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A martial arts enthusiast pulls a vehicle with a rope connected to his eye sockets during a performance in Hefei, Anhui province November 30, 2009. Picture taken November 30, 2009. REUTERS/China Daily

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    Man beats bookmakers by turning 100

    LONDON
    Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:45pm EDT
    An elderly German takes a stroll in this April 16, 2006 file photo. A British man celebrated his 100th birthday with 25,000 pounds ($50,000) in winnings on Tuesday after he beat the bookmakers with a wager that he would live for a century. REUTERS/Kirsten Neumann

    LONDON (Reuters) - A British man celebrated his 100th birthday with 25,000 pounds ($50,000) in winnings on Tuesday after he beat the bookmakers with a wager that he would live for a century.

    Oddly Enough

    Alec Holden, from Epsom, south west of London, had placed a 100 pound bet with bookmaker William Hill almost 10 years ago that he would live to be 100 years old.

    The retired engineer said a daily diet of porridge and playing chess was the key to his longevity -- as was remembering to keep breathing.

    "When we started taking these bets, a 100 years old seemed to be an almost mythical landmark and we were prepared to offer massive odds," said Rupert Adams of William Hill.

    "But these age wagers are starting to cost us a fortune."
    Oddly Enough


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