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23
Jul
The Sicklinghall running club trying to bridge the age gap
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Running is a popular pastime in the Harrogate district, and there are several clubs in the area. But there wasn't one in Sicklinghall – until now.
Keen runner Ollie Holmes moved to the village recently from Harrogate, and set up Sicklinghall Run Club in April to offer casual running sessions through the North Yorkshire countryside.
Photo: @sicklinghall_runclub on Instagram
Village running clubs are rare. The likes of Ripon Runners, Knaresborough Striders and Harrogate Harriers draw members from wider areas.
Mr Holmes told the Stray Ferret:
There’s quite a big divide in most rural villages between young and old people. We’re trying to bridge that gap and show the youth that the countryside is great.
The nicest thing to come from it is the friendships. You'd never expect some of our members to be friends, but they get on so well together.
As the club is purely casual, running numbers vary each week. Mr Holmes said the club’s smallest run was with two people, and the largest attracted about 20.
Even though Sicklinghall only has 380 residents, people from Harrogate and Wetherby travel to the village to take part in the runs, and the club’s Instagram page currently has 265 followers.
Mr Holmes said the club had even helped boost the village pub's takings. Runners meet every Tuesday at 6pm outside the Scotts Arms on Main Street, and members are encouraged to go for a social drink after each session.
Photo: @sicklinghall_runclub on Instagram
Collaborative events
With the club increasing in popularity, it has started to collaborate with country halls and hotels to put on events. Its first event was hosted at Harewood House in June. After a run around the estate, the 40-or-so participants settled down for some post-jog refreshments at the venue.
The club is now hosting another event at the Saltmoore Hotel in Whitby this Sunday (July 27). Runners will set off at 10.45am, completing an eight-kilometre (five-mile) course through the countryside and along the Sandsend beach front.
Finishers will receive a complimentary drink from the hotel, followed by a barbecue and live music.
Mr Holmes said:
While city-based running clubs try to connect with cool bars and coffee shops, we want to connect with country estates and up-market hotels.
We encourage anyone to come down to try it out – there's no charge involved. Although we try to run at a decent pace where we can, we always run at the same pace as our slowest member.
For more information about the club, click here.
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