Ilkley Teen Strides To Success

Ilkley teenager Alex Flaherty has achieved an outstanding ten grade 9 results in his GCSEs today, having also clocked up considerable success as a cross country runner, representing Yorkshire at a national level on multiple occasions and securing numerous county titles.

Alex, 16, who runs for Bingley Harriers, began his time at BGS in Clock House, the BGS Junior School. He feels running has proven a really useful means of providing balance alongside his academic studies, saying:
“I’m so glad all my hard work paid off. Running has really helped me to clear my head and relax during my studies; I’ve always enjoyed running and have definitely improved since I joined the BGS Running Club. I’ve definitely tried to stay motivated during lockdown. I’ve been going out running four times a week and have even taken my mum out with me – though I’ve had to change my pace for her!”

Alex will be staying at BGS for his A Level studies in Chemistry, Maths, History and Latin. His teachers are looking forward to welcoming him back. Mike McCartney, BGS Running Coach, said of Alex’s GCSE success:
“Taken in isolation these are obviously an amazing set of GCSE results. But what is even more remarkable is that Alex has managed to combine his academic studies with his commitment to the school’s cross-country team. Alex is part of a fine tradition in distance running at BGS, following in the footsteps of the Brownlees for instance. At a time when it would be understandable for a young athlete to perhaps put a bit less effort into training, Alex has not let up.”

BGS counts Olympic medallists, prominent artists and politicians among its prestigious alumni. Former pupils of the independent school on Keighley Road, Bradford, include Olympic heroes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, artist David Hockney and politician Denis Healey.