A Nidderdale off-road running group formed just over six months ago has become affiliated to England Athletics.

Nidderdale Fell and Trail holds three organised runs a week and a club training night on Tuesday evenings at Nidderdale Showground.

Many of the runs are around Pateley Bridge and allow members to enjoy safe and social running in some of the most beautiful routes in the Harrogate district. Some runners also compete in events.

The club, which was originally called Pateley Runners, has now become the fifth in the Harrogate district to be formally recognised by England Athletics, which is the governing body for athletics.

It joins Harrogate Harriers, Ripon Runners, Nidd Valley Road Runners and Knaresborough Striders as official affiliates.

Running in the dark with head torches.

Si Lawson, chairman and co-founder of the group, said:

“England Athletics affiliation is an amazing achievement for a club that is only six months old.

“We’re all excited about running and racing for our club and proudly wearing our new eye catching running tops.

“We live in a rural part of the Harrogate district and as well as being an off-road running club, we are providing a safe and secure environment for our members, and are making a significant impact on our members mental and physical health.”

Mr Lawson said he expected the club’s 200-strong membership to dip because affiliation meant the introduction of an annual fee of either £36 or £20, depending on the type of membership.

Fees are necessary for insurance and coaching purposes.

Experiencing Nidderdale’s beauty close up.

The club plans to train up to 16 club members as UK Athletics-qualified run leaders to cater for the wide range of runs and distances the club offers. They range from gentle five kilometre jogs to long off-road runs of up to 40 kilometres.

Now it is affiliated, it aims to offer at least seven weekly sessions.

The club is also applying for grants on the grounds that it supports health and wellbeing as well as combating loneliness and social isolation.

Some female runners did not feel safe running alone through woods and on footpaths before the group came along. Mr Lawson said:

“Running has such a positive impact on physical and mental health. However, running solo in a rural area is isolating and motivation is difficult, particularly in winter months.

“Nidderdale Fell and Trail has forged a community where everyone is welcomed and encouraged, and a safe running environment created. This has already had such a positive benefit on mental health, and has helped numerous members with anxiety, low mood, loneliness and confidence. “

A new trail running group has been formed for people who want to get fit while enjoying some of the best scenery in the Harrogate district.

Pateley Runners will stage free off-road runs three times a week around the fields of Nidderdale.

Si Lawson, who is setting up the venture along with two friends, said he hoped it would appeal to local people as well as tourists.

Mr Lawson, who moved from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge last year, likened the group to the Early Bird Run Crew, which was set up as an informal, free running community in 2019 and now organises regular runs in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Trail running involves being close to nature, so those taking part will face the added challenges of rough terrain, cow pats and low hanging branches but also feel the exhilaration of exercising in spectacular scenery. He said:

“Trail running is a different type of running to road running. It’s much more sociable. The intention is to be totally inclusive. Anyone can run with us.”

A post on the We Love Nidderdale Facebook group announcing the venture has received a large response.

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The group will meet at the bandstand in Pateley Bridge every Tuesday night at 7pm as well as on Thursday nights and during the day on Sunday.

Mr Lawson said the Tuesday group would be aimed at everyone, with a view to getting beginners fitter for longer runs later in the week.

He said other local running clubs, including Harrogate Harriers, Nidd Valley Road Runners, Knaresborough Striders and Ripon Runners provided a great service but Pateley Runners would cater exclusively for trail runners.

A scientist who still runs for Harrogate Harriers, he said he was less minded to travel 70 minutes to Harrogate and back to join fellow runners when there was a public footpath outside his house into the heart of Nidderdale.

He plans to set up a Facebook page called Pateley Runners shortly.