Ilkley RFC 1st XV vs Driffield 1st XV, 24th February 2024

Ilkley 1st XV vs Driffield 1st XV (eventually) - 24th February 2024 

Having missed the previous Ilkley RFC home game I was certainly going to make the most of this one which had previously been postponed several times due to bad weather and I did.

The weather was good with a glint of sunshine and we arrived at the ground in plenty of time to get a parking place then stroll into Ilkley for coffee with a delicious slice of  cake then a stroll back to the ground to prep the camera equipment ready for an action packed game.

Ilkley on the attack

Driffield on the attack

 Please follow the link below to view all 193 photographs

Hope you have the patience and stamina to view and enjoy them all !!!!

Ilkley vs Driffield All Photographs

Final Result

Ilkley 17 - Driffield 37

Ilkley RFC vs Moortown RUFC - Patience is rewarded

It's been some time now since Ilkley RFC last had a home game at Stacks Field (before Christmas) 
but my patience was rewarded last Saturday afternoon when Moortown RUFC visited for their 1st team league fixture vs Ilkley.

 

During the previous week, in eager anticipation of the weekends rugby I had extracted  my Canon 7d SLR and an appropriate sport lens, in this case a Sigma 70-200 2.8 and prepped them ready, cards formatted and batteries charged.

We arrived at the venue early, assembled the kit and started to prowl round the touchlines waiting for the teams appearance.

Well worth the wait although a slow start for me as I was initially some distance from the action. 

I soon got back into the flow of the game which over the two halves built up into a crescendo, loved it!!

Ilkley had the edge, it appeared a hard fight but they won in the end,

Result: Ilkley RFC 29 pts, Moortown RUFC 22 pts.

Then it was a race back home, downloading, editing and uploading to my website Ruggerpix.

Phew !!!! 

For those of you with the stamina, all photographs can now be viewed, please follow the link.

There is also a link to the Match Report written by Sean Crannigan

👇👇👇

www.ruggerpix.com

Gordon Burton, An Ex Player, Captain and ‘Legend’ of Ilkley Rugby.

Gordon Burton, Ilkley RUFC (Captain)

After an earlier post regarding the Ilkley RFC Ex Players Lunch I sent a link to contacts I thought may be interested to see the post. 

As an afterthought I remembered a good friend from several years ago when we worked at the same Ilkley estate agents and sent him a link as I vaguely remembered he had some connection with rugby (what an understatement!!).

It was a very pleasant surprise when a few days later Nigel replied sending me several photographs and mementos of his dad, Gordon Burton who had been Captain at Ilkley RUFC 1950-51.

I had not expected such a treasure trove of information relating to an ex player, Captain and ‘legend’ of Ilkley rugby.

Cigarette lighter presented to G.Burton (CAPT.) for leading point score. IRUFC 1950-51

134 POINTS

It would seem that Gordon had started quite a sporting legacy from his time at Ilkley RUFC.

 

Son Nigel played rugby for Ilkley Grammar School and at the Schools Sevens held at IRFC.  Later at Ilkley he had trials and played for Yorkshire Colts

. 

Following an injury Nigel stopped playing for a couple of years then moved to Lancashire and played for Fylde Rugby, where Bill Beaumont (England Captain) was his captain with Tony Swift (England) on the right-wing and Nigel on the left-wing.

 

Following a spell with Preston Grasshoppers then moving to Bristol and subsequently playing for a local combination Club.

 

By this time with a growing family of 4 children Nigel had qualified as a junior coach and coached at Clifton Rugby Club for 16 Years.

Nigel's sons, daughters and grandchildren all followed in Gordons sporting footsteps and are prominent participants of their chosen sports.

 I hope you will take the time to view more photographs and information supplied by Nigel.

Of particular note are the details of Ilkley RUFC Golden Jubilee 1899-1949.

Also a must read article ‘A Few Useful Tips for Young Players’

 To view please follow the link to the Archive Image Library on my dedicated website.

'Ruggerpix'

Many Thanks Nigel and Family

Ilkley RFC, Ex Players Lunch, Legends. 4th December 2021

Unfortunately was not able to photograph the ex players attending the lunch but I did manage to photograph 'legends' in the making at the league (North One East) game which followed, Ilkley vs Malton and Norton. 

Ilkley RFC Ex Players (Legends)

Ilkley RFC Ex Players (Legends)

Ilkley RFC Ex Players (Legends)

Archive photographs (EX PLAYERS) courtesy of Ilkley RFC

Once again the weather was not on my side, overcast and rain and as I prefer to photograph from the touchline near the action and away from the distractions and restrictions of the stand I anticipated a soaking so dressed accordingly but even so it was not enough and at half time I had to call it a day, hoping that when I arrived home and edited the results there would be a reasonable collection of acceptable photographs.

Ilkley vs Malton and Norton 4th December 2021

Ilkley vs Malton and Norton 4th December 2021

Managed to rescue enough to post to my website Ruggerpix plus a couple for the Ilkley Gazette to accompany the club scribes match report. If you didn't manage to get to the match then read the report, it is 'a thriller'.

   To view all photographs from the afternoons rugby please follow the link to my dedicated website.

'Ruggerpix' 

 

Ilkley vs Malton and Norton 4th December 2021

                                                     

Ilkley Rugby Club, a New Era

Published on the 15th September 2010.

This week has seen the start of a new era at Ilkley Rugby Club. A new clubhouse is to be built, contractors have arrived on site, erected safety fencing and site cabins.

Ilkley Rugby Club, site fencing

A new temporary changing room facility has been erected and the physio cabin resited.

Ilkley Rugby Club, warning sign

While the new clubhouse is being built Ilkley rugby club members will have the use of the Ilkley Cricket Club facilities just over the road.

Ilkley Cricket Cub

Over the period of the rebuild I will endevour to record  the demolition and reconstruction in photographs which will be uploaded to an album on my Ruggerpix website.

 

Ilkley Rugby Club, safety fencing in place

The club warn all whilst at the ground to please obey all the safety signs around the ground and not to enter the fenced off areas. Also there will be no car parking at the ground because of building work, some parking will be available on nearby roads or at the swimming pool opposite.

The Old Stand, summer 2009

The Old Stand, seating 2009

From what I understand demolition will not take place untill next week so there will not be many changes visible if you attend this Saturdays league game against old rivals Keighley. Lets hope it doesn't rain.

Usefull Links

      👇
Ilkley RFC

     👇
Ruggerpix

    👇
Ilkley Cricket Club

Last Stand at Ilkley RFC vs Hartlepool Rovers

Saturday saw the last league game of the season to be played under the shadow of the Old Stand at Ilkley RFC. Stacks Field. Their opponents were Hartlepool Rovers.

Ilkley RFC Stand and Clubhouse due to be replaced 2011

Ilkley RFC Stand

Plans are well under way to demolish the stand/clubhouse and replace them with a new Community Clubhouse, completion of the new clubhouse is scheduled for the end of May 2011. 

The 3.00pm kick off saw the ground bathed in sunshine and more reminiscent of a midsummers day.

Referee leads the Ilkley team onto the pitch

 Ilkley started well and went into the lead 

Ilkleys Chad Shepherd on his way to a try

but unfortunately for Ilkley, Hartlepool Rovers found their second wind later in the game and went on to win.

Hartlepool Rovers in possession

I managed to photograph the game from start to finish without any mishaps.

 

Ilkley Captain Stuart Vincent with Club President Ronald Obank and Chairman Richard Scargill

Photographs from the game can be viewed at Ruggerpix ( an Image and Style Gallery )

Details of the new clubhouse can be viewed at Ilkley RFC Website

I think this is as good a time as any to thank all the clubs in League North 1 East that I have had the pleasure to visit on my photographic quest, for their excellent hospitality, I have enjoyed some superb pies, Thankyou.

Peter W. Clark 11th April 2010

Interview, Rugby Snapper (2008)

I thought to give an idea of part of my photography I would show an article from one of my websites

Entitled - 'Rugby snapper!'

Whether the weather is cold or whether the weather is hot we always have our weather whether we like it or not… Well the hot option happens rather rarely for Paparazzi Pete – the official photographer of Ilkley Rugby Club, but whether he likes it or not he is always there – one camera in hand, another hanging on his arm – ready to exchange at any time – and with speed! – as rugby photography requires a good reflex.

– Yes, it does – admits P.P. - you really have to concentrate on the game and be prepared, if you don’t want to miss the action. Not easy sometimes when the ground is slippery and muddy, your fingers are half frozen, the rain is getting under your collar, and the wind blows directly in your face... and your thoughts start to drift bizarrely towards the warm bar and a pint of Yorkshire ale.

Saying so he smiles with indulgence – it is also a part of it – big coat, big boots and last year’s innovation – a hat! – and now he is ready to move around the ground all the time during the match wherever the action leads him. To be as close as possible. Trying different angles.
It wasn’t until about ten years ago when P.P. started to think about photography or - more precisely - about being a photographer himself as about something worth fighting for.

Of course the world of the cameras and pictures was always a part of his – as his father was a well established photographer in nearby Keighley. 

P.P.’s photographic career started on the other side of the camera – he shows me several big boxes– full of pictures of him and his younger brother. They are stored in his home in Ilkley downstairs, while the old cameras - souvenirs of his childhood are exposed on the shelves in the lounge. The collection include his first camera – received at fourteen. 

But though familiar with the equipment it was a long way to become a rugby photographer.

– My family wasn’t a very sporting family and indeed I have never played rugby and scarcely watched it and so knew nothing about it till about 3 years ago, when my daughter called me one Saturday saying she’s going to watch the match with my grandson and she invited me to come and take the camera as well in hope that maybe I’d enjoy it… and I did!! It was the first time I really got the chance to see a rugby match – if we don’t count the one I watched a long time ago with my friends – which was a Ladies rugby team and in all honesty – P.P.’s eyes twinkle as he starts laughing - at that time I was probably more interested in the players’ legs which isn’t any more the case with the Ilkley team…I hasten to add.


Seriously it was this first match Ilkley vs Sheffield that gave him the opportunity to take photos of action. This was mostly striking and challenging and still is. 

While asked what he wants to show in his pictures – what he tries to catch P.P. answers immediately – the character of the game, indeed while looking at some of his pictures we can see it – the rapid movements, the determination in the players gestures and expressions of their faces. Sometimes, passion, anger, pain, hope, joy and disappointment plus the strong will to win in a team spirit!
- When shooting pictures I do it for my own pleasure but I also try to promote the sport through my website and by publishing some of the pictures in the “Ilkley Gazette”. I like the game and I do believe it’s worth promoting among the youngsters – says P.P.
Appreciating the sport very much and with every Saturday of the rugby season on the sports ground P.P. should be the rugby expert and the game without doubt have no secrets for him yet…

- I support Ilkley of course, I met plenty of fantastic people and characters being the official photographer, it’s just that as I’m always in a hurry “to catch the moment” I haven’t still got the time to learn all the rules… - P.P. admits laughing.
Well it looks like he will not have the time to do it – not at least this summer as he’s busy preparing the first exhibition of his “rugby snaps” as he jokingly calls them in Ilkley’s cosy pub “THE YARD”. Looking forward!!

More photographs can be viewed at my website 'Ruggerpix'

please follow the link below

Rugby Photography