The world's top woman snooker player today threw down the gauntlet to a "sexist" social club.

World Number One Kelly Fisher challenged any male member at Silsden's Sunnybank Social Club to do battle on the baize.

The strife-torn club has banned women from becoming full members - and won't let them play snooker unless accompanied by a man.

Now 21-year-old Kelly has agreed to take on the men. And the T&A will give £100 prize money to the winner to donate to a charity of their choice.

The club hit the headlines after the all-male committee changed its rules so women can only be social members.

The women are demanding full membership so they can sit on the committee, vote and play snooker - without a chaperone.

Champion Kelly, from Pontefract, said: "There are obviously some men who are sexist and belong in the Iron Age. They're scared of women challenging them.

"Snooker isn't a physical sport like football - it's more to do with the mind."

She said the game was attracting an increasing number of women - between 40 to 50 female players at each tournament.

Club treasurer Alwyn Bolton has agreed to put the challenge to committee members when they meet tomorrow. He added: "I would be quite willing to see Kelly play someone at the club."

The row was sparked at the club's annual meeting when a group of women asked the committee to give them full membership rights. But the vote went against them and they can still only be social members.

In a statement after the vote, the club said: "We have worked on the assumption that men and women were classified differently. However some members have pointed out that according to rule 33(b) we are all the same.

"If this is the case, quite a few of our rules are unenforceable. As we think the club has done very well so far under our interpretation of the rules, and ladies have always been made welcome, we felt we must delete that rule."

Opponents have pledged to continue the fight, backed by members Bernard Clarke, 36, of Jacques Grove, Silsden, and 60-year-old Mike Sutton, also of Silsden.

Jean Spencer, 57, of Clifford House, Silsden, who has been a member for 20 years, said the rules made her feel inferior.

"If you're not a full member you are told you can't do certain things - like play snooker.

"I don't want to play, but that type of thing makes you feel inferior," she said.

Women can only make suggestions about the running of the club by communicating with the committee via a man.

They pay £1 a year as social members, while the men pay £2.50, have voting rights and can sit on the committee.

'We want club to thrive but we want our say too'

The all-male committee is being given another chance to change its mind.

A letter seeking full membership for mother-of-three Fiona Clarke has been sent to the management committee, which voted 55 to 12 earlier this week to change the rule that allowed women equal status.

Mrs Clarke's husband Bernard, a Silsden retained fireman, and Mike Sutton, both members, have taken up the cudgels on behalf of the women.

Mr Clarke, of Jacques Grove, Silsden said: "We don't want to get into a legal situation until we get an official response from them about my wife's application. I have written a letter seeking her membership from February 1."

He said they would consider what to do next when the committee replied formally.

"We want the club to go forward into this new Millennium with equal rights for everyone," he added.

Mrs Clarke, 32, said: "I like the club very much - I feel safe there and comfortable. We're not doing this to ruin it. We want it to thrive but we also want to have our say on how it is run. I don't like having to ask a question through Bernard."

Margaret Sloan, 53, of Claymore Rise, a member for ten years, along with husband Laurie, said she enjoyed the social facilities at the club.

"But I want to be able to voice my opinion without having to ask a man to do it for me. In this day and age that's ridiculous."

Mike Sutton, 60, said he was very disappointed with the committee's decision to throw out the rule, which he said allowed women equal rights.

"My wife Kathleen is not prepared to go down there again until she gets full membership. I've renewed my membership for the next 12 months and I will continue to fight," he added.

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