2026 Tom Halton, Solo ascent Ama Dablam, Mountaineering

On the 23rd of April I was finally able to reach the summit of Ama Dablam on my 3rd attempt.

I climbed the mountain solo without climbing partners or sherpas and i free climbed the route which included scaling technical sections such as the Yellow Tower and Grey Couloir.

At 20 years old, I became the youngest person to summit Ama Dablam Solo.

On all three attempts I used skills learnt from my training course supported by the Jack Bloor fund and this time I was able to use these skills to help another mountaineer who was struggling during the descent.

Ama Dablam has tested me both physically and technically but also in decision making.

During my first and second attempt last year I experienced difficult conditions which forced me to turn around just short of the summit but this time I was glad to have low winds and little snowfall which meant when I reached the summit at 11am I could spend 20 minutes gazing at the surrounding Himalayan giants.

This mountain has been my project for a year and a half. I feel very pleased with myself for returning and summiting.

2026, Ethan Clarke, Junior World Biathlon Championships, Arber, Germany

Once again, thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund for supporting me to attend my last Junior World Championships in Germany, Arber. I had some good improvements in my performance from previous years at the championships, especially in the shooting element of biathlon where I was a top 15 overall from the championships. Looking forward to the summer of training ahead before I start my senior career in biathlon.

Jack Bloor Race 2026 Senior Results

Sam Bentham made history on a bright, blustery May evening in Ilkley, toppling the Jack Bloor Race course record set by Greg Hull in 2007.

Sam broke the tape in 37:46 to beat Greg’s 19-year record of 38:04.

In so doing, Sam retained both the senior men and the under-23 men’s trophies he won last year.

Graham ‘George’ Rush (Leeds City AC) was second overall, retaining his M40 title.

Oil Murphy (Ilkley) was third. Along with Harry Brook-Dobson finishing ninth on a nasty twisted ankle, Ilkley’s men won the team prize, despite strong competition from Leeds and Doss AC.

Issy Rowe of Wharfedale Harriers won the women’s race from Jenny Lea (North Leeds Fell Runners) and Hannah Stroud (Leeds City). Fourth lady Rachel Pilling of Pudsey and Bramley won the women’s V40 prize, with Anya Keeble (unattached) taking the U23 crown.

Jenny’s teammates Ellis Maguire and Emma Morris made up the winning North Leeds Fell Runners team.

Many thanks to all who took part, all who volunteered their time to make the race happen and all who supported.

Thanks also to our event sponsors: 

Outside the Box Cafe, who provided cookie medals for our junior athletes, are a small but mighty organisation with so much passion and enthusiasm to make a real difference for their local community. The cafe is a favoured haunt for the post-parkrun crowd on Saturday mornings.

Bini Brew Co sponsored our senior team prizes and are offering a discount to all Jack Bloor racers with a discount code JACKBLOOR20 for customers to get 20% off online orders until the end of May. The new(ish) Bini taproom in Ilkley is a frequent destination for the Ilkley Harriers monthly socials.

PositionRunnerTimeClubCategory
1Sam Bentham00:37:46Ilkley HarriersMU19
2Graham Rush00:39:49Leeds City ACM40
3Oli Murphy00:40:15Ilkley HarriersMSEN
4Nathan Marsh00:40:31Doss ACMSEN
5Joshua Woodcock Shaw00:42:49Leeds City ACMSEN
6Adam Osborne00:43:43Calder Valley Fell RunnersM40
7Sean Flanagan00:43:44Leeds City ACMSEN
8Rhys Hardman00:43:44Doss ACMU23
9Harry Brook-Dobson00:44:19Ilkley HarriersMSEN
10Danny Drake00:44:52Wharfedale HarriersMSEN
11Matthew Warters00:44:56Wharfedale HarriersMSEN
12Oscar Stapleton00:44:59Ilkley HarriersMSEN
13Ethan Hassell00:45:23Wharfedale HarriersMSEN
14Conor Parkes00:45:26Pudsey & Bramley ACMSen
15Scott Thomas00:45:35Doss ACMSEN
16Thomas Corrigan00:45:45BarlickM40
17Andrew Stemp-Walsh00:46:05Pudsey & Bramley ACMSEN
18George Whittlestone00:46:09Ilkley HarriersMU20
19George Dibble00:46:16Wharfedale HarriersMSEN
20James Horrex00:46:21Ilkley HarriersMSEN
21Nathan Martin00:46:22Wharfedale HarriersM40
22Jonathan Coney00:46:52Helm HillMSEN
23Joe Gebbie00:46:58Doss ACMSEN
24Edward Hodgson00:47:01Doss ACMU23
25Ben Gillespie00:47:05North Leeds Fell RunnersMSEN
26Alex Jones00:47:11Horsforth FellandaleMSEN
27Joe Wilde00:47:13MSEN
28Henry Connor Crabb00:47:15Wharfedale HarriersM40
29Matt Calvert00:47:16North Leeds Fell RunnersM50
30James Bostock00:47:26M40
31David Bagot00:47:34ClaytonMsen
32Nick Kealey00:47:36Ilkley HarriersM50
33Stephen Morris00:47:41Otley ACM40
34Tom Cooper00:47:46Bingley HarriersMSEN
35Peter Clarke00:47:50M40
36James Woodman00:48:00Pudsey & Bramley ACMSEN
37Ian Furlong00:48:29North Leeds Fell RunnersM40
38Issy Rowe00:48:34Wharfedale HarriersWSEN
39James Malloch00:48:35Skipton ACMSEN
40Joe Bashforth00:48:44Keighley and CravenMSen
41Tom Bysouth00:48:50Abbey RunnersM40
42David Alcock00:49:01AirienteersM50
43Ian Lovatt00:50:15M40
44Jenny Lea00:50:23North Leeds Fell RunnersWSEN
45Matthew Kennedy00:51:05Ilkley HarriersM50
46David Rees00:51:05Ilkley HarriersM40
47Adam Nolan00:51:15M40
48Paul Carman00:51:39Ilkley HarriersM45
49Johnny Winstanley00:51:48M55
50Laurence Martn00:52:00Pudsey & Bramley ACM40
51Bevan Swanson00:52:05North Leeds Fell RunnersMsen
52Andrew Marshal00:52:05Ilkley HarriersM40
53Neil Armitage00:52:12Pudsey & Bramley ACM55
54Adam Bennett00:52:13Ilkley HarriersMSEN
55Hannah Stroud00:52:14Leeds City ACWSEN
56Graham Pilling00:52:31Pudsey & Bramley ACM40
57Toby Fisher00:53:03Otley ACM40
58John Hayes00:53:27Ilkley HarriersM50
59Jonathan Evans00:53:31Otley ACMSEN
60Owen Parker00:53:31Ilkley HarriersMSEN
61Sean McQuinn00:53:40Fell and Dale ClubM40
62Gautier Nicoli00:53:41MSEN
63Rachel Pilling00:53:51Pudsey & Bramley ACW40
64Andrew Tones00:53:52M60
65Luke Watkeys00:54:18Ilkley HarriersM40
66Dan Miller00:54:19Nidderdale Fell and Trail
67Andrew Overend00:54:37Ilkley HarriersM50
68Edward Smith00:55:25Horsforth FellandaleM50
69Ben Hallworth00:55:43Ilkley HarriersM40
70Richard Joel00:55:47Ilkley HarriersM50
71Thomas Sanders00:55:55North Leeds Fell RunnersMSEN
72Harry Laville00:56:08Saltaire StridersMSEN
73Jonathan Turner00:56:10Ilkley HarriersM50
74Steve Murray00:56:15Ilkley HarriersM50
75James Bentham00:56:31Ilkley HarriersM50
76Ellis MaGuire00:56:48North Leeds Fell RunnersWSEN
77Fay Stemp-Walsh00:57:07Pudsey & Bramley ACWSEN
78Graham Lake00:57:08Otley ACM40
79Meriel White00:57:15Nidderdale Fell and TrailW40
80Iain Young00:57:19Ilkley HarriersMSEN
81John Marsham00:57:20Ilkley HarriersM50
82Laura Firth00:57:21Bingley HarriersWSEN
83Phil Joyner00:57:24Ilkley HarriersM40
84Robert Blemings00:57:47Horsforth FellandaleMSEN
85Emma Morris00:57:47North Leeds Fell RunnersWSEN
86Emil Andrews00:57:50Pudsey & Bramley ACM50
87Paul Howard01:01:33Nidderdale Fell and TrailM60
88Helen Heaviside-Brown01:01:41Craven EnergyWSEN
89Robert Gatenby01:01:49Doss ACM40
90Kelly Wilby01:01:53Ilkley HarriersW40
91Natasha Geere01:02:05SpuboroughW55
92Tara Schwarze-Chintapatla01:02:28WSEN
93Nick Andralojc01:03:24Nidd ValleyM60
94Paddy Hagan01:03:45M60
95Jonathan Leach01:03:46M50
96Henry Varney01:03:48Wharfedale HarriersM50
97David Laville01:03:49M50
98Geoffrey White01:03:55Ilkley HarriersM40
99Dave Sillitoe01:04:18M45
100Nigel Armitage01:04:24Pudsey PacersM50
101John Thompson01:04:40Wharfedale HarriersM65
102Colm Mccann01:04:44Ilkley HarriersM50
103Andy Hunt01:04:55M50
104Simon Jenkins01:05:00Ilkley HarriersM60
105Hannah Nelstrop01:05:05North Leeds Fell RunnersWSEN
106Emma Southern01:05:56North Leeds Fell RunnersWSEN
107Rachel Holder01:06:00Ilkley HarriersW50
108Megan MCall01:06:49Otley ACWSEN
109Keith Brewster01:06:53Valley StridersM70
110Mick Cooper01:07:13Todmorden HarriersM60
111Bob Hamilton01:07:25Ilkley HarriersM70
112Robert Bumstead01:07:31Valley StridersM50
113Si Lawson01:08:23Nidderdale Fell & TrailM60
114Steve Corrigan01:08:24EborienteersM60
115Martin Campbell01:08:30Ilkley HarriersM50
116Esmaeil Zadeh01:08:31Ilkley HarriersM50
117Anya Keeble01:08:36WU19
118Laura Phillips01:09:51Abbey RunnersWSEN
119Simon Jones01:09:51Abbey RunnersMSEN
120Randolph Haggerty01:10:10M50
121Phil Clayton01:11:22Black Coombe ClubM55
122Amy King01:11:24Nidderdale Fell and TrailWSEN
123Tim Gomersall01:11:36M40
124Tony Shepherd01:11:39Wharfedale HarriersM60
125Zoe Brown01:11:40Leeds University Orientering and Fell ClubWSEN
126Lucia Scanlan-Bloor01:13:39WSEN
127Katie Hickling01:13:51Bingley HarriersWSEN
128Carl Walsh01:15:23Otley ACM60
129Hattie Smith01:16:21WU23
130Ted Smith01:16:21Nidderdale Fell and TrailMU23
131Sam Healey01:16:34M50
132Nicola Stick01:16:38W55
133Andrew Koss01:16:38M55
134Russell Geraghty01:19:34Nidd ValleyM50
135Alan Bowman01:23:34Otley ACM40
136Mike Woodhall01:23:36M50
137Helen Jacques01:25:39Ilkley HarriersW60
138Rachel Hagan01:25:40W60
139Zoe Bentham01:30:38WU23
140Stephen Oxby01:30:52M60
141Deborah Nicholson01:31:15Ilkley HarriersW50
142Suzanne Bentham01:31:18W50
143Dorothy Simmons01:48:24W60
144Dan Simmons01:48:26M65

Jack Bloor Race 2026 Junior Results

Under 10 race, 0.75km

PositionRunnerTimeClubCategory
1Archie Halworth00:03:44Ilkley HarriersBU10
2Thomas Tiffany00:03:51Otley ACBU10
3Jasper Tiffany00:04:00Otley ACBU10
4Freddie Bartlett00:04:03Ilkley HarriersBU10
5Harry Arnold00:04:05Otley ACBU10
6Otto Brewer00:04:09Keighley & Craven ACBU10
7Rory Fozard00:04:16BU10
8Olivier Haigh00:04:42Ilkley HarriersBU10
9Jacob Smith00:04:42Skipton ACBU10
10Henry Smith00:04:45Skipton ACBU10
11Hugo Drake00:04:46Otley ACBU10
12Molly Greenwell00:04:49GU12
13Theo Duckworth00:04:55BU10
14Harry Marshall00:04:59BU10
15Florence Hicklin00:04:59Wharfedale HarriersGU10
16Lauren Martin00:05:02Wharfedale HarriersGU10
17Arthur Colman00:05:07BU10
18Gracie Ladhams00:05:08GU10
19Mallory Kalko00:05:11Otley ACGU10
20Ted Parkinson00:05:17Bingley HarriersBU10
21Joshua Steward00:05:32Ilkley HarriersBU10
22Freddie McEwan00:05:32BU10
23Wilf Upton00:05:36Otley ACBU10
24Alice Yates00:05:37Otley ACGU10
25Georgia Poulter00:05:46Ilkley HarriersGU10
26River Sansom00:05:51Otley ACBU10
27Matilda Tighe00:05:53GU10
28Poppy Freer00:06:02GU10
29Olivia Brighty00:06:25Wharfedale HarriersGU10

Under 12 race, 0.75km

PositionRunnerTimeClubCategory
1Leo Freer00:03:21Ilkley HarriersBU12
2Leyton Hudson00:03:39Bingley HarriersBU12
3Joby Pinker-Hull00:03:40Bingley HarriersBU12
4Ronnie Brewer00:03:47Keighley & Craven ACBU12
5Thomas Akers00:03:49Otley ACBU12
6Isobel Moore00:03:52Ilkley HarriersGU12
7Hugo Haigh00:03:53BU12
8Rupert Charles Horsfall00:03:54Ilkley HarriersBU12
9Will Swettenham00:03:55Otley ACBU12
10Harris Poulter00:03:58Ilkley HarriersBU12
11Alexander Livesley00:04:02Ilkley HarriersBU12
12Dylan Fleming00:04:08BU12
13Leo Gibson00:04:09BU12
14William Price00:04:10BU12
15Monty Greenwell00:04:11BU14
16Jack Foster00:04:12Skipton ACBU12
17Elsie Henry00:04:13GU12
18Heidi Arnold00:04:19BU12
19Marika Kalko00:04:20Otley ACGU12
20Libby Cooper00:04:20Bingley HarriersGU12
21Phoebe Sonley00:04:21Bingley HarriersGU12
22Lucille Rossiter00:04:23GU12
23Lerryn O’Neill00:04:24Ilkley HarriersGU12
24Charlie Lee00:04:28BU12
25Eilidh Marsham00:04:29GU12
26Evie Wilby00:04:30Otley ACGU12
27Lius Ann Parkinson00:04:38BU12
28Zoe Drake00:04:57GU12
29Maisie Wilby00:05:05GU12
30Matthew Needham00:05:12Wharfedale HarriersBU12
31Arthur Upton00:05:13Otley ACBU12
32Cecilia Hallworth00:05:17Ilkley HarriersGU12
33Maeve Colman00:05:21GU12
34Oscar Branney00:05:36AirienteersBU10
35Lucas Mattinson00:05:59BU10
36Unknown00:06:06#N/A

Under 16 / Under 14 race, 1.6 km

PositionRunnerTimeClubCategory
1Samuel Crook00:07:42AirienteersBU16
2Michael Moore00:07:53Ilkley HarriersBU14
3Robert Brooks00:07:58Bingley HarriersBU16
4Harriet Carter00:08:14Bingley HarriersGU14
5Austin Rossiter00:08:26Otley ACBU14
6Seb Livesley00:08:39Ilkley HarriersBU14
7Morris McCam00:09:06BU14
8Teddy Shackleton00:09:23Otley ACBU14
9Olive Akers00:09:24Otley ACGU14
10Sian Drake00:09:58Otley ACGU14
11Farrah Gerrett00:10:22Otley ACGU16
12Jack Lee00:10:44BU14
13Charlie Alcock00:10:50BU14
14Sophia Gartenby00:12:13GU14
15Felix Mattinson00:13:17BU12
16Theo Branney00:14:42AirienteersBU12

Under 18 race, 2.2km

PositionRunnerTimeClubCategory
1Joseph Bentham00:13:17Ilkley HarriersBU18

2026, Eve Whitaker, Monte Gordo Senior Triathlon European Cup

I was fortunate the receive a very generous funding from the Jack Bloor fund which I used in my recent triathlon event. It was the senior European Cup in Monte Gordo, Portugal. It was my first race back after several years with injuries, university and getting back to training so I was very surprised and pleased to come third!

The race was fast and fun – the swim was initially choppy with waves making it hard to sight well but I managed a good swim coming out 5th. We then had a fab pack of girls working on the bike, extending our lead to around 30 seconds before a fast 5k run.

My result from this race now qualifies me for World Cup level racing later in the season! This would not have been possible without the support and generosity from the Jack Bloor Fund and I am truly grateful.

2026, Olive Wooliscroft, British Cycling Regional School of Racing for Mountain Biking.

I am writing to say thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me to attend the British Cycling Regional School of Racing for Mountain Biking, during January, February and March this year.

I was selected, along with about ten other girls to be part of this British Cycling training and development program and it was excellent! Not only was the physical training beneficial, but also I learned so much about race tactics, nutrition and bike handling skills relevant to racing Mountain Bikes in the British National Series and into European competitions.

The Regional School of Racing was held over three full weekends, firstly at Leeds Urban Bike Park, then The Forest of Dean and finally at Cannock Chase. I am really looking forward to racing my mountain bike in the British National Cross Country Series during 2026 and the experience of attending the Regional School of Racing has boosted my confidence and fitness too!

Without the generous support of The Jack Bloor Fund I wouldn’t have been able to accept my invitation to be part of this development program with British Cycling…so thank you so much! It was epic!

2026, Lucas Rhodes, Youth World Biathlon Championships

I thought the Youth World Championships in Arber, Germany was a great experience to be a part of to see all the other nations and compete against such high level and talented athletes.

 I thought I raced well in the first race and extremely well in my second until an unfortunate crash but it was a good learning experience about different conditions and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead and hoping to go again next year.

Thanks to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me get there.

2026, Joe Wooliscroft, Olympic Development Mountain Bike Training Camp, Mallorca

I am writing to say thank you so much to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me to attend team training camp in Mallorca last week in preparation for my 2026 race season. 

The weather was perfect, which enabled me to get over 30 hours of miles on the bike…a training block that would have been difficult to achieve if I had to do it in the wet, freezing climate of Yorkshire! 

Additionally, being on the Mallorca camp had the benefit of allowing me to train with riders in my age category and of similar ability. I also managed to compete in a local road race whilst I was there as an added bonus!

I am looking forward to my 2026 race season, firstly in the British National Mountain Bike Cross Country Series and then, later in the year, the British National CycloCross Series and Cyclocross in Europe. I can approach the races with confidence, and in good physical shape as a result of my winter training, especially the Mallorca camp.

Without the support from the Jack Bloor Fund I wouldn’t have been able to fund this training opportunity. Thank you!

2025, Jacob Butterfield, World Age Group Biathle Championships, South Africa

On Tuesday 9th December, I competed in the World Biathle championships final in Mossel Bay South Africa in a stacked 30 man field featuring Olympians, World and Junior Pentathlon champions and finalists. After a strong first run and a swift swim around a rough and bumpy course, I managed to finish the final run in 10th place in the world, a great start to the championships.

On Thursday 11th December, I competed in the Triathle finals in a field of 36 people, which incorporates shooting into the event. With my best shot yet at an event hitting 19/20 green lights, and again a very strong swim performance to overtake a few people, I managed to finish 10th in the world for my second ever time racing this discipline.

Finally, on Saturday 13th December, I competed in the laser run finals in a field of 37 athletes. After a strong first half I climbed into 8th place however sandy conditions on the run presented a challenge with my body and ankles suffering, finishing in 20th place overall.

Thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund in supporting myself in being able to travel to this amazing country and have this world class experience which I will never forget.

2025, Logan MacNamara, Triathlon World Age Group Championships, Wollongong, Australia

This was my second international race after the European Age Group Championships in Istanbul a few months before.

Things definitely ramp up in World Championships from Europeans.

I was still 16 and racing everyone under 20. There literally seemed to be 100’s of Australians! In total there were just under 80 in my race.

The swim was in the harbour. Sea swim and salt water with big waves. On my 1st recce I saw sea urchins, pelicans and large fish which to be honest, sent me into a panic attack. This was all a first for me.

I worked really hard to overcome this with the help of a few others and over the next few days I got more confident, however I still hadn’t swum out of the harbour walls which I would have to do for my race. On the morning of the race, the water was too choppy out of the harbour so they changed the swim course. Same distance but more turns and remained inside the harbour. The swim started and there were so many of us I could not see a thing. All worries about what was under the water disappeared – there were just feet & arms everywhere!

My swim went really well, and my time was really good and I came out of the water in a good place.

The transition to bike went smoothly.

The bike course was good with a mixture of flat, hills and dead turns. I was in a good group round the first lap but then some competitors in my group crossed over right in front of me making me break just before a corner. I was then left off the back of the group. I caught the 2 who crossed over and left them behind but main group was too far ahead to catch. I was then on my own for the 2nd bike lap so without others to work with, I dropped further away from the group in front.

My 2nd transition went smoothly.

The run was hard. The heat at that time was in the 30’s. It was a very hilly course around the lighthouse which was really tough in the heat. There were lots of athletes around the course at the time doing their own races so it was really hard to see where I was in my race but I did overtake a few in my age group on the run.

In the end I finished 34th out of 79. I wanted to finish a lot higher up but in hindsight the race was dominated by the huge number of Australians competing. I was also one of the youngest competitors there and racing 19 year olds. My individual swim, bike and run times were great. 

I was also the 2nd Brit back in the under 20’s.

I want to say a big thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund, who without your support, I would not have been able to race. The experience and competition was nothing like I’ve ever come across before. I learnt a lot from this race and experience.