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The standard of this epic contest is destined to rise year on year.
Only 40 can make the cut so flippant nominations who got a run last year are unlikely to make it when I open nominations for entries next year.
Johnson could well make the field, but a word of warning to punters: runners who behave like authoritarian dictators but aren’t technically authoritarian dictators have a dismal track record in the contest so far.
This year’s principals will get automatic entries, I will open the 2022 renewal for nominations at a date tbc, the official final entries will be confirmed three months before the race and the weights will be unveiled two months before the race, along with the opening ante post show, thus mirroring the equine version of this contest.
The race will again be staged at Armageddon but, following receipt of a solicitor’s letter on behalf of the Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, it has been agreed that no further comparisons with the Potteries location will be made.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I just want to say I am genuinely so proud that this thread has apparently done so well in the annual vote here.
I thought while constructing the “big race” that this was becoming my all-time Internet Forum “Magnum Opus” and I put everything I believed to be good about my writing and my recollections of the Grand National into it for an audience that deserved it and would appreciate it, picking up on every nuance.
But it was by no means a one-man thread.
Many entered into the spirit of it and there were a host of clever, often hilarious, other contributions.
I like to think it encapsulated everything that is good about TRF.
The phenomenal Bachelors Hall, with his relentlessly brilliant Juvenile Hurdlers thread, is the rightful moral winner – for his work is serious stuff, whereas this thread was idle fun.
But I’m proud just the same.
Thank you everyone who contributed to this thread and thank you everyone who voted for it.
And thank you David and his great moderating team (all voluntary) for running the vote and continuing to run this great free website.
It’s got my 2022 off to a smiling start.
Happy New Year everyone.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Well deserved and I’m so pleased it won having forgotten to vote on that one so the winning margin should have been greater. It’s been a stinker of a time pandemic wise but this thread was one that literally had me laughing till I cried and will go down as one of the things that got me through the past year along with You’re Dead to Me, Bob Ross, William Hill Racing Radio and my dog.
A well deserved winner which captured the imagination. I am going to read through it all again tomorrow.
Thanks are also due to Richard88. For reasons I cannot remember, it was his likening of Mr Davies to Mussolini which was the inspiration for the thread.
It wasn’t a bad shout by Richard, tbh.
I love Italian food and I’m incredibly selfish – I fit the Italian fascist profile perfectly.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Not as far as I know – all completely fair and above board.
That said, now I’m “in power” so to speak I think we can all agree to abolish votes and all that silly democratic stuff and just re-elect this thread every year in perpetuity.
Saves me thinking of new material, thus freeing up more time to eat pasta and avoid lynch mobs and itinerant lamp posts.
More lunch, less lynch.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I think it was someone else who compared Il Davies to Il Duce but in the spirit of things perhaps I should happily take the credit anyway.
Honestly one of the funniest threads I’ve seen anywhere. I’m of the opinion that almost nothing should be off limits when it comes to comedy and I think this demonstrates that you can do dark stuff in a lighthearted way.
I’m all for abolishing future votes on this and welcome our new pasta chomping overlord. I foresee a reign of terror before eventually the people have had enough and bloody revolution ensues with our dear leader going into hiding in an outbuilding at a disused point to point venue.
I’ve been unaware of this thread until the annual awards brought it to my attention, and have really enjoyed reading through it.
I actually saw Franco run over fences, in the 1999 Grand Steeple-chase de Paris no less – when studying the form for next year’s renewal it is worth recalling that he was moving up into a challenging position when spectacularly unseating his rider at the Aintree-style open ditch five from the finish. The race also featured another horse whose namesake would be worthy of an entry here – Al Capone II.
“welcome our new pasta chomping overlord. I foresee a reign of terror before eventually the people have had enough and bloody revolution ensues with our dear leader going into hiding in an outbuilding at a disused point to point venue.”
Brilliant – literally can’t stop laughing.
Not least because, in every detail, it’s all so very plausible.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"“I think it was someone else who compared Il Davies to Il Duce but in the spirit of things perhaps I should happily take the credit anyway.”
It was Captain Robbo who made the libellous accusation against Mr Davies but helped to inspire the thread. Apologies to Richard88!
Just read through it all again. Great stuff, especially Saddam Hussein bringing down Tony Blair. Or should I say Sir Tony?
Apology accepted but any further transgressions and I’ll see you in Kangaroo Court. Judge, Jury and, most importantly, Executioner Davies presiding.
This year’s race will be staged on Saturday, 13th August.
The runners listed below receive an automatic entry, nominations to make up the rest of the 40-runner field are now open, nominations close on 13th May and the final field of 40 will then be announced.
The weights will be released on 13th June, two months before the race.
Nomination criteria this year has been tightened – all nominations must be recognised non-fictional authoritarian dictators.
Some quality despots failed to make the field last year, while frivolous entries did.
This is bad for authoritarianism generally and merely serves to cast oppression in a negative light.
There are some promising progressive tyrants out there and they deserve a crack at the big one.
Guaranteed entries
Adolf Hitler
Uncle Joe Stalin
Pol Pot
Idi Amin
Timur
Genghis Khan
Chairman Mao
Vlad the Impaler
General Franco
Hideki Tōjō
Nero
Saddam Hussain
Alfredo Stroessner
Caligula
Jean-Bedel ‘Emperor’ Bokassa
Nicolae Ceausescu
Attila The Hun
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Robert Mugabe
Kim-Jong Jung
General Pinochet
Benito Mussolini
Ivan The TerribleI am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Two early nominations:
Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier
Jean Claude “Baby Doc” DuvalierI assume for betting purposes they will be coupled on the pari-mutuel?
Guaranteed entries eh? Sounds like the handicapper is applying the Aintree factor.
Much like the National, we can’t be allowing no hopers in nowadays. Perhaps a minimum number of human rights infringements should be an entry requirement.
“Any British contenders?”
A pertinent point. It might not be fashionable to say it but the absence of British contenders is due to most of our rulers being subject to the rule of law, at least within their own borders. Kings could not rule without Parliament, especially from the late 17th century. And the country’s transition towards being a mass democracy from the early 19th century onwards was relatively peaceful, especially compared to some of our European neighbours.
I could nominate Oliver Cromwell for killing a king, dismissing a Parliament by force and for his atrocities in Ireland. But even today he still has admirers who are very devoted to him.
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