CHRISTMAS came early for York City too at the weekend, with a victory over much-favoured Carlisle, who lost their winning touch.

If City at last displayed long-awaited signs of recovery, it was also a good sporting weekend at the Barbican Centre, where the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship ended with a runaway triumph for Stephen Maguire.

That's the last time the public will be allowed inside the Barbican until after the disputed revamp. But at least the old venue ended on another snooker high.

Updated: 11:34 Monday, November 29, 2004