Anne is victorious – again…

There’s no point going in the Pride Cup as long as Anne is in it.

– Adam G

 

The season is finished.  The tips are counted.  Anne has won the Pride Cup for the second time.  I am thrilled for her.  Her consistency across the season has been remarkable.  She basically led all year.  No one seriously threatened her.

 

Anne joined the Pride Cup in 2003.  Her debut season was good, but her second season was better, finishing equal second in 2005.  After missing out on a top three place in 2006, Anne won the Pride Cup in 2007.  Her rise was meteoric. 

 

If anyone actually read the Ramble or placed bets on the Pride Cup, Anne would’ve been at short odds to win in 2012.  Her consistency since 2004 has been extraordinary.  In ten seasons, Anne has finished in the top three eight times.

 

As Adam said on Friday night, there’s no point…

 

Eleven people have won the Pride Cup.  Only five have won more than twice.  That is a slightly skewed statistic, given the competition involved three people for six years.  As a dual Pride Cup winner, Anne has earned the right to drink beer from the chalice, a trophy awarded to a boxer, Claude Clifford, in 1915.

 

Of the eleven Pride Cup winners, five have tasted beer from the magnificent trinket.  Anne will become the sixth.

 

Thanks to all the regulars who put their tips in each week.  For putting up with the Ramble, and there has been 38 this season, you all deserve special praise.

 

Thanks for giving me ideas, for asking questions and spurring my interest, particularly Adam G, who often provides analysis no one has thought of.  Thanks to Russ for another pulsating contest.

 

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the Ramble, the feedback is great.

 

For those who are unaware or don’t remember, this is how the Pride Cup started…

 

In 1995, Kevin Mathews was 76 years old, an old man living alone in a two bedroom flat in Brunswick.  Kevin routinely posted football fixtures to Queensland, one for me, my brother Nick and Bill, my dad. 

 

The fixtures were eagerly awaited, not being readily available north of the Murray River.  TAB outlets in Queensland didn’t provide AFL fixtures, despite the sport becoming the national football code in 1987.

 

Eighteen years ago, with the season the season fast approaching, the arrival of the fixtures was the key moment in creating a tipping competition that crossed interstate borders.  Bill didn’t want his, having been sent a couple by Eric, a North Melbourne fan.

 

During a phone call to Russ, Nick was in the background, offering sledges about living in Victoria.  Against relayed insults, I suggested writing our names on separate fixtures and having a three-way competition.

 

That’s how simple it was.  Back in 1995, tips were relayed by phone.  There was no internet, emails or text messages.  Russ and I talked each week.

 

Now it is all electronic, but the Pride Cup has moved with technology.

 

May you all win it one day, if you haven’t.

 

 

Pride Cup results

 

 

155	Anne (8)
153	Matt (8)
151	Russ (7)
150	Dave (8)
149	Matt B (7)
147	Andy (7)
144	James F (7)
143	Stevo (4)
142	Wayne (5)
140	Eric (4)
139	Sandra (4)
138	Dallas (7), The Pole (4)
136	Jim (7)
132	George (4)
128	Donna (8)
127	Adam L (7)
123	Paul (4)
56	Nemo (2)

 

 

A history of winners

 

Year	Winner	Score	Second	Score	Third	Score
1995	Nick	116	Russ	108	Matt	105
1996	Russ	119	Matt	117	Nick	116
1997	Matt	117	Nick	114	Russ	113
1998	Russ	113	Matt	105	Nick	100
1999	Nick	122	Russ	116	Matt	114
2000	Matt	116	Russ	115	Nick	113
2001	Russ	121	Adam	120	Matt	119
2002	Russ	122	Eric	120	Wayne	119
	Nick	122
2003	Andy	122	Adam	120	Matt	119
2004	Matt	125	Anne	122	Kim	121
	Adam G	125	Russ	122
2005	Wayne	118	Anne	115	Matt	114
			Adam	115	Russ	114
2006	Adam	117	Wayne	116	Paul	115
	Matt	117
	Russ	117
2007	Anne	117	Dave	115	Kim	114
					Matt	114
					Russ	114
2008	Katy	126	Anne	125	Russ	123
	Adam G		Matt
2009	Katy	122	Dave	120	Anne	118
	Adam G		Neal		Andy
	Sandra
2010	James F	118	Paul	117	Anne	115
2011	Dave	143	Anne	142	James F	141
2012	Anne	155	Matt	153	Russ	151

 

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