Winter Olympcs Betting: Brit Watch Day 4

Britwatch / Dan Fitch / 16 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Years of middle-distance running have resulted in Steve Cram being an expert in curling.

Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch has some unexpected news. He's found some Brits who actually have a strong chance of winning a Winter Olympic gold.

Then there’s Matthew Pinsent, who the BBC are desperate to mature into a commanding TV presence, but who remains dull and looks as if his head has been knitted for him by his mother.

It's quite easy for the Beeb to field a star-studded team of presenters and analysts for the summer games. For every sport you can name a famous former competitor, desperate for some TV work. Throw in the obligatory appearance by Adrian Chiles and you have a presenting team.

The Winter Olympics is different. There's Graham Bell who we all remember from Ski Sunday and Robin Cousins from the 1980 Olympics/Dancing On Ice. After that they're struggling.

So instead they just randomly assign sports to people we've heard of. Steve Cram is doing the curling. If you listen closely you will hear him drumming his fingers as he waits for 2012 to come along.

The main anchors are just as unqualified. Sue Barker takes a break from laughing at anything that moves on A Question Of Sport, while Clare Balding gets to go over to Vancouver, by virtue of being posh and therefore having done a spot of skiing before.

Then there's Matthew Pinsent, who the BBC are desperate to mature into a commanding TV presence, but who remains dull and looks as if his head has been knitted for him by his mother.

Perhaps one of the current crop of Brits can bag a medal and with it a steady stream of broadcasting work every four years.

Zoe Gillings competes in the Ladies Snowboard Cross and can be backed at [40.0] to win gold and [10.0] to pick up a medal. She should be especially inspired to secure herself some future TV work, as she lives in the Isle Of Man and therefore won't have to pay any tax on it.

Ed Drake finished 38th in the men's downhill skiing and competes today in the Super Combined, along with Dave Ryding.

Then there's our Biathlete Steve Jackson, who loads his shotgun ready for the Men's 12.5 km Pursuit. I've no idea what they're pursuing, but it's quite possibly a fox on skis.

Finally, the Men's Curling gets underway today, which is very exciting as we have a genuine chance of a medal and of course, we will be able to have the action described to us by the Wearside vowels of Steve Cram.

The Great Britain team are the reigning World Champions of the bowls-on-ice-style sport and can be backed at [5.1] to win gold and [1.73] to be amongst the medals, with the Canadians starting as favourites.

They kick off their campaign against Sweden and can be backed at [1.62] to win the match, with the Swedes at [2.44].

Tune in to more Brit Watching tomorrow.

Tags: curling betting, ed drake, vancouver betting, winter olympics betting, zoe gilling