Editing Pontefract (section)

==Sport==
The town is home to many sports including rugby, football and squash. Prominent squash players [[Lee Beachill]] and [[James Willstrop]] both train at Pontefract Squash Club. Notable institutions are horse racing at [[Pontefract Racecourse]] and [[Featherstone Rovers]], the area's professional rugby league club.

Pontefract Racecourse is the longest continuous horse racing circuit in Europe at {{convert|2|mi|125|yd|m furlong}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Course Details&nbsp;– Pontefract Racecourse|url=http://www.pontefract-races.co.uk/course-details/|access-date=4 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821184541/http://www.pontefract-races.co.uk/course-details/|archive-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> It stages flat racing between the end of March and the end of October. A new sports centre is located at Pontefract Park which opened on 12 April 2021, which replaces the old swimming pool located on Stuart Road.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spereall |first=David |date=16 March 2021|title=Pontefract leisure centre set for April 12 opening|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/leisure-centre-pontefract-finished-last-20180799|access-date=15 December 2021|website=YorkshireLive}}</ref> Two-time European Masters Champion weightlifter Martyn Riley is from Pontefract.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pontefract's Martyn Riley celebrates second European Masters title |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/other-sport/pontefracts-martyn-riley-celebrates-second-european-masters-title-3080612 |access-date=20 January 2021 |work=Wakefield Express |date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

Pontefract has its own non-league football club, [[Pontefract Collieries F.C.]], which was founded in 1958 and plays adjacent to the former Prince of Wales Colliery off Beechnut Lane. The team, known locally as "Ponte Colls" play in the [[Northern Premier League]] Division One North West (correct as of the 2021–22 season). Pontefract is also home to the Pontefract Knights rugby league football club.

Pontefract RUFC is based at Moor Lane, [[Carleton, West Yorkshire|Carleton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pontefractrufc.com/news/ilkley-25-pontefract-3-match-report-millard-leads-but-frustrations-continue-2830474.html|title=Ilkley 25 Pontefract 3 Match Report. Millard Leads but Frustrations Continue|website=www.pontefractrufc.com|accessdate=31 January 2024}}</ref> It runs three senior sides as well as a number of junior and girls teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pontefractrufc.com/teams|title=Pontefract RUFC teams|website=www.pontefractrufc.com|accessdate=31 January 2024}}</ref> Rugby Union has been played in the town since the 19th century when Pontefract won the Yorkshire Cup.

Pontefract used to boast two cricket clubs, Lakeside CC (based in Pontefract Park) and Pontefract CC (adjacent to Pontefract Collieries FC), but by 2002 neither of these clubs were still in existence, leaving the town without its own club despite giving its name to the Pontefract and District Cricket League. Nowadays cricketers must travel to clubs in neighbouring towns and villages, with the closest being Hundhill Hall Cricket Club based in the nearby village [[East Hardwick]].