TALES FROM THE VALE

The Diamond League is a series of elite athletics meetings held in cities across the globe. It an annual opportunity for the world’s greatest athletes, from powerhouse sprinters to record-breaking throwers and jumpers, to compete against the very best in their sport. For fans and aspiring athletes, it’s a chance to experience top-class athletics first hand.

On 19 July 2025 London hosted the latest instalment of the competition to a sell-out crowd. Amongst the 60,000 spectators at the London Stadium were families from Vale of York Athletic Community who had made the journey to see track and field superstars in action.

Our recent volunteering efforts manning the water station at the York and District Road Race League event on July 8th at Wistow has received praise from Ellie, the new Sustainability Manager at England Athletics.

Ellie was particularly impressed with the thoughtful and careful planning that went into making our water stations as sustainable as possible. From researching environmentally friendly materials to finding effective ways to reduce waste, our efforts haven’t go unnoticed.

Mark your calendars! Selby Fun Day is just around the corner, promising an afternoon of athletic excitement for the whole family. We’re thrilled to invite you to join us on Sunday, June 22nd, from 12 PM to 3 PM, at the astroturf facilities of Selby Leisure Centre.

This year, we are once again focusing on getting kids aged 5-15 active and excited about athletics. Imagine your children running, jumping, sprinting, throwing, and even hurdling their way through a series of fun and challenging activities designed to test their skills and boost their confidence. It’s not just about winning; it’s about participation, pushing personal limits, and discovering the variety of athletics.

We’ve got some exciting news to share that will directly benefit the young aspiring athletes of Selby. We are thrilled to announce that we’ve received a generous grant cheque from Selby Town Council to support our upcoming activities right here in Selby.

This money will go directly towards providing athletics activities for local children at Selby Fun Day on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025.

Sitting here at Tampa airport, waiting for my delayed flight back home to the UK, gives me time to reflect on special week in Gainesville, Florida, competing in my first World Masters Athletics Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Ahead of the event, I was excited and a little nervous, but, just like at the European Masters Championships in Pescara in 2023, what I looked forward to most was connecting with athletes from all over the world and watching some genuinely inspirational performances.

If you’re reading this and thinking about getting involved or returning to athletics as a Masters athlete (age 35+), I cannot recommend it enough.