JUNIOR Ilkley Harriers have thanks Ilkley Parish Council for a donation of £7,000 towards the building of a new training facility.

The club is currently fundraising for a new Compact Athletics Training Facility (CATF) on the Ilkley Grammar School playing fields at Ben Rhydding. The money from the parish council will be specifically used for the construction of the javelin throwing area.

The CATF is L-shaped and an innovative design wrapped around two sides of Ilkley Town’s 3G football pitch being built this summer. The athletics element will cost £280,000 and be added in spring 2018 and comprises of a 15m wide southern strip for an eight lane all weather 100m running straight leading into a jumps pit. The 17m wide eastern strip has provision for all the throws on marked hard standing. The grass to the east will double up as a throws landing area and endurance training area. The high jump and open building and a throws wall will be added at a later date.

Junior Ilkley Harriers is a voluntary grassroots club which offers athletics training for all abilities. Over a decade ago it set up the popular Wharfedale Primary School’s cross-country league which has seen thousands of children participate in running with seven of those juniors going on to represent England at Mountain Running. Many others have continued to enjoy participating in running at all levels or have extended their interest into Sportshall Athletics and Track & Field Athletics. One junior has risen to the heights of being ranked third U23 Decathlete in the country but this achievement required travelling much further afield to train on ‘real’ athletics facilities.

Shirley Wood said: "As a club we believe that all children in Wharfedale should have the opportunity to do the fundamental skills of running, jumping and throwing either for fun and fitness or to develop skills further and compete. The CATF will not only support the club’s junior athletes but also offer athletics to all the local schools and wider community. It also allows those with talent to continue to train locally. This facility is unique and would meet a demand for local athletics activities all year round. We want to offer children of all ages and abilities ‘Come & Try it’ athletics sessions; short taster blocks of athletics; run virtual leagues and award schemes and introduce innovative low level competition formats to children. We have strong support from coaches, volunteers and parents and lots of enthusiasm to make this happen.

"But we need the community’s help. To date Junior Ilkley Harriers has raised £25,000 towards the project and a member’s investment loan will be launched in the autumn. Ilkley Carnival funding of £8,600 has specifically been used for the construction of the shot put area of the CATF. We have applied for £50,000 from Sport England and are currently awaiting the outcome of our application. To make this dream a reality we would really like to hear from anyone in the local community, individual or business who has £5,000 or more to support other areas of the CATF such as the 100m straight or individual lanes, the discus cage or jumps pit."

There is a designated web site at: www.ilkleyathletics.org.uk for up to date information and anyone interested in investing or donating towards the project in any way should have an informal chat to Shirley Wood on 01943 831765 or Shirley@ilkleyharriers.org.uk