Womens sports, leisure and fitness in Otley
This Otley Girl Can is a campaign aimed at recognising and furthering participation in female sports in Otley and the surrounding towns and villages.
Below are listed details of sporting organisations and participation ideas for female-focussed sports, leisure and recreation.
The campaign is backed by Town Mayor Sylvia Thomson, Otley Town Council, Otley BID, Otley Town Partnership and the Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
Organisations wishing to be added to the list should email [email protected]
Gyms, pilates and yoga
Pilates in Motion
Gaynor Coward teaches mat and Pilates equipment classes in Otley. In the studio in Bay Horse Court you will work with the spring resistance of the equipment to help identify muscle imbalance, enabling you to strengthen, stretch and attain a greater freedom of movement. Whether you require individual rehabilitation sessions, a demanding workout or sports specific training, the class will be tailored for your needs.
Tel: 07970 116408
Email: [email protected]
Soma Wellness
Soma is a community based wellness hub, that offers yoga, dance and soul searching for all. Various thereapies and classes are available, as are regular retreats both abroad and in the UK.
Tel: 07494 862632
Web: soma-wellness
Club Energy
Local fully equipped gym and fitness studio offering a variety of exercise classes. A section of the club is dedicated to women only.
Tel: 01943 468882
Web: club-energy-otley
Hockey
Otliensians Hockey Club
The club was formed in 1952 by the old scholars of Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Otley and thereafter the team was called Otliensians.
Members are from all across the West Yorkshire district and the team welcomes any players to join, whether you are a ‘back to hockey’ player or have experience on the field.
Training sessions are held on Monday evenings 7-8pm @ Horsforth High School.
Tel: 07834584801
Email: [email protected]
Web: otleyhockey
Running
Otley AC
Otley Athletic Club is an inclusive running club based in Otley with active junior and senior sections. Senior training takes place on a Tuesdays and Thursdays meeting at Otley Cricket Club, this is next to Otley RUFC on Pool Road about 600m to the east of Otley town centre. There are different groups training at different speeds and over different routes and terrain.
Email: [email protected]
Web: otleyac
Run Mums
Run Mums is a running group set up by mum-of-two, run leader and personal trainer Emma Thomson. She set the group up to help motivate other mums to get out and run. The group is a great way for like-minded individuals to share experiences, create friendships and do some exercise outdoors. It’s a low key, go at your own pace running group, there are two groups: a couch to 5k for complete beginners, and 5-10k group for intermediate runners.
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.facebook.com/runmumsruns/
Outdoor swimming
Wild swimming
An increased interest in outdoor swimming over the past years has seen more and more people taking to the River Wharfe on a regular basis. Jude, Anita and Marina are three ladies who appear in the town’s Otley Girls Can video and enter the water in Grove Hill Park. They say they swim outside for physical health, to support their mental wellbeing, and further appreciate and protect the beautiful area in which they live. They do not have an official website or Facebook page but list the following as places to look for ideas and inspiration.
Outdoor Swimming Society outdoorswimmingsociety
Dales Dippers https://www.facebook.com/groups/783541888674979/
Fabulous Leeds Outdoor Wild Swimmers (FLOWS) https://www.facebook.com/groups/622388354491433/
Rounders
Otliensians Ladies Rounders Team
Formed in summer 2021, the Otliensians Ladies Rounders Team involves fun, laughter and a competitive edge at training every Tuesday evening. They played their first match in July with more to come. Which rounders games are the coolest? The ones full of fans… so come on down and support the ladies. Or join in if you fancy it. There’s a minimum age of 18, no maximum age and all abilities are welcome to join and play. Based at Old Otliensians Rugby Club, with an increasingly busy social calendar and definitely no toilet paper shortage. What are you waiting for?
Email: [email protected]
Marital arts
Zetsurin Karate
Zetsurin is a family-run karate dojo established in 2009. Now based in Bay Horse Court and with Senseis Paul, Ruth, Evan and Lewis Hickman, the club practices Shukokai Style Karate which is suitable for all ages and abilities, with many women attending. Free taster sessions and a warm welcome are available.
Contact
Tel: 07734 463 418
Email: [email protected]
Web: zetsurin
Netball
Otley Netball Club
Local netball club with a number of age groups training and playing their matches at Prince Henry’s. The community driven club has only been in operation since 2019 but has won local and national awards and continues to grow. The leadership team are passionate about participation at a grassroots level and encouraging girls and women to be active and part of the sporting community.
Web: https://www.facebook.com/otleynetball
Football
Weston Lane Juniors
Established in 1957 Weston Lane is an FA Charter Standard club registered with the Craven, Aire and Wharfe Junior League. Each team has its own FA Level 1 and 2 coaches and Manager who are all CRB checked and have relevant Health and Safety training. Consisting of under 11s and under 15s teams, the club is very female centric thanks to the efforts of U11s manager Alison Hammond and coach Olivia Boardman and U15s manager Claire Paget.
Email: [email protected]
Pool AFC
Pool AFC has a number of teams covering all age groups but has successfully set up girl’s teams in a number of age groups, including under 10s, 11s and 12s while some younger teams are co-ed.
Web: poolafc
Rugby
Tag Rugby
Tag rugby – a minimal contact version of rugby – is a growing sport that began in Australia as a training aid and has soon caught on as a sport of its own that has spread around the world. Otley is the home of Team GB tag rugby hopeful Anita Barton who appears in the This Otley Girl Can video. As yet, there is no Otley team but she recommends contacting Try Tag Rugby for more information.
Email: [email protected]
Web: trytagrugby