Skippy's Green Belt Experience 2002 – A Kangaroo's Tail
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| That's me in the front row, fourth from the right |
I had just finished my triple jump practice down at Battersea Park Track (well the hop, skip and the jump is my favourite event), when Captain Nick phoned me on my mobile. "Skippy", he said, "fancy being the Serpies mascot for the Green Belt Relay? Eric the Eel, slippery character that he is, has let us down at the last minute as he is preparing for the Commonwealth Games. I need a photogenic and lovable replacement." He knows how to flatter marsupials does our Nick. I left him saying that I would speak to the bearded one and see whether he would let me attend.
So there I was on a Saturday Morning in May, posing outside Hampton Court in my Serpie Vest which has an Aussie flag on the back, with the other global members of Priscilla's minibus. Mary, Richard, Vincent and Lippy were running the first leg; and after they had started running, the remaining members of the minibus made plans to meet them somewhere en route; an ideal photo opportunity if ever I saw one. Once all the Serpies had passed through, we made our way to the finish of the leg.
With 4 Minibuses out on the course the next starting point of a stage we had to ensure we arrived at in plenty of time was Stage 5 where there was a minor panic as one of the runners realised they couldn't find their running shoes. Rumours have abounded – which I totally deny – that I was responsible for the disappearance of those running shoes, the singing of "Tie me kangaroo down, sport" by certain individuals on the coach. I can assure you this did not have any psychological effect on me whatsoever. Lindsay, Hilary, Owen and Simon ran this leg.
Lindsay's run on this stage (a new course record, and only 9 seconds behind the male stage winner) was rewarded later with the best female performance of the weekend, and at the time had me jumping up and down with delight.
After lunch, and a few amber nectars, we made our way to the start of Leg 9 where one of the West 4 Ladies threatened me with a safety pin. Grethe, Ian, Nicola and Steve ran this stage. Sami – always the professional – handed Nicola an empty cup at the watering point. Nicola's reply was held up in the wind which may have been a good thing. The only four letter words we kangaroos know are "skip" and "jump".
At the end of Day 1 I felt somewhat deflated having had most of the air taken out me, but with a new dawn I was back to my former self.
Fat Frank, Lynne, Justina, Jean Luc and Richard Wisdom joined Priscilla on Sunday. Jean-Luc was explaining at length how his country were going to win the World Cup: I hadn't realised he was from Senegal. But obviously he had a good run as, hiding in the bushes at July's Handicap, I saw that he finished second: bravo mon ami.
Leg 15 saw Lynne (who was 4th in July's Handicap), Lindsay, Vincent have good runs with Lindsay breaking another leg record despite going off course. I decided to take the opportunity to get back to nature as I found myself amongst the Bluebells, although I am considering pressing charges against Richard Smith for GBH as he knocked me over when running past.
The final leg of the relay were runners from our minibus participated was Leg 19, which saw Justina, Richard Wisdom, Frank and Lippy running. News filtered through that Fat Frank's Slim Serpies were lying third which was consolidated with Steve Hilton winning the last stage.
So what did this marsupial make of the Green Belt Weekend? It was great; I was made to feel welcome by everybody, and I am jumping at the opportunity to be the mascot next year. Thanks Serpies for a super weekend.
Skippy the Kangaroo
Right: me with the Green Belt Relay trophy for most supportive club, awarded to the Serpentine Running Club.