Skipton'S oldest sports club is hoping it will be third time lucky in a bid for sports lottery cash after winning an appeal against the refusal of a grant.

Skipton Rugby Club applied for £442,000 towards a £700,000 revamp of facilities but its application has been rejected twice.

In January, when the club was unexpectedly refused lottery backing for the second time, it was told it could appeal if it addressed issues regarding financial stability, an extended sports development plan and showed more evidence of need.

President Harry Crabtree said at the time he was at a loss to understand how the panel had reached its conclusions, and that he would appeal against the decision.

He told the Herald the 125-year-old club was desperate for new facilities to keep up with growth of members of all ages and both sexes.

"All our projections supplied show that income exceeds expenditure each year in five yearly projections," he added.

He also said the bid had received the backing of the Rugby Football Union which had praised the club's plans to encourage women and ethnic minorities to take up the sport, and its development of squads at all levels.

Members have been waiting since then to hear whether their appeal was successful.

Mr Crabtree said this week: "We have heard from the lottery that our appeal has been allowed.

"But it does not mean we can proceed with the scheme straight away.

"It must be referred back to another panel which will scrutinise the finances again before giving the go-ahead.

"I understand it could be another two or three months before we hear. At least it's a step in the right direction."

Mr Crabtree has been leading the bid for the money and plans to look over the financial details once more to assure the panel that the club has drawn up the right costings.

He feared that if the bid was thrown out, £230,000 of private backing would be kicked into touch.

The club wants to revamp its facilities.

The project includes improving changing rooms, and toilet facilities to enable the club to cater for both sexes, creating another pitch and floodlit training area, extending the club room and providing better facilities for disabled people at the Engine Shed Lane.

The project is expected to cost in the region of £680,000 of which £430,000 will be lottery cash - 65 per cent.

It has to find the 35 per cent balance - about £230,000 - and has already secured pledges from various sources.

The club, which has this season won promotion from Yorkshire division three, runs three senior teams, junior teams from under sevens to under 15s and one ladies' team, fears the private funding could be lost if the lottery fails to come up with the cash.

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