A big 2015 Thank You!!!

As we come to the conclusion of yet another year, I'd just like to say a big thanks to each and every one of you. I have to say this is without doubt the best sports forum I have taken part in; your knowledge of the sport and your willingness to share that knowledge is humbling.

I have Ekbalco to thank for my first steps into this great sport; of course, at first, the visits to Chester were more social, but now it's the racing I look forward to (the countdown begins for Ladies day 2016!).
I joined this forum as a definite novice, my enthusiasm for the sport fuelled by a horse called Tres Coronas, but nobody here has made me feel out of my depth, not something I can say about other forums!
Your in depth knowledge of the sport jumps out and it encourages me back on a daily basis.

So, 2015 - the highlight for me must be Litigant.
Three other horses stand out for me, Wor Lass, Jay Kay and Midlander (Johnston rarely let me down)
Of course we can't forget Squire, can we?
Golden Horn winning the Arc was quite good, too.

Then, my introduction to jumping and it was an eye opener; I have to say I wasn't keen but I've enjoyed every moment so far, a highlight must be Conas Taoi, Crickel Wood and Sykes all going in on 4th November, a particularly good day for me. Since then, I've really enjoyed Aachen at Cheltenham recently and also Old Guard, the performance against Peace and Co might encourage me to throw some change on it for the Christmas Hurdle!

I hope everyone enjoys this Festive Season, that the winners romp in this weekend and that the Bradley/Norton match-up continues to perform on the AW over the coming months.

And for 2016 ?
To infinity and beyond !!! ( and look out for Wajeez )

Cheers.

 

Nice message Simon and great to actually see some feedback that shows what a welcoming place this can be. I am regularly astonished by the depth of knowledge a lot of the guys have on here. I can find the odd winner when I put the effort in but overall my range is very limited compared to a few of the guys on here who truly are experts.
Good luck with your punting in 2016 and may this place continue to be the most welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly place that it is.

 

Well said Jakster -we stand on the shoulders of giants !!

 

Great to hear that Simon, as stick says (even for all the mocking I give him) this place is very welcoming and has a lot of good knowledgeable posters who are willing to voice their opinions and share what they know. I have been fortunate enough to meet a few off here at the racecourse and what comes across with racing fans is that they are generally nice folk who enjoy a day at the races with friends. Hopefully I will get to catch up with a few at Cheltenham in March, and if anyone is about then let me know. I can always get stick to buy the drinks.

The highlight of this year has been the jumps for me, I really turned off for the flat season, and I think that is the future of the sport for me. I need a rest from the day to day racing in the summer and its made me refreshed for what has already been a brilliant winter. My horse of the season is Coneygree, but that may well change on Boxing Day if Vautour wins the King George in the style that I think he will. He really reminds me of Kauto Star in the way he goes.

So, merry christmas one and all, and I look forward to a splendid 2016.

 

nice post simon--as a rovers fan you must know about adversity ! --its a great forum, but we must acknowledge the work of those behind the scenes and the mods who work selflessley to ensure it remains so---big up all !

 

Apart from Oddy, who is always too busy trying to injure himself!!

 

Second everything said above. I rarely post on here but I keep a close eye on the tips and its made me a decent wedge this year. Have a great Christmas all and a very prosperous new year.

 

These comments are all very touching and it makes it all so worthwhile. Thank you so much for making it such a friendly forum and for all the effort that goes into making it such. It never ceases to amaze me, the amount of knowledge on this forum, and it is a privilege to be part of it. I would really like to extract some comments and use them to advertise the forum wider to attract a few more members like yourselves. But, of course, I wouldn't do that without your permissions and certainly would avoid, at all costs, the risk of damaging the family atmosphere on here.

Merry Christmas to all and, of course, a special Merry Christmas and a big thank you to Oddy who has done a fantastic job since taking on the role of chief moderator and who will be spending his Christmas in hospital. Wishing you a speedy recovery Oddy.

 

That really is a very nice post, SimonJ. There certainly are some knowledgeable folk on here, Stick and Nassau are being their usual modest selves, of course.

Ron, you have my permission.

Oddy, just read about your bad luck with the bike crash. What on earth are you doing riding a frigging bike in the middle of Winter in Berlin? Seriously, I wish you a speedy recovery mate, and hope you get home at least for Boxing Day (quite honestly, don't think they'll be able to hold you there!).

 

What a lovely post, I agree that this is such a welcoming forum with no one ever made to feel unwelcome. I don't get to post as much as I used to, but whenever I do it's always lovely to see the old (and new!) faces pop up to say hello!

If I can get round to it next year I might try to arrange another Not606 outing, it's been two years since the last one!

 

Have to agree with this excellent post - it is really friendly and welcoming on here.

 

Nice post Simon.What I think makes this forum so great is the relaxed atmosphere and the lack of WUMs you would find on other forums (checked Betfair one time,Wum central).You are going to get the odd row here and there but that's only natural when your talking about the sport of kings.Generally the banter and tipping is great.
I would love to have a forum meet up somewhere down the line,only a Ryan Air flight away after all!Merry Christmas all,keep up the good work everyone

 

Nice sentiment SimonJ.

 

Lovely thread this is and I agree with all the above. Just one thing though and please excuse my ignorance but what is a WUM?

 

Interweb abreviation for wind up merchant Smokey. Folk who come on to internet forums to cause strife.

 

Smokey a Wum is a Wind Up Merchant,basically a knob jockey who gets off starting arguments

 

Ah I see cheers

 

Nice shout Simon and couldn't agree more. I drop in and out myself with regard posting but check in for at least five minutes most days to see who is landing the touches, and always feel like I am meeting friends. Good knowledgeable, people, good natured banter and very few wums - not a patch on the old place.

 

Without repeating my self from the Christmas thread and boring everyone again Great forum, Great people and especially good moderators- good work everyone - lets continue this in to 2016