The History Of Craven Gymnastics Club

The club is based at Sandylands Sports Centre, New Carleton road, Skipton BD23 2AX and was founded in 1973! We celebrated our 50th birthday in 2023! The club was initially set up by Rod Williams (who became the clubs first chair) for his daughter Alison Roberts nee Williams to attend a local club rather than travel further afield. The initial coaches were Aireville School PE teachers: John Cummings, John Humphries and Anne Hasnip. The club is delighted to presently be teaching the granddaughter of Rod Williams! Shortly after the club was run by the Parkinson family, with duo Mick and Carol Parkinson at the helm! The two of them grew the club to new heights, coaching gymnasts from all over the area (including most of the current coaching team) and competing across the country with their two daughters and son coaching and competing alongside them until their retirement. It is an honour to be the current custodians of the club and we will be forever grateful to our founders and predecessors for their dedication to the club. We are determined to continue their legacy and look after the club with the same level of care and love with the intention of serving another 50 years and beyond for our community. The club has been operated as a small, friendly, general / women’s artistic, not for profit, community club until November 2024 when we became a registered charity, Craven Gymnastics Club CIO (1210862).