Ripon racecourse will stage its first fixture of the 2021 season next week.
As with all meetings at the Boroughbridge Road track in 2020, the first fixtures on 15 and 24 April and 7 and 16 May will be behind closed doors.
With the subsequent easing of covid lockdown measures, the first racegoers will be allowed through the gates from 27 May.
Jonathan Mullin, marketing manager for Ripon Races, told the Stray Ferret:
“A maximum of 4,000 racegoers will be allowed on these dates and people wanting to attend must book in advance.
“We still have a limited number of paddock tickets available for 27 May, the evening meetings on 2 and 16 June and the afternoon meeting on our ladies day of 17 June.”
The first fixture is next week, but will be behind closed doors
Ticket sales are currently suspended for the remaining nine fixtures between 5 July and 25 September.
With the government’s roadmap moving towards a lifting of all covid restrictions on 21 June, Mr Mullin said:
“We are waiting to see what happens before tickets go on sale for these fixtures.”
Updates will be available on the website ripon-races.co.uk and on Facebook.
In a normal year, the track, known as ‘Yorkshire’s garden racecourse’ because of its floral splendour, attracts thousands of people through its gates.
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The highlight of Ripon racing calendar is the Great St Wilfrid Stakes in August.
Covid vaccinations taking place at the course do not clash with race days.
Gyms: Excitement mounts but group classes still limitedGyms and leisure centres in the Harrogate district are preparing to reopen next week after more than three months of lockdown.
But although thousands of people in the district are desperate to start lunging, pressing and punching their way back to fitness, gym life won’t be completely back to normal.
Ongoing social distancing restrictions mean many group training classes still won’t be available.
Ryan Tansley, owner of CrossFit Harrogate, at Hornbeam Park, said he was looking forward to reopening but because it couldn’t offer structured classes, it would operate more along the lines of an open gym.
CrossFit Harrogate has offered discounted rates to members during lockdown, and provided Zoom classes and various challenges, such as performing the most burpees.
Mr Tansley said:
“People have had to adapt but it will be so good to get back to seeing people.”
No sparring allowed
Contact won’t be allowed at Harrogate boxing and martial arts gym H Hour Boxing and Kao Loi, when it reopens next week, which means no sparring and pad work.
Owner Rob Smith said it will operate predominantly as a fitness gym rather than a combat gym until the situation changes. He said:
“We will do boxing training for fitness but our bread and butter is training people to compete and that’s on hold.”
The gym has produced many champion fighters, including Thai boxer Rachael Jones MacKenzie, but the impact of lockdown has left its future uncertain.
Rob Smith is the head coach at H Hour Amateur Boxing Gym.
Mr Smith plans to skydive to raise £5,000 to keep the gym afloat three days before his 50th birthday next month.
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Ripon refurbishment
As owner of Intrim in Ripon for the last 18 years, Phill McKay has been flying the flag for independent gyms at a time when big chains have been taking over. He said:
“We are as excited as our members are. We have air-con going in this week and a gym makeover so we will be ready to receive old and new members. We have also rebranded and have new equipment planned.”
Phill McKay of Intrim
Absolute Fitness in Boroughbridge, run by former World’s Strongest Man competitor Darren Sadler, who now promotes the biggest strongman events on the planet, is also reopening on Monday.
Functional fitness in Knaresborough
“We are so excited to get back to some form of normality and finally have our fitness community back at Black Wolf HQ.“They are what has kept us alive during this topsy-turvy time, and we can’t wait to welcome them back and celebrate what is hopefully set to be a fantastic summer.”
“We are pretty much going back to the same restrictions as before the January lockdown with the addition of twice weekly testing for all staff.“We have been on restricted numbers since we were allowed to reopen last year so for use things are similar to before Christmas.”
Pure Gym in Harrogate will open on Monday. The gym will be open 24 hours but studio classes will not begin until May 17.
Leisure facilities managed by Harrogate Borough Council are also due to resume on Monday. But again, things aren’t totally back to normal. A council spokesman said:
Police appeal after CCTV camera damaged in Ripon“The pool at The Hydro in Harrogate and Nidderdale Pool will reopen on April 12 for lane swimming and family sessions.
“Brimhams fitness centres at The Hydro, Nidderdale Leisure Centre and Ripon Leisure Centre will also reopen to members only.
“Turkish Baths Harrogate will reopen from this date for treatments only.”
North Yorkshire Police appealed today for witnesses after a CCTV camera on Bondgate in Ripon was damaged.
Police said the incident occurred at about 9pm on Sunday, February 21.
They issued a rather grainy CCTV image of a person wearing a mask who they hope to speak to about the incident.
Anyone who recognises the person, or has any information, is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for PC Sarah Hargreaves.
Or email the officer at sarah.hargreaves1995@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote police reference number 12210064248.
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Ripon firefighters rescue cat chased up tree by dog
A fire crew from Ripon rescued a cat that got stuck up a tree yesterday after being chased by a dog.
An RSPCA officer requested help after being unable to coax the eight-month-old moggy down.
The animal got stuck up the 20-foot high tree, on Spring Bank Close in Ripon, shortly before midday.
RSPCA officers at first advised the cat’s owners to use strong smelling food to encourage it to come down.
But when this didn’t work they came to help in person.
The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crew from Ripon used ladders and a machine-powered saw to retrieve the cat.
It was then returned to its owners unharmed.
It is the second time in recent weeks that firefighters have rescued a cat from a tree in Ripon.
Thanks to @NorthYorksFire Blue Watch for helping ARO Holgate rescue this #cat stuck up a tree in #Ripon, the cat had been chased up the tree by a dog. Thankfully he was unharmed & reunited with its grateful owner! @RSPCA_official 49 pic.twitter.com/mCNEn3XZTS
— RSPCA Frontline (@RSPCA_Frontline) April 5, 2021
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- Lucky cat Loki is rescued in Ripon after getting stuck in a tree.
- A ginger cat was found by the RSPCA “on the brink of death” after being shot.
A spokesperson for the animal welfare charity said:
Ripon home devastated by early morning fire“We’re extremely pleased that this cat could be rescued and reunited with the owner.
“RSPCA officers are trained to use ladders, which they carry for rescues like this, however, in situations where they still are unable to reach the animals we may ask the fire service to help and they often use animal rescues as a vital training aid.
“The RSPCA can request the help of the fire and rescue service but it is entirely up to them whether or not to attend. Some crews use animal rescues for training but emergencies involving people will always take priority.”
An overnight fire has devastated a home in Ripon.
Crews from Ripon, Harrogate and Boroughbridge were summoned to deal with the blaze, which occurred in Westgate at about 1.45am this morning.
Smoking has been identified as a possible cause.
The fire broke out in a first floor bedroom.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident summary said:
“The fire caused 100% fire damage to the bed and 60% fire damage to the bedroom, 100% smoke damage to the first floor and light smoke damage to ground floor.
“Crews used four breathing appartaus, one hose reel, small tools and positive pressure ventilation.
“The cause is unknown but may have been caused by smoking materials.”
Harrogate firefighters were also called to a fire in a children’s play park on Jenny Field Drive.
A bucket of water used to extinguish the fire, which occurred at about 6.15pm last night.
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Ripon’s Himalayan Garden set to reopen today
The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park near Ripon is set to reopen today. The 45-acre site in Grewelthorpe is home to 80 outdoor sculptures and nearly 20,000 plants.
The gardens were shortlisted for the BBC Countryfile Magazine awards 2020 and were winners of the Yorkshire in Bloom tourist attraction award in 2018 and 2019.
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A spokesperson for the gardens said:
“We believe that being outdoors and in beautiful gardens is restorative and important for people’s wellbeing. It can be a source of much-needed tranquillity in these super-anxious times.
“We are, however, mindful that the safety of visitors and our staff is our number one priority. We’re pleased to welcome visitors, that they may enjoy the blooms of spring in a safe and tranquil environment.”
The gardens have implemented additional staff training and measures to ensure key points, such as the visitors’ entrance, are safe. Natural materials have been used to create one-way systems and social distancing markers. Visitors must book tickets in advance. The plant sale area will be open and the tearoom and refreshment horsebox will be serving takeaways.
The spokesperson added:
“Thankfully, our attraction benefits from being in the great outdoors with plenty of space.”
The actor Joanna Lumley, who is patron of the gardens, said:
Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points revealed“They are a slice of paradise. Gardens are the greatest healers on earth, and as our stressful anxious lives tie us up in knots, we may turn to the sweet silence of the great green earth for solace.”
The locations of up to 34 new electric vehicle charge points in the Harrogate district have been revealed.
The district has seen the largest increase in North Yorkshire of motorists switching to electric vehicles and Harrogate Borough Council aims to get 10,000 on the roads by 2023.
To help hit this target, the authority plans to install charge points at several council-owned locations to encourage motorists to make the switch ahead of the government’s ban on the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in 2030.
Tom O’Donovan, economy and transport officer at the council, told a meeting on Wednesday the 34 charge points were being rolled out as part of a phased scheme, with more to come later.
The locations include up to four charge points at the council’s Claro Road office, as well as up to five at its civic centre headquarters at Knapping Mount.
There will also be up to four at Harrogate’s multi-storey Victoria Shopping Centre car park and the same amount at Ripon Cathedral car park, plus a hub of charge points at Knaresborough Chapel Street car park.
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There are three options for Pateley Bridge, including the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty office, Nidderdale Leisure Centre and south car park.
The car park at Hornbeam Park railway station could also get up to 10 charge points, while no proposals have yet been put forward for Boroughbridge because infrastructure works would be “too costly”.
Up to 160 charge sites planned
Harrogate Borough Council approved its Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Strategy two years ago with an aim to provide 61 public charge points by 2024, although this could be increased up to 160 if required.
North Yorkshire County Council is also developing a county-wide strategy but has said it currently has no plans to roll out on-street charging infrastructure on a large scale or in response to individual requests for charge points.
It said this is because of “difficulties” with electricity tariffs and setting out the terms on the maximum time a vehicle can charge in shared on-street spaces.
The council said:
Avoid recycling centres over Easter, says council“We will continue to review the overall situation, taking into account demand from residents and funding availability, including external grant funding.”
People in the Harrogate district have been advised to avoid household recycling centres this weekend because of expected queues.
North Yorkshire County Council’s 20 recycling centres remain open during lockdown but queueing systems to comply with social distance guidelines have caused tailbacks.
The Harrogate district has three centres: Wetherby Road and Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate and Dallamires Crescent in Ripon.
Queues at the recycling centre on Wetherby Road. Photo: Mark Westerman
Councillor Andrew Lee, executive member for open to business, said:
“We expect the household waste recycling centres to be extremely busy over the holiday weekend, as Easter is always a busy time.
“Given the rules in place to ensure the sites can operate safely, this will inevitably lead to queues.
“We’re asking people to consider whether they really need to visit their household waste recycling centre this weekend. Could you keep the waste at home for another week or so and take it at a less busy time?”
The centres moved to summer opening hours today, meaning they are now open from 8.30am to 5pm every day except Wednesdays.
Hannah Corlett, spokesperson for the Harrogate and District Green Party said the location of the centres was the main issue. She said:
‘Real scare’ for Ripon driver as timber smashes into car“I know people from Ripon who have travelled all the way to Bedale recycling centres because the queues are so large so we should be asking why the centres are where they are.
“These high traffic areas are a bad place for them if they’re causing such big queues.
“Asking people to avoid them this weekend also sends a bad message about accessibility. Lots of people don’t have time to travel to their local recycling centre and so more and smaller recycling centres would probably be a better option.”
A young driver had a “real scare” last night when a piece of timber reportedly fell off a van and smashed into her car’s windscreen.
The incident happened on Studley Road near the River Laver Holiday Park last night at around 9.45pm. The 22-year-old driver of the Fiat 500 suffered a minor head injury.
North Yorkshire Police is now looking for the driver of the van, who failed to stop after the crash and continued to drive towards Ripon city centre.
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Police have also described the vehicle they are looking for as a dropside van with a white cab and silver sides.
Officers found this timber the smash.
David Minto, the police officer who attended the incident, tweeted the following last night:
“A real scare for this driver tonight in Ripon. Her windscreen was struck by a piece of timber that wasn’t secured/loaded correctly by another driver.
“Unfortunately the offending vehicle didn’t stop after the RTC. Driver has sustained a minor head injury.”
Anyone with information has been urged to call 101 and quote reference 12210089276.
Missing Leeds man could be in Ripon areaPolice are appealing for information about a 56-year-old missing man who it is thought could be in the Ripon area.
Ian Kowalczyk was last seen near his home in Stanningley, near Pudsey, just before 10am on Friday.
Mr Kowalczyk has links to North Stainley and it is thought he could have travelled there.
West Yorkshire Police described him as white, 5ft 11ins tall, slim build, with short brown hair that is starting to go grey.
He was last seen wearing a padded camouflage coat, blue jeans, and brown Sketchers trainers.
The man was driving a silver Kia Ceed, registration RJ12 HNK.
Ian Kowalczyk’s car
In an update released yesterday, Michael Herbert, of Leeds District CID said:
“Ian has been missing for five days now and we remain very concerned for his welfare and urgently need to find him.
“His family believe he could have travelled to the village of North Stainley where he has past connections. We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen him in that area or the silver Kia Ceed he is driving.
“We have no information to confirm that he is there and would still like to hear from anyone who has seen him or his car anywhere else since he went missing.”
Anyone with information can call Leeds District CID on 101 and quote reference number 2069 of March 26. Or use this online live chat.
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