LICENCE fee payers will welcome today's news that the BBC is slimming down. Here is a corporation without corporate responsibility - no pressure to post a profit, no shareholders to scrutinise performance, cushioned from the real world by its own tax
SATURDAY'S RJF Homes Beckett Football League programme was tinged with sadness as two players suffered broken legs. Gillamoor's second division home game with Ryedale Sports Club had to be abandoned after 34 minutes due to a serious injury to Karl Richardson
AUSSIE hot-shot Quinten Hann's opponents will have to box clever when they come up against him in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship. The quick-tempered 'bad boy' is fighting fit after taking up boxing this summer. Hann, who plays qualifier Shokat
THE youngest player competing in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship will be 17-year-old Chinese cracker Ding Junhui. He is through to the final stages of a world ranking event for the only the third time in his fledgling career. Ding, ranked 76
The magnificent Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship trophy won't be the only glittering prize on display at York's Barbican Centre during the big tournament. The new Masters trophy will be on show in the CueZone area in the lower gym. Leeds ace Paul
MAKING the highest break ever recorded in pro snook-er wasn't enough to win Jamie Burnett a place in the final stages of this year's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship in York. And despite making snooker history in scoring a 148 in the second qualify-ing
For the second year in succession, a Welshman won snooker's second biggest prize when Matthew Stevens triumphed in last year's Travis Perkins UK Championship final at York's Barbican Centre. The 26-year-old from Carmarthen recovered from being 4-0 down
A NEW name went on the UK Snooker Championship trophy last year as Welshman Matthew Stevens gained the first ranking title of his career at the end of a York tournament full of surprises. Stevens came back from 4-0 down to beat Stephen Hendry 10-8. It
This year is the 28th UK Snooker Championship. Steve Davis has won the title six times and Stephen Hendry five. When it began in 1977 the event was open only to British residents and passport holders. With a field of 24, it was held at Blackpool Tower
IT was a tale of two halves as New Earswick All Blacks ARL Club failed to capitalise on a great first-half display and lost 32-18 at Siddal 'A'. All Blacks led 12-2 at the interval but suffered a disappointing second period. The home side went in front
THE number of York youngsters in the country's junior rugby league elite has risen to four following confirmation that Ross Divorty is in the England Under-16s Youth squad. The New Earswick starlet celebrated his recent 16th birthday by joining former
YORK City caretaker boss Viv Busby is hoping to sign trialist striker Paul Robinson today. Robinson, who has scored twice in three appearances for City, is currently discussing a financial agreement with Tranmere Rovers to release him from his contract
DARREN Dunning will warm York City's bench for the first time in his career tonight. Caretaker boss Viv Busby has vowed to keep faith with the players that beat Carlisle United 2-1 in the Minstermen's last outing and that means Dunning will be named as
A ground-breaking project, manufactured off-site by York-based Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon, has won a major industry gong at this year's British Construction Industry Awards. Yorkon scooped The Best Practice award for the Raines Court Apartments in London
MORE details have emerged of the crucial make-or-break attempt by debt-hit Jarvis to raise £25 million through selling off its leases and other land interests in York, including its headquarters in the city. Last March, the company announced it was shedding
STEVE Secker has been appointed as the new regional managing director of builder McCarthy & Stone's York-based north east division. Previously business development director of the firm's head office in Bournemouth, Mr Secker now heads a team of 75
I wish the Coppergate Centre luck in their attempt to win permission to fell the trees in St Mary's Square. I understand the reasons why you have asked for them to be removed and the common sense approach is to remove them. However, the "part-time greens
I READ a letter that yet again showed complete ignorance about the life style of the fox. I'm not prepared to argue the rights and wrongs of fox hunting (although I have my views) but people need to be made aware of the behaviour of foxes. Studies have
I THANK you and your Evening Press team for the delightful pictures of all the little new-starters at schools in the area. They are so unselfconscious and their little faces show a range of expressions from delight to fury. I have had so much amusement
I THANK WC Moore for his kind comments about the work I undertook to get the No 16a bus up and running (Letters, December 1). It is true that in July this year Peter Edwards (First) and Terry Walker (City of York Council) confirmed that the No 16a was
MR Bowker is wrong to say the Lib Dem-run council in Islington has over-ruled parents' wishes about the name of a new school in that London borough (Letters, November 18). There will be a new school sponsored by the Church of England and various aspects
A YORK MAN has switched from grain to grape after being awarded £1,000 to develop his knowledge of wine. Mark Londsale, of Tadcaster Road, gained top marks in a wine exam and received the scholarship to travel to foreign vineyards. Mark, 38, was a master
A teenager who urged his mate to drive off with a policeman hanging out of the car has walked free from court. But Richard Malcolm Pilcher, 19, will spend 12 hours out of every 24 confined to his home for the next six months and will spend much of his
YEARSLEY Swimming Pool reopened today, almost a month after it closed for a revamp. City of York Council said that broken-down fans in the roof had now been fixed, restoring proper ventilation to the baths. Swimmers have been unable to use the pool, near
KERRY Woods' brilliant strike gave Acomb Ladies I a 1-0 victory at Batley in Yorkshire League division two. The Tangerines dominated possession from the start thanks to the excellent midfield work of Wendy Watson, Rachel Linfoot, player of the match Jo
SHARES in debt-laden support group Jarvis tumbled as traders reacted to news it was selling off property in York. As the company faced a critical month in its battle for survival, its shares fell 12 per cent to 9.5p - valuing the company at little more
A PERVERT who tried to lure young children into his car from the streets of York is facing a long stretch in prison. Michael James Anderson was released from prison earlier this year, partway through a jail term imposed for inciting young girls into sexual
NO one is more surprised than David Gray to be playing in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship final in York tomorrow. He snatched a 9-8 victory from the jaws of defeat last night to earn a clash with the winner of tonight's semi-final at the Barbican
The pride of Yorkshire snooker was at home in Leeds today feeling totally browned off after the collapse of his bid to win the Travis Perkins UK Championship. Failing to pot the far from difficult brown under pressure in the deciding frame saw him lose
ONE is hoping to stay on cue for success at the Barbican this week, while one is currently taking a break from sporting action in York, but snooker and football's Steve Davis namesakes met in the city yesterday afternoon. Davis, the snooker version, prepared
PAUL Hunter was battling today to buck the trend in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship after shock defeats left only two of the world's top eight players in the event. Two more former world and UK champions bit the dust at York's Barbican Centre
YORKSHIRE star Paul Hunter's determined bid to win the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship was on track today after a tough opening victory which he likened to a scrap in the boxing ring. "I feel like I've been nine rounds with him, though I don't
SNOOKER star John Higgins was uncertain today if he will be able to make it to York in time for his opening match tomorrow in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship. Higgins, who won the British Open title on Sunday, is back home in Wishaw with his
ONE thing is almost certain during this year's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship in York if last year here and results from other recent major tournaments elsewhere are anything to go by - big names will suffer shock exits. Last year, defending champion
SNOOKER has become more than a game for Simon Crossley. He has turned it into an art form. The 24-year-old Bishopthorpe man has created a series of portraits of the world's top 16 players and will be putting two sets of them on show at York's Barbican
Thank goodness, I am not alone (although I wish I was). Almost half of people quizzed in a survey admitted that when it comes to sleeping, they are totally incompatible. Two-thirds complained their other half kept them awake by snoring and more than 35
Tuesday, December 7, 2004 100 years ago: Ladies who wore boas were putting themselves in serious danger, according to a columnist. A few days previously, according to Land and Water magazine, a girl in Cornwall wearing one was viciously attacked by a
THIS is the consumer society gone crackers. Cat poorly? Too tired to drive? Want directions to the nearest tobacconist? Just dial 999. Those people who call the ambulance service with petty complaints and bizarre queries are more than mere idiots. They
CHRISTMAS shoppers in Ryedale can shop 'til they drop when dozens of shops take part in a late-night opening. On Wednesday a number of businesses in Malton will be open until 8pm to give festive shoppers more chance to snap up gifts. Father Christmas
BREAK a leg, that's what they say to folk about to give a public performance. And the Reverend Rob Marshall did just that. Hours before he was due to broadcast live to the nation on BBC Radio Four, the Archbishop of York's press officer stumbled down
EIGHT of the 48 players in the starting line-up for the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship starting on Monday are new to the Barbican Centre. All of them have won the right to play in York this year by coming through the qualifying rounds held at
A DAY before Yorkshire hero Paul Hunter's first match in this year's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship the man who taught him how to play will be in action. Jimmy Michie, from Pontefract, makes his first appearance in the UK Championship in York
STEPHEN LEWIS visits York hospital's state-of-the-art X-ray imaging unit. ON the screen in front of us, an X-ray image shows a patient's heart pumping steadily. A thin needle appears, and there is a puff of dark dye. Rapidly it spreads, outlining the
Market Weighton trainer Mike Sowersby has a useful money-spinner in Karathaena, who at Leicester tomorrow bids for her third success in four outings. Cheaply bought off the Flat, the four-year-old has proved to be much more effective over hurdles. She
I WRITE in response to Keith Allan's letter about his delight at the shopping on offer in Middlesbrough (November 26). I'm sure Mr Allan had a lovely time with his wife and I'm pleased he had such a carefree and uncluttered visit to their fully-pedestrianised
FIONA H Dunn tells us at great length about the slaughter of her animals by foxes (Letters, December 1). She then informs us she and her family also spend their time slaughtering animals. The irony of this cannot be lost on your readers. The fox's excuse
Fiona Dunn justifies hunting of foxes on the grounds that a fox kills for the sake of killing. She then says her children hunt, shoot and fish - and, therefore, kill purely for the sake of killing. Surely she's not advocating that, once fox hunting is
AS a Christian minister concerned for York people, I must express my opposition to the proposal by Merlin Entertainments to establish a Satan's Grotto in the York Dungeon. For thousands of years, even beyond the teaching of the Bible, it has been recognised
ON behalf of the York branch I thank all our supporters and volunteers who gave their time so unstintingly during 2004 to enable the Alzheimer's Society to support those with dementia, and their carers, in the area. We owe a tremendous debt to all our
GORDON Brown has once again performed an incredibly cynical pre-Budget trick of spending more and taxing less. How has he done this? He has simply passed the tax burden from central Government to local government by asking councils to deliver more services
EBENEEZER Scrooge is alive and well in the form of multi-millionaire Humphrey Smith, the brewery owner who has banned music and television (although not one-armed bandits) from his Sam Smith public houses (December 3). With these savings he may be able
Chairmen of football clubs, don'tcha just love 'em? Since the Russian-enforced exile of Ken 'blast-off' Bates at Chelsea and the near-disappearance of Deadly Doug Ellis from Aston Villa - he's still there, but would you know it - the status of the chairman
A WELL-KNOWN York Elvis impersonator has condemned the "sick" thieves who broke in to his car while he was singing for charity. Paul Bulmer was performing on stage at Dunnington Sports Club on Saturday night at an event to raise cash for St Leonard's
CIVIC trust chiefs in York have railed against the "New Yorkification" of the city - as they raise fears of a "head-long dash" to build high buildings regardless of the consequences. Darrell Buttery, York Civic Trust chairman, said historic buildings
CHRIS and Alan Nelson are planning to sell their York home of more than 30 years to help fund Chris's continuing battle for health. The Evening Press reported recently how the York cancer patient had staged an amazing recovery a year after embarking on
GAS supply has been restored to all but a "handful" of homes in York, following a major fault last week. Only 14 homes in the Leeman Road area are still without gas, because gas company Transco has not been able to contact the owners. A spokeswoman for
A SUPERB 135 finish from Tony Raymond was all in vain as Ebor lost the decider in their York Phoenix Monday League division one encounter with leaders Sun Inn. He was well backed by Mark Hartley with 180 for 16 plus a 17 darter as Ebor went 3-1 up, but
A WOMAN who was concerned about her sick cat, and a man who was feeling tired while driving on the A1 and wanted a lift to hospital for a rest, both found the same "solution" to their problems - they dialled 999 and called for an ambulance. Other "inappropriate
YORK City caretaker boss Viv Busby is hoping to sign trialist striker Paul Robinson today. Robinson, who has scored twice in three appearances for City, is currently discussing a financial agreement with Tranmere Rovers to release him from his contract
HAXBY netball queen Val Kennedy will be rubbing shoulders with golden Olympic stars Kelly Holmes and Matthew Pinsent on Sunday. She won the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award for Yorkshire at York Racecourse. Now she will represent the county at the BBC Sports
DARREN Dunning will warm York City's bench for the first time in his career tonight. Caretaker boss Viv Busby has vowed to keep faith with the players that beat Carlisle United 2-1 in the Minstermen's last outing and that means Dunning will be named as
YOUNG hot-shot Stephen Maguire destroyed David Gray 10-1 in last night's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship final. Maguire, 23, has now shot up to third in the provisional world rankings after winning the tournament which could have been held in York
SUPER Scot Stephen Maguire is being spurred on by the pressure in his York bid for snooker glory. He swept aside world number nine Stephen Lee 9-4 at the Barbican Centre last night with a devastating display of break-building to march into tomorrow's
TWO of the tournament outsiders will clash in York tomorrow for a place in the final of snooker's second biggest tournament. And tonight a former world and UK champion and the new hot-shot of the season bid to get into the last four. Joe Perry, the world
YORK snooker fans are seeing an inspired player who could be spearheading a new generation of talent. That's the view of one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Six-times world and UK champion Steve Davis was full of praise for Stephen
SNOOKER'S cramped schedule came under attack from a former world and UK champion just before he left York's Barbican Centre last night after being knocked out of the Travis Perkins UK Championship. John Higgins, beaten 9-7 by 22-year-old Welshman Ricky
FORMER world and UK champion John Parrott said he had "got a monkey off his back" with his 9-5 first round win over James Wattana last night. He admitted that the Thailander has been one of his bogeymen over the years. "I've got my enthusiasm for snooker
SNOOKER legend Jimmy White pulled out of the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship in York today. White, a UK semi-finalist last year, was feeling ill and retired when trailing 7-0 in the second round to world number 19 Allister Carter, from Essex. The
NEW British Open snooker champion John Higgins may miss his opening salvo in the Travis Perkins UK Championship at the Barbican, York, because his wife is expecting a baby. The Wizard of Wishaw starts his bid to regain the UK title with a second round
THE world's top snooker stars shoot into York on Monday to start their quest for the coveted UK crown. York's Barbican Centre is all set to finish with a flourish in what is the last event there before the doors close for the place to be refurbished.
Yorkshire snooker star Paul Hunter said he is not too disheartened after suffering a shock defeat a week before he makes his bow in York in the Travis Perkins UK Championship. The Leeds ace lost 5-3 to Rotherham-based Shaun Murphy in the second round
Matthew Stevens is prepared to have to work hard if he is to keep his UK snooker crown. After he won the Travis Perkins Championship in York last year, his first ranking title in ten years as a professional, he failed to win a match until the Embassy
Can leaving a child to cry seriously damage its future mental health? JO HAYWOOD reports. IT'S one of the few noises that can reduce grown men to tears and induce homicidal tendencies in normally sane women. A constantly crying baby can drive you mad.
Beauty is now big business, with salons on virtually every street corner. But there was a time when it was a more clandestine affair. JO HAYWOOD travels back 100 years to find out more. A DISCREET knock at the door would mark her arrival. After a quick
