Junior Ilkley Harriers is the junior section of Ilkley Harriers AC and
provides training, racing, and social activities for young athletes. The
Club colours are red and green. Please send any enquiries to Shirley (email
).
Fells
There are opportunities for juniors to train on the fells and
compete in both FRA and BOFRA events.
In 2015 Ruaridh Mon Williams, Sarah Pickering, Jemima Elgood
and Lucy Haines were selected to represent England in the World
Mountain Running Championships in Hungary. They followed in the
footsteps of Georgia Malir (2011) and Lucy Williamson (2013) and
since then other juniors have gained their England vests - Euan
Brennan and Bethan Morley (2017); Bernadette Raven (2018); Emily
Gibbins (2022) and Sam Bentham (2023)
(photo Dave Woodhead)
Sportshall Athletics
A good number of the juniors we coach start in the Sportshall
Athletics programme.
We encourage attendance at the regional SHA trials and over the
years a number of our juniors have represented West Yorkshire,
North Yorkshire or Leeds at U11, U13 or U15 level.
Cross Country
Some juniors solely train and compete in the endurance programme.
Ilkley caters for cross-country runners of all ages and abilities
from organising the local Wharfedale Primary Schools XC League
to competing at club level at the PECO and West Yorkshire Leagues
and Yorkshire, Northern and National Championship events.
(photo: Dave Woodhead)
Junior Leadership Award
All our juniors, Year 10 and older have the opportunity to help
at coaching sessions and gain nationally recognised awards.
Year 9's are able to help at sessions just to be helpful!
The photo shows our very first set of 13 junior Leaders who were
presented with their Level 2 Award in Sports Leadership at the
Ilkley Harriers Presentation Evening, January 2012.
Combined Events
Unfortunately we no longer do T&F Athletcs but we encourage
athletes to not specialise until they're older.
Harry Maslen has been a great ambassador to our athletics programme
over the years. He is in the group photo as a youngster gaining
his Gold Level 2 SHA Decathlon award and inset in 2015 competing
for England and gaining a bronze medal in the U20 Decathlon Home
International Championships at Hexham.
Autumn term 2024 Coaching Programme
See Training and Coaching for more details.
GENERAL PROGRAMME: Open to everyone - all
abilities & newcomers (Year 3+)
Please contact Shirley if you are interested in any of these sessions
and she will put you in contact with the appropriate lead coach who
will put your child on their waiting list.
Monday: Sportshall Athletics, IGS sports hall, Years
4-7, 5.45 to 7pm. .
Wednesday: Endurance Running, IGS field, Years 3-11.
6pm to 6.45
Thursday: Sportshall Athletics, IGS sports hall, Years
3-7, 6pm to 7.15.
SPECIFIC PROGRAMME: For juniors who compete
for Ilkley ONLY (Years 7 to 13).
We expect a high level of commitment, motivation, self discipline and
behaviour and the maturity to work hard in smaller coaching groups with
specific coaches. All juniors must want to continue with athletics and
to train to compete. Your commitment to us is to compete for the junior
Harriers. Contact Shirley if you are interested in doing any of these
sessions.
Monday: Fell Running Training, Ilkley Moor, 6pm to
7pm.
Wednesday: Speed endurance Training, IGS field. 6.15
to 7.30.
Thursday: Sally Malir’s 'by invitation only'
small mentored group of Year 9+ (sessions organised with individuals).
If interested speak to Kate Lofthouse.