ok one last prediction Edmunds to make the main draw for Aussie open next year. Here is hoping he can stay healthy. Will need wild cards for the grass court season and to make the most of them for this to happen.

Can I add Cazaux top 32 by US Open?  Should have done the Cazaux, Norrie double.  I didn't.

Paul Jubb seems to be making a comeback too.  He was hyped a bit 2 or 3 years ago, but is now flying in a challenger on a protected ranking.  Hope he uses it better than Edmund did.

My bold predictions for the year

Andy will retire after the US open he will announce it before Wimbledon
Draper will be GB number 1
Norrie won't be seeded at Wimbledon
Watson will focus on doubles now she has a ranking good enough to get her into choice of WTA and her singles ranking is ITF
We will have 2 women seeded for the US open

Think Andy retires
Draper will be number 1, but Norrie will be seeded for Wimbledon.  Think we may have 3 men's seeds as Evans is playing well again.
Agree on Watson.
Think 2 women's seeds at US Open is a big ask.  Think Boulter is 50/50.  Burrage is too flakey late in games right now, need to improve her mental game.  Dart can get closer to top 50.  Am pretty sure Raducanu gets to top 32 again, but think the earliest is after US Open.  Think she'll need to get last 8 in a grand slam and/or win a WTA 250 and do pretty well elsewhere. She'll also be unseeded for some time in WTAs and Grand Slams, so could get some dreadful draws. 

How can it possibly make sense to spoil it like that?

If I could find out who was responsible for that decision I would definitely make every effort to contact them to ask for an explanation.

Surely this is a good thing?

I get to find out the ending in 5 minutes; so instead of watching 11 hours TV, I can sit outside in a cold car whilst my daughter has loads of fun.  Where do I find the first 5 minutes? 

Beats losing several million to the poker bots anyway.

2024 weigh in.  100.5kg.

Started the year with knee knack.  Went skiing for a change at Christmas.  I am not a regular and pretty hopeless, but didn't do any damage skiing, instead smashed my knee walking down steps in normal shoes launching myself superman style onto a hard floor.  Currently have a black knee, but aiming to start gym again next weekend. 

Poker better forgotten for 2003 also.  Ended up as a fail for the year too.

Was thinking about starting a new thread, but seems pointless, hopefully post more than last year.

Happy New Year to all fitness Blondes.

good performance by Katie today in the United Cup. Had chances for the first set before losing it and going a double break down in the 2nd set, coming back to beat the world number 5.

I was following her from a distance, but didn't see any games.  Several sources said she was playing at top 20 level, which seems a significant step forward if true.  I guess there is still a chance we could get through in the United Cup, but needs a lot of good fortune.

I am looking forward to Raducanu's reappearance, not long to wait now.  Will be interesting to see how far she goes, but looks like she has a proper British rival now.  All the naysayers are already on at her.

I was reading the rules for 14 and 15 year olds the other day, and Klugman was pretty limited to what she could do at 14.  I can't remember what the rules were exactly, but think she can do10 tournaments when 15 and get a wildcard to Wimbledon (don't think she could at 14).

Looks like Andy Murray had a chance earlier, but is struggling to finish games again.  Just wish he could have a run in something soon.

And happy new year to everyone.

Turned out it didn't.

Tailed off a bit at the end of the year

Ended the year nearer 100kg than 95kg.

Got COVID in August that meant I struggled a bit after.

Am now "running" 3x8 minute bursts which is more than I did at any other time in the year.  Think I am probably doing more of specific targets for weights than I last reported but not by much.

New Year going to be doing healthier breakfasts and no snacks.  See how that goes for a month.

FWIW my daughter is going from strength to strength, playing regular sport and obliterating me for speed and distance.  She is now 16 and her new training buddy was top ranked in the UK for her athletics event last year (now moved up an age group).  Don't think I'll be catching them up anytime soon.

Good luck today Stu.

[$10,400 Main event day two]

$10,400 Main event day two

I've VPIPed 0% in the first two rounds.

However,  table feels good. Some random stuff happening (albeit, of course, not on yesterday's level)

666k

OMG.  Good luck Stu.

Klugman has just won the u18 orange bowl in Florida at age 14.  There is an u14 and u16 tournament there but f that.

Does she get a wildcard for the main draw at Wimbledon?  It might be a year too early, but pretty tempting to give one to her? 

Think they could be in short supply with no guarantee any of Burrage, Dart, Swan or Watson get there automatically and Raducanu might need one too. Those around 200 might need to take a step forward.

Is Ronnie the ultimate GOAT across all sports?

Phil Taylor will take some beating.

Hopefully, over the years gone right off him.

Think I'd go Tiger Woods first.  Messi due to the global size of his audience?  Would definitely put Ronnie over Taylor.

RIP Shane MacGowan.

Frontman for The Pogues who will be remembered annually for Fairytale of NY and many other things.

It has been a pretty grim day with Alistair Darling and Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill gone too). 

Anti vaxxers loving it

Bump

4 runners in the Betfair Chase and 4 in the 1965 Chase at Ascot. Pretty depressing National Hunt outside Cheltenham these days, but not quite as depressing as watching some video on Twitter of a walkover in a Warwick novice chase accompanied by someone moaning about the lack of Novice Chases!

Did anybody else have any joy in the ballot?

I got centre court tickets for the quarter finals.  Reckon I could have gone to Nottingham for the week on the £165 they cost. 

Looking forward to Raducanu Vs Boulter and Draper Vs Alcaraz. 

Nice going!

No luck this year so far for us, but they do send them out in waves I think....

I noticed that the Laver Cup is in Berlin next year. Does anyone take this seriously? It is played for ranking points, right? Or is it just a glorified exhibition?

Think it is meant to be more than a glorified exhibition.  Can't say I have any interest in it though.  Weird that I have more interest in tennis day to day than I have golf, but try and watch as much of the Ryder Cup as possible. 

I watched the Davis Cup today and have even been to the BJK cup too, so not really sure why I have no interest.  Think I am just inconsistent; feck the Shergar Cup ad Racing League too (hi Jeremy, how are you doing?).

Can anyone provide any illumination on what has happened to Ian Gascoigne?  Congrats btw

Why are you congratulating him and why do you think something has happened to him?

Nosey and concerned,

Leicestershire.

https://twitter.com/IanGas/status/1726359201444958646?t=aqqb4Nt-AOOvjQRGpC9i3g&s=19

Burrage collapse after 4-0 up in first set good win for Boulter
Draper beat 2 good players this week but just missing out on the win and a place in the top 50

Davis cup next  thinking it will be Cam and Draper in singles Murray and Skupski in the doubles

that is if Cam plays

 Do you ever consider Broady?  Good for team spirit and in his best form ever? 

Broady not option currently as Salisbury comes in as Evans replacement

Bump