The club takes part in a variety of regional and national competitions during the season.
YPU Exhibition
This is the only one of these competitions that members enter as individuals, rather than as a club, though entry is done in one group by the club external competitions secretary. Each entry costs £1.50. The best images are accepted and displayed at the YPU Assembly each May.
In recent years Ilkley has done well at this competition, with trophies for best digital and print club, and many individual trophies and certificates.
YPU Club
There are two flavours of this competition, one as prints and the other as digital images. The rules for each of them are identical. The top two clubs in each competition go on to represent Yorkshire at national level, at Blackburn (October, Print) and Warwick (July, Digital). Any club from Yorkshire can enter.
In recent years Ilkley has been placed third, just missing out on the final, though in the past they have qualified for the finals.
GB Cup & GB Trophy
These two competitions are national – any UK club can enter. There are two flavours – Open and Nature.
In 2018, Ilkley were placed joint 41st out of 76 in the GB Cup (Digital) and joint 9th (out of 19) in the GB Trophy (Prints).
In 2020 the committee have elected not to enter the Print flavour of this competition.