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 Thursday, 14 November, 2002, 15:29 GMT
Beautiful stranger
Amazing what you can pick up in a pub these days
BBC Sport Online picks out some of the quirky, offbeat or plain daft stories doing the rounds.


Beautiful stranger

A man celebrating his birthday in a pub accepted four racing tips from a complete stranger and walked out �11,000 richer.

John Fedrick was toasting his 39th birthday with friends at the Butchers Arms in Oxford when the man approached him.

  Winning bets
Red Carnation 15/8 (�10 win)
Red Wine 16/1 (�5 E/W)
Swansea Bay 14/1(�5 E/W)
Santenay 15/8 (�5 E/W)
�5 E/W accumulator

He wished John all the best, then gave him the name of four horses he thought would do well that day.

John duly staked �50 on them and couldn't believe his luck as they romped home.

"It was a real party atmosphere - I had the world's biggest grin," the insurance consultant said.

"The stranger was still in the pub so I gave him a hug and asked him how much he'd won.

Betting shop
Every one a winner

"I couldn't believe it when he said, 'S** all'. He hadn't backed them himself and must have been gutted."

Not surprisingly the prophet soon made his excuses and left.

John, meanwhile, is looking forward to the Grand National, where you can bet he'll have a few quid on... Dark Stranger.


Ball dogs

If anyone thought American football was going to the dogs, they'd be right.

Pet pooches and their owners are to take part in a charity game of gridiron - predictably dubbed 'The Dog Bowl'.

The humans will assume the roles of quarter-backs, while their canine chums will be waiting to receive their passes.

Teams at the event in Michigan on Saturday will be judged on style and the number of receptions they make.

Teams expected to take part are the Dallas Chow Boys and the San Francisco Forty Whiners.

See also:

11 Nov 02 | Funny Old Game
08 Nov 02 | Funny Old Game
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31 Oct 02 | Funny Old Game
28 Oct 02 | Funny Old Game
25 Oct 02 | Funny Old Game
22 Oct 02 | Funny Old Game
19 Oct 02 | Funny Old Game
Links to more Funny Old Game stories are at the foot of the page.


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