The Sharks and I have something in common after this weekend; we both delivered our worst performances in living memory. 

I generally enjoy writing this weekly betting blog but this week I have been putting it off for as long as possible. I finally forced myself to log onto the various bookmakers with whom I hold accounts to check my statements and see just exactly what damage I have done.  

The results I can tell you were not pretty starting with the rugby where despite calling 3 out of the 6 Super 14 handicaps I managed to structure my bets in such a way that I won nothing and ended up losing 14 units (most of my damage was actually done in the spreads markets where after building up some serious profits this year I gave a fair amount back to the grateful bookmakers – I go into more detail on my spreads in our Discussion Forum) with my fixed odds bets.  

The big losers for me were the Waratahs and I actually lost 5 units more than necessary having taken a double onto them starting with the Blues -14.5 against the Lions. The first leg arrived and there was no need to invest more but I clean forgot about it and shot another 5 units onto the game losing 9 units in the end on those ever disappointing Waratahs. I cannot believe that a team with such a talented looking backline plays such boring rugby and if I were based in Sydney I would be doing my best to arrange a boycott of the matches – what a waste of money. 

The toughest break of the weekend actually came on Friday where I had taken +0.5 Force at home to the Hurricanes. The Force looked set to cruise home only to concede 2 tries in the last 3 minutes meaning my bet missed by half a point. I should have taken this as a sign that this was not to be my weekend (but I didn’t of course). 

The Masters golf always gets me excited and when I finally tallied up my bets I had a huge 40 units invested in the tournament. My main fancies Watney and Stenson were thereabouts after round 2 but Stenson faded in the 3rd and Watney early in the final round leaving 110/1 shot Hunter Mahan to fly the flag. He threatened to run into the Top 5 which would have rescued the weekend but every time he got going he would drop a shot and I gave back a chunk of the golf profits garnered this year with a 35.2 unit loss.  

To cap it all off I had a bet on Thor Hushovd to win Paris Roubaix at 25/1 on Sunday. With 20km to go it was just Hushovd and favourite Boonen left at the front of affairs and likely to fight out what would have been a 50/50 sprint. Just as I began to believe I might make a great escape of sorts I looked up to see Hushovd crash into the barriers which in a strange way probably summed up my weekend.  

A 51.2 unit fixed odds loss on the weekend and looking back to 2008 (when I started my blog) it was my worst yet with the previous highest being a 47 unit loss in the last week of the Tour de France. 

On the long term front this is a big week for me as I understand a decision will be made on whether Button’s Brawn F1 car is legal. If he is given the thumbs up my 53/1 bet looks in with a great chance – if not it is likely 2 units down the drain.  

BETTING SUMMARY 

Balance after week 13: 119.56 units
Week 14 result: -51.2 units
Running balance: +68.36 units 

Pending

Champions League: 8 units (Chelsea win 2, any English team 6)
Golf: Race to Dubai: 30 units (10 wins Garcia and 20 places Garcia)

 PSL: Ajax (5 units at 2/1)

Super 14: 60 units (Sharks Top SA, Brumbies Top Aus, Hurricanes Top Kiwi, Cheetahs for last, Sharks and Canes to win, a match bet treble Lions/Cheetahs, Reds/Highlanders, Sharks/Blues)

F1: 2 units Button for the title at an average of 53/1  

BEST BET