A sunny, pleasant evening back in August 2004 I came to a game with several merry souls at Sandhurst. I won and the rest was history. Poker is an important part of my life now. In my usual modest stance, most things that I attempt, I tend to do pretty well at, so I thought, why not poker? If I can write a copy of the human genome then how hard can a card game be? Answer: Bloody hard.

I supppose I've been playing on and off since I was about 20. I tended to mix poker with drinking, so I don't remember a large part of the early poker years. That is changing though and I'm far more likely to remember wiping the floor with you nowadays. Strip poker was my specialty and it wasn't uncommon to see me & Pete the Slag running down the street stark bollock naked with a couple of naked 19 year blond beauties. Neighbours rarely complained. That's not a joke. Except once when they phoned the police, but that's because the man's wife was jealous. We're still trying to work out how we managed to pull it off?? (And do it again!!)

Poker is about confidence and I have been accused of being fairly confident in the past. I have been called worse things, but I shan't go there now. Heads up I am usually unbeatable, so you need to take me out before the heads up stage!!

The Phat Dogs have advanced more than anyone thought in the first year! As one of the founding members it has been great watching it evolve. We now have an outstanding stable of players.

My own play has changed massively since the start. Still a complete nightmare to play against heads up (see confidence above!), I've added several other traits to my play. I like to consider myself a tight player, but I'm maybe not. I also like to think I'm a thoughtful player - but again that's probably unlikely!! My poker name 'The Coroner' (My suggestions of Hung like Donkey, Superstar and Conan being overruled - jealousy!) came about because I analyse a lot of plays that occur whether I win or lose. I do this to improve both my play and hopefully everybody else's. I think I beat myself up about my play more than anyone else in the group, but only because I have high standards.

I had a poor second half of the year, last year. A lot of the time I played very well and got rivered more times than I can remember. I have to say at the moment I tend to get outdrawn more often than most. Highlighted by a game at Marty's where I accumulated an enormous chip stack and one of the regular players said, " G, what's going on?" to which Marty replied, "he's not getting outdrawn".

I think in the future I'll play freezeouts more - as this is where my strength lies. When players have no safety nets!! I hope to have some good wins in the forthcoming year.A lot of people think I never bluff or do it badly, and that my play is based on luck and not skill. This is the impression I like to give and unless my opponent is lucky, if I call you all in, your behind. As Steve pointed out when he came up with my nickname there is always an inquest, but remember after 'The Coroner' is finished there's one place left for you to go.....The grave!!