FORUMITE OF THE MONTH

We love our forum - it creates a real sense of community with Betfair customers and sets up apart from the competition.

This month's character is a veteran of the betting game and adds life daily to the Greyhound and ChitChat forums. Introducing DONEMYLOT...

What's your favourite betting saying?

I have to say that I'm sorry I missed the classics that appeared on Extel radio (yes, my age defies my looks), I have to say two come very closely tied. The first being 'the jolly is on the Rory' given by Richard Thomas on Live TV greyhounds – certainly got people talking , and also 'Oioioioioioioioioioioioioi', oft shouted at greyhound tracks when your nap of the year has hit the front.

If you could have a ticket to any one single sporting event in the world what would it be?

Of course, golf events in Hong Kong and The Superbowl are obvious, but it really would be the World Darts Final. There's no better atmosphere for any sport in the world.

Whose opinion in the forum do you respect?

There are some cracking knowledgable people on all the sports forums. They all have their pluses, but I like the ante-post threads started by Academic Rambler on horses which encourages some very shrewd folk; the views of many on golf, but mainly the very sharp on Greyhounds…its excellent to read the arguments that rage over a main tournament. I can't name them to be honest, but any educated argument is always a welcome contribution, and helpful to those who simply don't have the time to put in to their punting.

I don't 'do' soccer, but Dimitrious (the real one) is a legend.

On Chit-chat I respect the fact that, actually, there are people slightly more warped than I could ever expect.

Oh, and Buffy says I have to say hers. Which isn't true, I don't even know if she is female.

Which betting school of thought do you consider yourself to be; layer, backer, trader?

Backer

Has sport ever cost you a girlfriend?

Sport hasn't, but if you want me to be honest, punting was a contributory factor to the breakdown of one relationship.

Greyhounds on Betfair - could you improve it and how?

I truly believe that Betfair can play a big part in the future of the sport. The track bookmakers see the same that any clued up punter does these days and prices just are not value. As well, as this, the hardened punter just is overwhelmed by the 'six-packer' at the track, all discouraging him from attending and, more importantly, owning dogs. As opposed to this, many clued up greyhound folk are keen to take on an opinion (greyhound folk are so opinionated, and educated too!), and Betfair provides that platform. The experiment from Sittingbourne every Sunday night did work, and I'm sure that the sport would take delight in seeing an increased input from Betfair – maybe even taking over a track in the near future, having the pictures on Sky, and putting the sport back where it belongs.

Do you live by any betting principles and if so what are they?

As you know I am a sad case!! I find the only thing that I can live by is following a win, buy something, or go away on holiday, pay a bill, do SOMETHING to remember it by. If I had to bet for a living, I think I would change a hell of a lot, and have a huge laminated poster on my wall with 'Don't be a loser' followed by a number of strict principles!!! Until then, I see it as a serious bit of fun, if that makes sense.

When and why did you join Betfair and what do like /dislike about the site?

Did you know, you can hover over my username and it tells you! I like the fact that you can, on the very odd occasion, find a very interesting debate on the forums with people you would never ever have conversed with without it! I have a lot to learn about the principle of laying-off, but like anything, I really don't think you can ever be considered to know everything!

I have met some really good people because of the forums, bought paintings of forumites, and been 'done' by forumites!

I don't think I'm in a position to 'improve' the site – Betfair seem to have cornered the market in exchanges, but I do wish they would actually listen to some points raised by regular users – a lot do make sense!

Do you celebrate individual wins or look at the bigger picture?

I attempt targets. As gambling is not my living, I use the site to back my 'knowledge' to achieve a target – say of £1000 per month - that would then be used for a holiday, pay off a credit card, buy this and that. I was extremely disciplined for a short period last year when my targets were to pay for a holiday, a new pc, a room to be fully decorated, and then, I guess, I fell by the wayside. I tend to go in fits and starts, and when I am disciplined, I am good, when not, oh dear!

As a greyhound owner, I took the sport very, very seriously and making a second income was the way I wanted to go. I achieved this, and lived a very nice 'second' existence, then everyone got the video recordings, the crowds thinned out, the travelling to-and-fro became impossible, I lapsed, and here we are!

If so, what's your most memorable win and how did you celebrate?

Without question, there is no money on Earth that beats the thrill of your own greyhound winning a race – if you have backed him/her even better! I suppose, for thrills, the win of my own Ballianabola May in a minor open race at Mildenhall gave me a huge thrill, and win, simply because we knew she had the ability to win Opens, and the previous trainer had not bothered to enter her in any 'away' opens.

Others on BF may have read about Jumbo, Ardera Knight, who won five opens for me some years back. His win at Sittingbourne when beating two of the top five in sprinting at the time, was an absolute delight. Having told everyone I hadn't backed him, the 'Oi-oi's are extremely loud at the end of the video! He also carried the total tax money owed in a race at Rye one evening….he won by a neck! No dangers!!

With any race my dogs have won, there is always one louder-than-everyone-else voice that you can hear cheering – no prizes for guessing who. It's better than sex!!!

Apart from my own dogs, one racer stands proud – the best greyhound I have ever seen. I had a top maximum bet of £100 at the time, and was flying. I then saw a dog win the Select Stakes at Wembley, with pace that was frightening. I went to my local friendly independent bookmakers and had a 2500-150. At no point in any of the next few months was there a danger of this dog getting beaten. He simply was sensational. We arrived for the final at 4.30 in the afternoon, to queue up to get a table in the Grandstand. When the traps opened and he pinged out, the noise was unbelievable. Rightly remembered as a legend, Some Picture stole my heart.

Winning is winning, emotions are the thing that make it memorable in my view. Money itself is cold, and if there is a story attached to the win, whether it be your own animal, whether it be because you have burnt the midnight oil looking at form, or travelled 200 miles to back something, it's worth double.

What's the one tip you'd offer someone posting on the forum for the first time?

Be afraid.

Which three famous sportsmen would you have around for dinner?

John Daly, John Francome , Alison Fisher

If you could re-live one sporting day which one would it be?

If I can have greyhounds, it would be Some Picture winning the greyhound derby.