organised more than doubled to 7 this year, with a similar number organised by the Junior section. A fundamental change this year was to grant race organisers a greater degree of autonomy whilst still giving every support possible. This has been successful – our races are popular, enjoyable, and have a reputation for quality organisation. Peter Shields’ YVAA Road Relays at the Lido went swimmingly well, and we have been asked to stage the event again this year. Neil Chapman and Shirley Wood’s PECO XC set everyone talking with its ‘river crossing’. Paul and Shirley Wood’s Ilkley Moor fell race was hit by snow this year but was still one of the biggest and best local fell races. Neil Chapman’s race started the HDRL season on a high note. We took over the organisation of the Will Ramsbotham Badger Stone Relays and the number of teams increased from 6 to 51. Lawrence Basham’s IlkleyTrail Race attracted some 270 runners and raised over £1100 for the Revival Centre and Orphanage in Matugga, Ugunda. After a gap of 20 years, Paul Wood and Graham Maud revived the Addingham Gala fell race. And Geoff Howard’s Ilkley Incline continues to attract an enthusiastic crowd of uphill enthusiasts.
2010/2011 looks set to have more exciting developments, including a new 5 mile road race organised by Neil Chapman to raise funds for local lad Ben Smithson. We’ve named the race organisers here, but they have been supported by an army of race officials, timekeepers, marshals, caterers, and other helpers – thank you to them all.
Other activities
The many successful Club activities this year have been steered by the Committee, rather than managed by it. Again, this is a necessary evolution as the Club grows. As an example, Ewan Welsh coordinated a
successful new series of mid-month social events, approved and supported by the Committee. Overall, we were able to offer support for more social events this year than for many years and many Harriers enjoyed the benefits. We’re pleased to report that despite the costs of fuelling these events with free buffets and the like, the Club has still made a small surplus on its accounts this year. The Treasurer will report separately.
At the start of the year we published a Development Plan to set targets for this year and in the main those targets have been achieved. We have struggled in areas where outside factors have caused problems: UK Athletics has only just put its coach training program in order; the Ilkley Gazette’s sports editing has been somewhat erratic. In the new Committee year the Development Plan will be reviewed and a new Plan created. Earlier in the year the Club achieved ClubMark accreditation, a ‘quality mark’ for sports clubs. A tangible benefit was the review and documentation of the Club procedures and policies which are now ion good order.
Another declared aim this year was to inform and involve non-Committee members with Committee activities. Agendas and minutes were published in advance on the web site, and the Meeting itself moved to a more accessible post- Tuesday-run slot.
This has not resulted in many non- Committee members ‘dropping in’, but the opportunity is there. And there have certainly been valuable contributions made by non-Committee members working with the Committee on various projects, for example Jann Smith’s contribution to Club Kit. In summary, there has been some real development in Ilkley Harriers this year, and we have a great base to build on next year, our 25th Anniversary year.
ILKLEY HARRIERS NEWSLETTER • SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2010 5
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