High-class National Hunt racing, which has been, something of a rarity this season because of wet weather and the foot and mouth crisis, takes pride of place at Ayr tomorrow when the £100,000 Gala Group Scottish Grand National is the jewel in the crown
SKILLWISE, a horse in form, should not be missed at Ayr tomorrow. The Tim Easterby-trained gelding lines up for the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase and is strongly fancied to follow up his impressive success at Haydock last Saturday. Skillwise has greatly
I write in response to your article (April 18) about the recently-filmed episode of BBC's Casualty which draws close parallels to the Selby rail crash. I wish to express my revulsion at such an insensitive move by the BBC. Regardless of when the episode
I am appalled at the mass slaughter of healthy farm animals because of the fear of foot and mouth disease. This is nothing less than a holocaust for these creatures, my heart goes out to them. What with mad cow disease, swine fever and foot and mouth,
THE RSPCA appeals to readers to help protect wildlife this spring by resisting the temptation to intervene and pick up wild baby animals. Each year the society is flooded with calls from people who have misguidedly taken in fledglings, and other young
ACTOR Simon Ward's not about to reveal the final twist in the tail of the glossy romantic thriller Double Double which will be keeping audiences guessing at York's Grand Opera House from Tuesday to Saturday next week. The play, scripted appropriately
THEY always say in the entertainment business you should never work with animals or children. So when Victoria Westall-Eyre was asked just over a year ago to choreograph a ballet to Glazunov's Four Seasons for the new Yorkshire Youth Dance Theatre, her
The evil weasels have dog-napped Pluto, it's your job to rescue him in this all-American race game. To do this you have to race around courses ranging from LA to the Grand Canyon. There are lots of different levels on this game plus a driving school,
On the eve of the Queen's 75th birthday, CHRIS TITLEY examines her enduring appeal... WHEN the Queen and Prince Philip visited York last July, they received a rapturous welcome. Young and old took to the streets wearing red, white and blue, waving the
Actress Wendy Craig was in Ryedale today filming an episode of Songs of Praise. The star of the 1970s TV programme Butterflies was visiting Rievaulx Terraces and Rievaulx Abbey as part of a general tour around her favourite spots in Yorkshire. Simon Leigh
Angling prospects for this weekend appear poor as water temperatures have plummeted in the icy winds. However, some venues can still be relied on to provide bites in the harshest of conditions. Kevin Whincup from Carpvale says that the front pond is in
The new Jorvik has provided more than one experience of time travel, as York people have found themselves spun back to a previous era. The sight of the lines of people snaking their way around Coppergate has taken residents back more than a decade, recalling
York Nomads' hopes of winning the York Sunday Afternoon League title nosedived when they lost to Drax United - their third league defeat in four games. Nomads took a 15th-minute lead with an own goal but, after having the better chances, allowed John
Villagers may defy their local council over a controversial "coffin" warning sign on a road they call Death Hill. Road safety campaigners say a stand-off could be looming after Hambleton planners voted to have the seven-foot placard removed from the A19
Pocklington and Thorpe United will contest the York John Smith's Sunday League Mecca Trophy final on May 13. Pocklington won their semi-final at Acomb Sports Club 2-0 thanks to goals from Lee Sandback and Richard Millett. The other semi-final went to
A multi-thousand pound bill for leisure services in York is expected to be settled today. City of York Council's executive will meet to agree the coming year's programme of services to be bought from the city's voluntary sector. They range from playgroups
A man appeared in court at Harrogate yesterday accused of 32 sex offences. Ronald Ralph England pleaded not guilty and presiding magistrate Jim Fender ordered him to stand trial in front of a judge and jury. England, 45, of Stanhope Drive, Harrogate,
FORMER Leeds Rhinos Challenge Cup hero Leroy Rivett has turned down York Wasps in favour of another shot at Super League. Winger Rivett, who scored four tries and scooped the Lance Todd Trophy in Leeds' Wembley win over London Broncos two years ago, has
From the depths of despair to the comfort zone of mid-table, Lee Bullock admits a whirlwind of change has swept through the corridors of Bootham Crescent. Little more than two months ago City slumped to the bottom of the Football League after a 3-0 home
Detectives investigating the murder of a North Yorkshire man say they are concerned at the lack of information put forward by the public. Nearly one month after the body of David Williamson was found at the roadside near his home in Sutton-on-the-Forest
Cardiff City arrive at Bootham Crescent tomorrow knowing victory will guarantee their promotion back to Division Two at the first attempt. The Bluebirds could have done it on Easter Monday but were held to a 3-3 draw by current Third Division leaders
A pensioner whose wife suffered a stroke after their house was flooded has moved back home for the last time. Peter Mooring, of Welham Road, has vowed that if there is any repeat of the floods which struck twice in 18 months, he and his wife Phyllis will
There is going to be one disappointed Malton and Norton player tomorrow. Coach Pat Stephenson has named a party of 22 players for their Tetley's Bitter Vase final against Hoylake at Twickenham, but one won't be involved. To back up the starting XV, each
North Yorkshire's rugby heroes left for Twickenham and the Tetley Bitter Vase final today - with rousing messages of support ringing in their ears. Well-wishers cheered as the proud team from Malton and Norton rugby union club boarded their bus for the
Selby's first beer festival is virtually a sell-out as punters queue up to sample more than 50 real ales. More than 200 people were at Scott Road Community Centre for the first session last night, which was opened by Selby MP John Grogan. Organiser Ian
This Sunday members of the York Acorn Running Club will compete in the London Marathon. Jon Butler, our Communigate Advisor caught up with Jenny Rowland the clubs publicity officer to find out how the club is benefiting from their free Communigate site
Tomorrow, Ryedale can forget about the floods. Worries about foot and mouth can be put to one side. Tomorrow, Ryedale can concentrate on cheering the mighty Malton and Norton rugby team to glory at Twickenham. The club's first trip to rugby's Holy Grail
Manager Terry Dolan admits the painful reminder of a Ninian Park nightmare will be spurring York City on to revenge when promotion chasers Cardiff arrive at Bootham Crescent tomorrow. Back in November City suffered a 4-0 drubbing in Wales and Dolan still
From the depths of despair to the comfort zone of mid-table, Lee Bullock admits a whirlwind of change has swept through the corridors of Bootham Crescent. Little more than two months ago City slumped to the bottom of the Football League after a 3-0 home
In response to Graham Horne's letter (April 14), yes the new bridge is great. But as a walker, driver and cyclist and after a lifetime spent with able-bodied and disabled people, I think I have a wider view on life than Mr Horne. For many people a car
How can the city council claim 'we haven't received any complaints at the council on lighting pollution at the Millennium Bridge' (Friday, April 13)? I have complained in person to the head of lighting. Fishergate Forum had complained to its councillors
A DESPERATE plea for help has been made by North Yorkshire businesses crippled by the foot and mouth crisis. County council leaders have urged the Government to extend its aid package to North Yorkshire. About £15 million has been earmarked for short-term
YORK'S first charity bikeathon has become the latest victim of the foot and mouth crisis. The Leukaemia Research Bikeathon, a 26-mile tour of the historic city, has had to be put off because of the disease that has swept through the nation. The ride,
Zone of the Enders is probably the most original game to come out for many many years. It is like nothing else and can't be compared to any game out there on any system. The game is based around fighting robots and when you first charge into battle with
Kengo is the eagerly-awaited follow-up to the classic Bushido Blade series. So what do you expect? If it's on PS2, it must be good! Well, think again. Kengo is an all-out samurai sword-fighting game and although it supports two players, it is very much
Clifton Ladies scored a much needed 8-1 win over University Staff Club in Ladies division one of the York Badminton League. Lorraine Ellis and Sandra Robinson top-scored with three wins for 99-52, while Rachel Adamson and Sue Scott picked up the consolation
A modern art collection which is quite literally a load of rubbish is stopping off in York as part of a national tour of car boot sales. Wacky award-winning art duo Kirsten Lavers and Cris Cheek are bringing their bizarre brand of creativity to the York
Harrogate Town assistant boss John Reed defended the shoot-out scenario last night despite watching his side lose the UniBond League Chairman's Cup final in the most heartbreaking circumstances. Barrow won 3-0 on penalties at Wetherby Road as former Darlington
Yorkshire lost their friendly game with Derbyshire at Derby yesterday by 27 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system for calculating rain affected matches. Five Yorkshire bowlers each claimed a wicket as Derbyshire reached 212 for six with captain Dominic
A huge steel angler with a rod in his hand and a dog at his side will gaze down on cyclists near York after his creation was given the go-ahead by councillors. The Fisher of Dreams sculpture, made of welded steel bars and measuring four metres high, will
A North Yorkshire police officer has been charged with making nuisance phone calls and using threatening behaviour. PC Arthur Swaine, a licensing officer in York, was due to appear before magistrates in Harrogate yesterday to answer the allegations, but
Manager Terry Dolan admits the painful reminder of a Ninian Park nightmare will be spurring York City on to revenge when promotion chasers Cardiff arrive at Bootham Crescent tomorrow. Back in November City suffered a 4-0 drubbing in Wales and Dolan still
Disgraced psychiatrist William Kerr has been suspended by the General Medical Council - to the delight of former patients. The Council's interim orders committee decided last night to suspend the retired York consultant for 18 months, pending further
Malton and Norton coach Pat Stephenson today admitted the pressure of Twickenham was probably getting to his men - but it was a burden he was happy to have. The excitement and desire to do well at the home of rugby union has had its effect already this
Villagers have backed a proposed £1m flood defence scheme for Stamford Bridge - and urged engineers to get on with it. But some residents have spoken of their concerns about the visual impact of the proposed flood walls, suggested the defences might not
Victims of the North Yorkshire rail disaster are being offered compensation by the Land Rover driver's insurance company. Fortis Insurance, which insured the Land Rover which left the M62, leading to the death of ten GNER passengers in February, has written
Yorkshire lost their friendly game with Derbyshire at Derby yesterday by 27 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system for calculating rain affected matches. Five Yorkshire bowlers each claimed a wicket as Derbyshire reached 212 for six with captain Dominic
FORMER Leeds Rhinos Challenge Cup hero Leroy Rivett has turned down York Wasps in favour of another shot at Super League. Winger Rivett, who scored four tries and scooped the Lance Todd Trophy in Leeds' Wembley win over London Broncos two years ago, has
A ROAD sign featuring a coffin is "very, very distasteful" according to the Hambleton transport committee chairman. But it is not nearly as distasteful as the fact that four people have died at this accident blackspot in four years. Thormanby villagers
A Government Minister has defended the length of time taken to decide who runs the trains on the flagship East Coast Main Line. Keith Hill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, said it was
