Thoroughly good sports

Bars in the city were today preparing for a sporting bonanza today as racing, football, cricket and golf all jostle for attention.

As well as the curtain coming down on another season at York Racecourse with the start of the two-day October meeting, which will draw thousands of racegoers, England's rugby heroes are hoping to keep hold of their Rugby World Cup crown by beating France in tonight's Paris semi-final.

Back home, their footballing counterparts aim to take another step towards Euro 2008 qualification against minnows Estonia at Wembley, while England's cricketers and some of the world's top golfers are also in action.

Add the Super League Grand Final between Leeds and St Helens and the signs point to a bumper day for York's landlords, who are hoping for a massive boost in takings as drinkers pile into pubs to watch the autumn sporting extravaganza unfold. "It's going to be a tremendous day," said Peter Pendlebury, manager of The Windmill. in Blossom Street.

"We're expecting to be incredibly busy as it's just one big event after another. We've got four large plasma screens and one massive big screen, which have proved really popular.

"We're hoping to also catch people coming back from the races as we're showing the rugby, so added to the people watching the football earlier it should create a really good atmosphere - and hopefully England will win!"

Tony Griffiths, manager of The Knavesmire, in Albemarle Road, said: "We're showing every single game and are expecting a big crowd in for both the rugby and football, plus we've got a bookmakers over the road if people are feeling lucky!

"We're hoping racegoers will come back in about 5pm after the meeting and stay to watch the rugby."

Gareth Vickers, who runs Keystones, near Monk Bar, said: "We have two big screens and lots of smaller TVs as sport is our strongest area, as well as an outdoor screen for smokers.

"Usually we're on the wrong side of town to attract racegoers, but with England playing, we're expecting anybody and everybody to be coming in."

Although more people than usual are expected to converge on the city centre today, there will be no extra police on the city centre streets.

"We will be maintaining our usual high-visibility police presence to deter and deal with any alcohol-fuelled offending," said a North Yorkshire Police spokesman.

"Above all, we hope everybody has a good time and nothing spoils their enjoyment of the day,"

A RUN of bad luck can be a hard thing to shake off.

But York Racecourse managed just that feat yesterday with a successful end to the racing season after a year dogged by misfortune.

Although thousands of punters were lured to the track by brilliant sunshine at the start of the day, the weather threatened to turn before racing began with overcast skies and falling temperatures. However, the rain never materialised and the races went ahead without incident.

Speaking before the racing began, the racecourse's director of marketing James Brennan said: "It's a nice end to the season.

"The advance sales were very strong. We are looking at eight to ten thousand visitors today and 15 - 20,000 tomorrow depending on what the weather does."

The eventual tally of first day visitors was 10,764.

The 2007 season has seen the award-winning racecourse emerging battered but unbroken from flooding, arson attacks and vandalism.

Most memorably, a major meeting in June had to be cancelled after torrential rainfall caused flooding and waterlogging.

That body blow was swiftly followed by a fire started by a discarded cigarette at the course's Ebor Stand a week before the John Smith's Cup.

But the course managed to reopen for that event and even smashed attendance records, attracting over 42,000 punters on July 14. The course also shrugged off vandal attacks on its railings.

Mr Brennan paid tribute to course staff for pulling off the coup in the wake of the blaze. He said: "The team did a sterling job recovering from that one."

When asked to sum up the season, racecourse chief William Derby simply said that it had been "great fun" despite the setbacks.

Punters echoed course officials' sunny optimism.

Eric Croft, visiting from Richmond, told The Press that he was looking forward to the day's racing despite the weather.

He said: "I'm feeling lucky, but you should ask me again at the end of the day! I always look forward to coming to York. You get a lot of quality racing here."

Nick Thornicroft, of Farlington, said he had heard about the course's recent problems, but hadn't been put off attending the end of season meeting.

He said: "I've enjoyed myself today. I always do when I come to York."

Today was the final day of the racing season in York, with weathermen predicting cloudy but dry weather.

Training an eye on the big screen

RACEGOERS will be able to keep an eye on England's footballing progress while picking out their favourites at today's York event.

A big screen at York Races is showing Steve McClaren's men as they take on Estonia - and one top trainer will be particularly interested.

Ex-England striker Mick Channon, who won 46 international caps and scored 21 times, will combine cheering on Obe Brave, his entry in the paddypower.com Sprint Trophy, the day's big Knavesmire race, with following his country's football fortunes.

The omens are good for York-born McClaren - since 1996, they have won seven, drawn three and lost only one of the 11 matches they have played on racedays in his home city, scoring 13 goals and conceding only three.

William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course, said: "Today is a big day for those who love their sport and we wanted to offer live racing action without making football fans miss out, so we ordered in a further big screen."

The York Raceday television network will also keep racing fans up-to-date with the day's other football scores, England's one-day cricket international in Sri Lanka and the World Matchplay Golf at Wentworth.

Plenty of other things to do

Don't despair if sport is not your thing. There are plenty of other events to keep you busy this weekend. Here's a selection:

• IF you fancy swapping playing fields for country fields and racetracks for farm tracks, head for the British National Ploughing Championships, which are being held at Crockey Hill today and tomorrow. More than 170 ploughmen from across the UK will contest a string of classes, and the event, by permission of Hobson Farming, will also have a trade stand area, a craft marquee and working demonstrations of equipment.

• Discover your artistic side by visiting The Big Draw event at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden at Aldfield, near Ripon. Drawing materials will be provided and normal admission prices apply. For more information, phone 01765 608888.

• Get to grips with Japanese Taiko drumming, with a one-day workshop taking place at Fishergate Primary School, in Fishergate, York. Phone 01904 470507 for more details.

• Snap up some bargains with a trip to one of the various markets being held around Yorkshire all day today. Stalls will be ready and waiting for you in Malton's Market Square, Thirk's Market Place, High Street in Northallerton and Newgate in York.

• If classical music is your thing, the UK's most popular soprano Lesley Garrett is performing at Scarborough Spa, in South Bay, Scarborough. For ticket details, phone 01723 357856.

• Yorkshire artist Malcolm Whittaker's work goes on display this weekend at his Past To Present show at the Lund Gallery, near Easingwold. The exhibition runs from 11am to 5pm.

• Spooked by the prospect of too much sport? Take a Ghost Walk around York this evening. You can join one at the Shambles or the West Doors of the Minster at 7.30pm, and Exhibition Square or the King's Arms at 8pm.

• Join an all-day Ceramic Safari at the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens in York city centre, featuring a display of creature-themed pottery from the last 2,000 years.