York pub team Tap and Spile Cricket Club are cheering

a sporting success.

Their Bootham Park ground has been recognised as one of the loveliest in the country.

They were among five clubs shortlisted for the award in a competition organised by Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine and Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea.

With views of the Minster and the Georgian Bootham park hospital, the tree-lined ground earned Tap and Spile a certificate, a year's supply of Yorkshire Tea and will be featured on a calendar published by the magazine.

Bootham Park was the only ground in the north to make the final selection with the other four being Warborough and Shillingford (Oxfordshire), Midhurst (West Sussex), West Farleigh (Oxfordshire) and the winners Bridgetown (Exmoor).

Updated: 12:10 Wednesday, October 23, 2002