Outdoor sports in Harrogate are gearing up for a return today as the government eases lockdown restrictions.

As part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” out of lockdown, people can now meet up with six other people outside and play organised sport.

Sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, are allowed to reopen.

It comes as the “stay at home” rule in place for most of the national lockdown has also been lifted.

However, North Yorkshire Police has urged people to minimise travel and said the county should expect an “increased police presence” in the coming weeks.

Read more:

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• North Yorkshire police prepare for ‘influx of visitors’ as lockdown eases

Among the sports that will be permitted as of today are cricket, football and rugby.

Steve Clark (left), chairman of Harrogate Cricket Club.

Steve Clark, chair of Harrogate Cricket Club, said the move was “good news” for the club ahead of the season starting in April.

He said:

“This is really good news for us.

“We can start to play cricket, but we are waiting for guidance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

“There is a pent up demand for mums and dads to come down and watch some cricket.”

The season is expected to start on April 16 for juniors.

However, the club is still awaiting guidance on how they can hold coaching sessions and whether games need to be stopped to sanitise the ball every six overs.

Police urge people to minimise travel

Police and public health officials have urged people to minimise travel and work from home where they can, despite restrictions being lifted.

Ahead of the Easter weekend, officers have also said there will be an increased police presence across the county.

Superintendent Mike Walker, North Yorkshire Police lead for the force’s covid response, said: 

“We will continue to play our part in tackling the public health crisis through the Easter holidays and beyond.

“Each district has patrol plans in place to ensure there are sufficient resources to provide reassurance and continue our ‘4 Es’ approach – to engage with the public, explain the regulations, encourage compliance, and enforce if there is no other way of dealing with breaches.

“The patrol plans will reflect any changes in legislation post March 29 as part of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. We will be able to communicate these changes and our approach once the new health protection regulations have been confirmed.

“When it is safe to do so, we will welcome visitors to the county again. However, everyone can expect to see an increased policing presence as we work alongside our partners to help keep the virus at bay in the weeks and months ahead.”

As of this month, riding centres have been given the green light to resume group lessons of up to five people as long as social distancing is maintained.

This means that despite schools remaining closed for most year groups, keen horseriders are able to get back in the saddle and improve their skills whilst outdoors.

Follifoot Stables in Harrogate re-opened for private lessons at the end of May and for group lessons at the start of June.

Ellie-Jay Pedley who is a manager at the stables said lockdown has been a very difficult time for them:

We still had 20 horses to feed, water and care for, but with little income, so yes its been hard. We managed to find extra grazing so the horses could be turned out in the field and staffing could be reduced… The lockdown fell at one of our busiest times of the year so it’s been pretty bad.

I was so glad when we were given the green light to re-open. We have had to make a lot of changes, and we aren’t able to teach beginners as they require an instructor to help them get on and off and also lead them which we currently can’t do, but for those who can ride alone its working well. Riding really benefits people both mentally and physically so after a prolonged time indoors its great to welcome people back.

Not all riding centres in the district have resumed business though.

The Harrogate Riding Centre, has only opened its gates for arena hire and says it will be September at the earliest before it is viably worth opening the riding school.

Drew Birtwistle is the Director at the centre:

“80-90% of our clientele are beginners, these are the ones that the instructors need to help get on and off, check the girth and alter the stirrups, and for that, you just have to be to close. So we are going to wait until its safe to do this. We have September in mind at the earliest… We are a big centre with a lot of staff and horses so we need to make sure there are enough clients coming through the door for it to be financially viable”.