Banned forumite of the month

Betfair once asked me to do one of these "forumite of the month" mullarkies which I then found in my inbox about a year later lol, I'm so organised!!, so being as the offer seems unlikely to be extended I'll answer their original questions on here instead.

If you could have a single ticket for any sporting event what would it be?
I've always fancied a trip to Laytown for the racing on the beach over in Ireland, or failing that St Moritz (Switzerland) where they race on the snow. Also as an alternative the meetings on Jersey held at Les Landes.

Whose opinion in the forum do you respect?
Anyone who cares to elaborate on why they are making a selection will do for me. Dont really get very excited if someone just says "Ronnie will win!" even if they are right. I'll mention frames anyhow as he gave me a good write up in his piece lol. Suggins is an interesting contributor too, plus casm has been very helpful over the last year or two, anybody else I've missed?!!

Is there one memorable match of snooker you wish you could experience again?
I enjoyed the Higgins-O Sullivan Masters final a couple of years ago off the top of my head, where I think Higgins final red just had the legs and almost stopped on the edge of the middle pocket. Also obviously the Davis-Taylor World final match on the final black and also the final in China last year between Murphy and Maguire.

Which betting school of thought do you consider yourself to be; layer, backer, trader?
Backer, though sometimes I dont limit myself to one selection in some markets.

Has sport ever cost you a girlfriend?
Yes I'd be like a modern day Englebert Humperdink if I didnt like sport.

Snooker on Betfair - could you improve it and how?
Not really bothered now as I bet at Betdaq lol, oh you could make it exempt from the premium charge, hows that.

Do you live by any betting principles and if so what are they?
Yes never get too carried away by big wins or bad runs, stay focussed and keep analysing, try to understand why the result happened, you can learn something even if you lose. Try to price up the event in question and you may find an edge if other people dont agree. Also don't bet where someone takes 20% of your winnings after your bet has come in.

When and why did you join Betfair and what do you like/dislike about the site?
It was nice to get better prices at the outset but now the value seems to have gone with the 20% takeout from consistent winners, which is the bit I dont like obviously, also didnt really appreciate the forum ban too much lol, the truth hurts it seems!

You have a bit of a following in the forum, why do you think that is?
Probably because I opened peoples eyes to the crowd pleaser that is Dave Harold, aka Bananaman himself, surely soon to become the biggest box office draw in sport, not just snooker itself.

Do you celebrate individual wins or look at the bigger picture?
As I said before I usually try to stay calm, especially when in public, but if I am on my own in the house I would charge up and down the stairs shouting yes a hundred times and then run around the garden punching the air for half an hour until I'm totally knackered. The dog looks at me gone out.

If so, what's your most memorable win and how did you celebrate?
I've enjoyed some good wins over the years, the one I particularly remember was a horse called Mr Ed in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, who I backed at 33/1. I noticed him a year earlier staying on over three miles and told everyone to back him in the National, just before Aintree, saying that if he stood up he'd win (at 100/1). Unfortunately he didnt stand up, but then won the Midlands equivalent the next year, I then went into work and said I told you he'd win the National, were you on?, they didnt look very happy for some reason.

What's the one tip you'd offer someone posting on the forum for the first time?
I hope you dont like freedom of speech too much.

Which three famous sportsmen would you have around for dinner?
Dave Harold and his two crates of bananas, no room for anybody else now.

If you could re-live one sporting day which one would it be?
Can I copy Frames' answer here, OK thanks, Frankie's magnificent 7 at Royal Ascot. Thats apart from Big Dave's only ranking tournament success of course, orders being taken for the re-released DVD as we speak (set of 15 discs).

What’s your most memorable mistake made on Betfair ?
Apart from the usual "lay" when you mean to "back" which I've done on a few occasions, probably the other day when I was dabbling in inplay for the first time, I forgot I'd paused Sky+ and was half an hour behind everyone else (that was the second time I'd done it in a week though the first time I wasn't betting!)

Might as well do the bit they have in the Racing Post now, too, being as I've just done my first full week on the blog.

Punting highlight of the week: Backing the first and second ante post in the Irish Greyhound Derby and seeing them fight out a photo finish, exhilirating!! I'll also throw in the Hispanic punter's video with his considered thoughts on the Premium Charge, pure gold if you can find it on the SBR forum (parental guidance required).

Punting lowlight of the week: Nothing too costly this week, but thinking I had a winner on the Premier League snooker highest break market through Ding last week only to find out I'd misread the scores. The spectre of the Premium Charge also if I can include that.

Thought for the week: Too many greedy or jealous people in the world. Why cant they just be happy with their lot?

Thats it for now, all the best to the Rams tonight!!
See you soon,
Rick