We are pleased to announce the launch of our new coaching manifesto, a document that formalises the values and philosophy at the heart of the Vale of York Athletic community. Agreed at our coaches’ meeting on 3 July 2025, with 18 of our coaches and leaders present, this manifesto is more than just a statement of intent—it’s our commitment to our athletes.
23
Jul
Jul
Several Vale of York families travelled to London on 19 July to watch the Diamond League at the London Stadium, joining a sell-out crowd of 60,000.
For many of our young athletes, it was their first time seeing elite-level track and field in person. Nine-year-old Everly was one of them.
19
Jul
Jul
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.
15
Jul
Jul
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.
31
May
May
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.
25
May
May
This bank holiday weekend, I packed my Alphaflys and headed north to the Edinburgh Marathon with one goal: securing a Good For Age (GFA) qualifying time for the 2026 London Marathon.
As a 58-year-old runner, I needed a sub-3:12 finish to stand any chance of a London slot—though aiming for sub 3:10 felt safer given the potential for a tightening of the cutoff times.
This is the story of my pursuit of a London Marathon GFA at Edinburgh Marathon 2025.
14
May
May
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.
04
May
May
Challenging? Absolutely! Worth it? You bet! We recently experienced this firsthand, and a huge thank you goes out to Holmfirth Harriers for once again hosting such a well-organised event.
What truly made the day special? The incredible buzz of the race itself, the superb social gathering afterwards, and of course, keeping the YVAA prize-giving tradition alive. It was fantastic to see every single Vale of York member who ran today come home with a prize! Talk about a great start to the Grand Prix series.
14
Apr
Apr
Yesterday marked the first meet of the West Yorkshire Track and Field League series for 2025. For my daughter, like many young athletes facing first-time athletics competition, it brought understandable nerves.
While she had cross-country experience, track and field athletics presents unique pressures: the feeling of being individually watched, the vulnerability of competing alone, and the technical uncertainties of starts and jumps. Moments like these can trigger anxieties and fear of failure, but can also build confidence and improve self-esteem.
I am a strong believer that positive and negative outcomes from competition are facilitated by parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, clubs and event promoters. The West Yorkshire Track and Field League does a great job of providing structured but relaxed competition that serves as a great introduction to track and field athletics for young people in our region.
10
Apr
Apr
Hurdling is a complex blend of speed, coordination, flexibility, and rhythm. Introducing this track and field event group to young athletes requires careful consideration, patience, and time.
We know that coaching hurdling is not just about teaching technicalities. It involves coaching the whole athlete more than any other track and field event.
As a responsible coach, you must respect the ongoing physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of the U13 age group. Get this wrong and you increase the risk of injury, knock a child’s confidence, and potentially contribute to athlete burnout and dropout from the sport.