About Ilkley Juniors
About Junior Ilkley Harriers
Junior Ilkley Harriers (JIH) is the junior section of Ilkley Harriers AC, providing a friendly, structured athletics environment for young people who love to run.
We grew out of Ilkley Sportshall Athletics, which began in 2002, when a group of volunteer Ilkley Harriers coaches saw how much talent and enthusiasm there was among local children and wanted to offer more than just Sportshall.
Junior Ilkley Harriers was officially established on 1 September 2003 as a multi‑discipline junior club.
Who JIH is for
JIH caters for children from age 8 up to 16, from those who come for fun and fitness to those who are highly competitive and keen to race.
Due to our size, we can only accept juniors who are first‑claim with Junior Ilkley Harriers.
Athletes aged 16–18 can continue to train at junior‑led sessions as well as senior sessions (or a mixture of both), but they must join the senior section of Ilkley Harriers AC. The senior club is based at the Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club.
What we do
Over the years, our juniors have taken part in a wide range of events, including:
Local and championship‑level fell races
The West Yorkshire Cross Country League and PECO Cross Country series
Yorkshire, Northern and National cross‑country championships
U11, U13 and U15 West Yorkshire Sportshall Athletics trials
For a number of years we also competed in track & field, but we no longer offer T&F as a regular club activity.
Children who join JIH can access all appropriate training and coaching sessions (subject to availability and any waiting lists) and can race in the distinctive red and green Ilkley vest under the club name.
See more on our current sessions here:
Training and Coaching (link).
Standards, policies and colours
We aim to provide a safe, supportive environment for all juniors. Both juniors and parents should read and be familiar with our policies and codes of conduct, which are agreed to when completing the junior membership form.
Juniors who compete regularly for the club can be awarded club colours, presented as embroidered cloth badges.
Coaches, welfare and volunteers
All our coaches and helpers are volunteers who give their time to plan and run sessions. Many have recognised qualifications in athletics coaching, along with Emergency Aid, Safeguarding/Child Protection training and valid DBS checks.
Our three Junior Welfare Officers are:
Mrs Elizabeth Raven
Mrs Kate Lofthouse
Mrs Katrina Kennedy
If you have any concerns, questions about welfare, or need to raise an issue, please contact a welfare officer in the first instance.
We actively encourage parents and older juniors (Year 9 upwards) to help at sessions. From Year 10, we can support juniors to take Leadership Awards or coaching qualifications through England Athletics.
Find out more here:
Volunteers (link)
Coaches and Helpers (link)
How to join and membership
If you would like to find out more about Junior Ilkley Harriers or check for availability of places, please contact:
Shirley Wood
Email: Shirley@ilkleyharriers.org.uk
If there is a place available for your child, you can download a junior membership form and return it at any session to the coach in charge.
Membership is free for juniors who pay session fees and for junior volunteers. For the small number of juniors who do not pay session fees, the annual JIH membership fee covers the cost of England Athletics registration.