What a fantastic evening of fell-racing! Lucky for us the rains ceased just as 126 young runners sporting their club kit assembled for the Jack Bloor Junior races. 

First off, were the U9s. All thirty-two of them! Samuel Milner of Keighley & Craven was first overall in a time of 4 mins 22 secs with Otley AC’s Evie Wilby the leading girl just one second ahead of Elsie Henry from Bingley Harriers. We might need a longer start line what with 45 runners in the U11 class! Keighley & Craven took both top positions through Frankie Allen and Robyn Cooper but the tight-packed finishing saw runners but seconds apart. 

In the U13 race it was the turn of Bingley Harriers to take 1^st boy and 1^st girl. Charlie Porteus enjoyed a commanding lead whilst Charlotte Pedley staved off her closest rival by one second. Also running to the foot of Rocky Valley were the U15s. First girl and 2^nd overall was Bethan Buckley of Keighley & Craven with Bingley Harriers’ Robert Carter taking the overall win. The U19s’ route enjoys a further stiff climb to the cairn before returning around the plantation back through White Wells. Holly Fitch was first girl home for Wharfedale Harriers in a time of 15:11. The leading position went to Skyrac’s Jacob Palmer proudly wearing his Yorkshire team vest. 

Well done all – whether you were racing for positions, experiencing your first ever race or simply ‘having a go’. Massive thanks to the coaches and parents for bringing and supporting these juniors – they are the future of our sport. 

The team from Outside The Box, Ilkley’s renowned community café, did the juniors proud with each runner receiving a voucher and the leading girls and boys being presented with certificates and the ultimate in sustainable prizes – beautiful, edible, hand-crafted ‘cookie medals’. Thank you OTB! 

The classic Jack Bloor Race was established in 1985 to commemorate the life of an acclaimed Yorkshire sportsman. In addition to his own sporting accomplishments, Jack Bloor was renowned for encouraging young people to engage in outdoor sport. All monies raised from these annual races go to the Jack Bloor Fund that helps support young Yorkshire people to develop their physical and technical skills in any recognised outdoor adventure sport. 

Applicants must be under-26, either from or based in Yorkshire and be a member of a Yorkshire sports club or a national sport governing body. Applications are welcome at any time. Further details can be found at www.jackbloor.co.uk

Since the last race the Fund awarded 15 grants supporting activities ranging from major international competitions, be it orienteering in Rumania or cycling in France, to qualifying as a climbing wall instructor and training camps for bi- and triathletes. 

Huge thanks go to our regular band of volunteers be they from Jack’s Gritstone Club, who marshal the senior race checkpoints, keyboard-tappers, tent-erectors, clipboard-wielders, first-aider, cake-bakers, course-sweepers, etc. Thank you all. 

This 37^th edition of the 8.4 km navigational fell race saw 159 runners take on the challenge. First home was Tom Edwards of Leeds City in a time of 43:50. Followed but 6 seconds later by Henry Ruddell of Pudsey & Bramley. Third overall and leading vet MV40 was Baildon Runner Michael Malyon. We must also recognise 4^th place, this went to Jack’s grandson, Max Bloor, representing Dulwich Runners. The Arthur Dolphin trophy for the first male runner U23 went to Mitchell Boocock of Pudsey & Bramley. Also representing P&B, Neil Armitage was 1^st MV50. Bingley Harrier Ian Ferguson led the MV60 class and Keith Brewster of Valley Striders was 1^st MV70. 

We trust runners to visit all the checkpoints. There are occasional mishaps, usually unintentional. We rely on self-confession or, if it affects a critical position, prompt reporting. Such happened this year with the leading woman inadvertently missing Checkpoint 6, the ‘small hill’, during the fast but tortuous descent to the finish. This is what makes a ‘navigational fell race’ and for which the terrain on Ilkley Moor lends itself so well – the subtleties of route choice – and the benefits of a diligent recce!  

Last year’s winner of the LV40 class, Rachel Pilling of Pudsey & Bramley, used her JBR experience to take the overall win in the Women’s Senior race in a time of 51 mins 40secs. Rachel was followed 9 seconds later by Maddy Johnson of Leeds University who won the Pat Bloor trophy for first woman U23. Third place went to Lara Crawford representing Doss AC. 

Visiting from Australia, Jack’s granddaughter Ella Bloor, had little chance to recce her inaugural Jack Bloor race. In between her international gravel-bike competitions, Ella donned Jack’s original Harehills Harriers running vest to complete the classic course.  

Rachel Pilling retained the Mike Rose trophy for the 1^st LV40. Meanwhile, Natasha Geere of Spenborough & District AC took 1^st LV50 place whilst the LV60 class was won by Ilkley Harrier, Joyce Marshall. 

Overall 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd, male and female winners together with class winners each received one of the classic Jack Bloor ‘small trophies’. Made by artist James Fonquernie, each year these unique trophies feature a different rock carving. 

In the team competition, Eleanor Bradbury, Molly Harris and Alyson Blakely of Roundhay Runners took top spot for the women. North Leeds Fell Runners were 2^nd and Horsforth Fellandale 3^rd. Pudsey & Bramley were the first men’s team thanks to performances by Henry Ruddell, Neil Armitage and Mitchell Boocock. Second place went to Ilkley Harriers and third to North Leeds Fell Runners. 

The Jack Bloor Races & Fund is actively managed by a group of trustees including Rob and Hilary Bloor. Recent new recruits include Jack’s grandsons, Alistair and Max. Also, our new webmaster and architect of the recently renewed website is William, another of Jack Bloor’s grandsons, a runner and resident in Australia. 

I have had the pleasure of organising the Jack Bloor Races for some years now and Linda the Junior races for even longer. We both plan to oversee delivery of the 2025 races but wish to do so alongside a new team who will takeover from 2026. We advocate a team of three. One to oversee the overall event and one each to manage registration/timing/results for both the Junior and Senior races. The event enjoys excellent relations with land-owner Bradford Council and has a fantastic body of experienced helpers. We have a defined event template with all operations fully documented so there is no need to reinvent the wheel. However, a new team would be free to develop the races in conjunction with the trustees. As now, such a team could comprise people from different running clubs. If you or someone you know would be interested in contributing to the future of fell-running in Yorkshire – please get in touch. Here’s to the fell running community stepping-up to keep this show on the road for the sake of all those enthusiastic juniors we saw tonight. Thank you. 

Rob King

Race Organiser & Jack Bloor Fund Trustee