Skipton'S oldest sports club has unexpectedly had its bid for lottery cash turned down for a second time.

Members of Skipton Rugby Club had this time anticipated success in their application for money to improve facilities at the 125-year-old club.

Club president Harry Crabtree said the first application was drawn up in 1996. It included plans to increase changing room facilities and create male and female rooms, create an additional pitch and floodlit training area, an extension to the club room, and better disabled access.

It was hoped the bid would meet the criteria for the lottery priority area initiative, and therefore be entitled to 90 per cent of the costs.

A rejection letter in 1998 gave members a ray of hope by suggesting the club could apply again within the normally precluded 12 month period if it addressed certain issues. It would still be able to get 65 per cent of the estimated costs.

The club members went back to the drawing board and re-submitted a new and improved plan taking into account the board's suggestions in June 1999.

The shock refusal letter was received just before Christmas giving reasons that had never been mentioned before.

The second scheme was allegedly rejected on the grounds that the club was not financially stable, the expenditure was higher than expected, that there was little evidence showing a need for sports development and that a poor analysis of site options had been done.

Mr Crabtree, astounded at the claims, said that the club had submitted a five year profit and loss account showing it had run at a surplus, and said it was obvious that the players were working in cramped conditions because there were no separate facilities for male and female athletes, yet the club was running teams for both sexes.

"We are very disappointed and we will appeal. Why did they say we could reapply and not point these things out in the first place? We think the things given in the letter are just not realistic and just not true," said Mr Crabtree. "After 125 years to be told we have limited stability is a crazy situation."

The club which already runs three senior teams, junior teams from under sevens to under 15s and one ladies team, has recently offered ground facilities to summer sports groups like the St Ives Bowmen, a female rounders team and an athletics group to try to cater for more people.

Mr Crabtree said the result had been a shock to the members and the situation would have to be reassessed.

He added that he thought the recruitment initiative through schools would have to be curtailed. "That does not mean to say the club has limited funds and it does not mean to say we cannot gradually improve matters. But what we really needed was a boost and an injection of capital. It's a great pity really.

"It was very difficult indeed to get all the paperwork organised, but we have persevered in the hope that we could improve the facilities for the town and for the club. But we will not give up," said Mr Crabtree.

Because of the Christmas period, the 21-day appeal period has been extended until January 15.

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