What was your best long term investment stock gain you have had?

What was the best investment gain you had on a single stock buy buying and holding for over 2-3 years? (% wise, or net gain even)

Why did you pick it in the first place, and why did it do so well?
Under what conditions would you sell it if at all?
Thanx!

I meant to say...2 or more years....any long term time frame really..thanx

At the moment, "Debt Free Direct" (DFD.L)... bought 2.32 Shares @ 215.52pence per share (inc. commission) on 21st April 2005 through HALIFAX SHAREBUILDER.
Now valued @ 501.5 pence per share / 132.70% in profit. Bought after a seeing tip from http://www.everyinvestor.co.uk

Aquarius Platinum (AQP.L) - bought 21st July 2005 @ 439.65 pence per share. Currently 87.31% in profit (despite dropping a bit today).
Bought as a hunch after looking at the EPS growth percentage + P/E figures here: http://fool.digitallook.com/?action=fore...

Not planning to sell for a good time yet, since both pay dividends and keep on growing.... especially the "Debt Free Direct" one, the way people keep on running up credit card debts these days.. same goes for "DebtMatters" (DEBT.L) - 47.82% up since 22nd December 2005, and looks like it's gonna keep on going for a while yet: http://fool.digitallook.com/?action=fore... (DEBT.L = another tip I got off http://www.everyinvestor.co.uk)

As regards the Indian stock markets are concerned, I found investment in Mcdowell a good profitable investment. I got some handsome gain by investing in that scrip. It was a a good FMCG Scrip to buy at the first instance, and being a strong promoter holding group ( The UB Group ), the price has risen in the recent times though it has now slided now.

Apple. I bought 10k at 8 dollars, held for about two years, and sold out at a little over 75.