of the race.
Although the rain came down for the prizegiving at White Wells, it didn't dampen anyones enthusiasm with over 70 juniors attending and receiving prizes for their efforts. Ronhill provided so many brilliant prizes - the winners in each age category received complete vest & shorts outfits and there were spot prizes of socks, drinks bottles, caps and relective stips. Every child was able to come to the prize table and choose something. Many thanks to Ronhill for supporting junior fell running.
Photos: Paul's Dave's Brian's Tim's Paddy's
See map. These are challenging uphill-only races. The courses will be
fully marked and marshalled on the day: these notes are mainly for those
who wish to recce the route.
Championship races start on the tarmac track leading to the lower tarn
(as Baht'at). Over the last few months there have been major 'improvements'
to the paths on Ilkley Moor - a significant amount of the course will
now be on compacted sand/gravel paths.
U12 + U14
Run along the track to the lower tarn. At the tarn turn right up the steps
onto the path leading to White Wells. At White Wells take a stepped path
up to join the newly surfaced track - follow this track to just before
the steps. Take the left path into Rocky Valley for 200m, then scramble
up over the steep slope to the right (there is a path). At the top rejoin
the path coming up from the steps. Follow this main track due South for
almost 1km to the finish just before the wooden duck-boards.
U16, U18 and Senior
The course is the same as above until you are within sight of the finish
on the Ilkley side of the ghyll. You then do a loop triangle, initially
going downhill, then a nasty climb back up onto the top followed by a
testing path run into the finish.
See map. Start on the grass near the boating pond. Run upwards parallel to the road to the gap between the hedge and the fence. Follow path to cross the bridge over the ghyll and continue onwards and upwards to finish at the White Wells steps.