How the famous Yorkshire spa town of Ilkley has cemented it’s place as one of the North’s most prestigious sporting towns.

By James Harrop

Following another outstanding summer of sport in Ilkley, from world-class tennis at the Lexus Ilkley Open to record attendances in the half-marathon, the picturesque northern town continues to punch above its weight when it comes to sporting events.

With booming participation across the board, top-class facilities and exciting plans for the future, Ilkley’s sporting scene has never been better.

The appeal of its picturesque setting and welcoming crowds has made it the venue for a number of annual world class sporting events which alongside the tennis, includes cycling, running and golf.

This summer, Ilkley Tennis Club hosted the tenth edition of the prestigious Lexus Ilkley Open, which forms part of the ATP Challenger 125 and WTA 125 tournaments.

Notable players taking part included current British No.5 Jacob Fearnley, who was defeated by Yunchaokete Bu in the Men’s final, and Swiss No.2 Viktorija Golubic.

Off the courts, and ever since the success of The Grand Depart in 2014, Ilkley is now regularly chosen as one of the legs of the Tour De Yorkshire cycle race which attracts some of the world’s top riders while the Ilkley Cycle Races, launched in 2015, has become a regular and hugely popular event on the town’s sporting calendar.

The annual Ilkley Half Marathon, which takes runners through the glorious local countryside, grows in popularity every year while the majestic Ilkley Golf Club is home to the Yorkshire Invitational, hosted this year by Colin Montgomerie OBE.

But it’s not just hosting the events where Ilkley excels and in the past decade the town’s sports clubs have all grown in size and stature, many undoubtedly inspired by the world class talent they can now see on their doorstep.

Alongside a semi-professional football team, there is a thriving cricket, rugby, running, cycling, hockey, tennis, squash, padel, golf, bowling, martial arts, gym and dance scene, with some incredible young talent emerging.

For those who like a dip it’s home to one of the last remaining outdoor lido swimming pools, while its position on the edge of the moors also makes it the perfect spot for fell runners and mountain bikers.

With Sport England announcing last year that a record number of people across the country are playing sport and taking part in physical activity, Ilkley has seen outstanding participation across the board.

On July 12th, 4,000 runners took part in the Ilkley Half Marathon, raising more than £55,000 for local charities and bringing a real buzz to the town while Ilkley Rugby Club’s annual Flotilla Summer 7s tournament was similarly well-attended, with a record 34 teams taking part across the Men’s and Women’s competitions.

Although the grey clouds have rolled in, there is still plenty of sport to be excited about for the remainder of the summer, with Ilkley Golf Club’s flagship Yorkshire Invitational tournament taking place on September 16th and 17th.

Hosted by the legendary Colin ‘Monty’ Montgomerie, who holds Ilkley’s course record, the event brings together tour professionals, local club members and celebrities in support of charities.

Talking about Ilkley’s impact as a northern sporting powerhouse, Robbie Moore MP for Keighley and Ilkley praised the town for its welcoming nature and incredible facilities.

He said: “Each year Ilkley grows in sporting stature and alongside the Lexus Open, there is so much to enjoy in the town’s annual social and sporting calendar. With welcoming locals, dedicated clubs, incredible facilities and a beautiful setting, it is little wonder so many world-class sporting events are held here.