C o l u m n
THE RUNNING MANN
theme with a Christmas tree float . No doubt the tree also came in handy when their members needed a bit of cover for those pitstops when ‘ making room ’ for more beer .
Stella ’ s big pressie on wheels
Savages opted for some tree-planting
Now that ’ s what I call a Christmas cracker !
Dave Campbell-Hall was on sentry duty for Hillcrest , prodding tardy runners with his candy cane to ensure that the float did not cause a real-life game of Candy Crush when gravity took effect on the downhills . There were some complaints from other clubs that the Hillcrest float lacked realism , as their Gingerbread Man was a lot easier to catch than the “ Run , run , as fast as you can . You can ’ t catch me , I ’ m the Gingerbread man !” guy in the nursery rhyme .
Hillcrest Villagers constructed the winning float
Loudest & Proudest
However , the big winners this year were Hollywood AC and Hillcrest Villagers . Hollywood is the biggest running club in KZN , so was always the odds-on favourite to have the biggest bus . I can also confirm that Hollywood was also the noisiest bus on the route , and had the biggest float-come-coolerbox , which was in the shape of a Christmas cracker ! After completing the 15km at a very sedate pace , with frequent drinks breaks , I went back to do a ‘ victory lap ’ and see if any of the clubs still struggling up the hills with full coolerboxes needed ‘ help ’ in lightening their load . Since Hollywood was carrying the biggest cargo , I ended up repeating the last couple of kilometres in their company and got chatting to club chairman , Greg Glossop , on the ‘ back seat ’ of the bus . Greg came armed with purple smoke bombs , which were detonated as the bus hit the field to announce Hollywood ’ s arrival at the finish line .
Hillcrest Villagers had the best float and won the friendliest bus award for their magnificent gingerbread house float . I remarked that it was a pity that the house was not made of real sweets , but apparently , even with my good friend Campbell Nel injured , Hillcrest ’ s chunkier members had still consumed all the candy before the start . However , I was assured that no gingers were hurt in the construction of the house . ( I know , I know … I just can ’ t help myself . I am a dad , after all .)
Hollywood AC had the biggest , noisiest bus
The Gingerbread Man was surprisingly easy to catch
Time for a Drink
Whilst most of the club floats were full of beer , Team Vitality went to the other extreme , filling their trolley with all the recognised HealthyFood items that their runners like to eat and drink before , during and after a long run . The official Team Vitality bus definitely stayed on Santa ’ s ‘ Nice ’ list , but I did notice that some Vitality members did their best to get onto the ‘ Naughty ’ list , and may have overcompensated along the route . One such example was the ladies in the photo below , who reacted with audible shouts of glee when they spotted the shooters at the BDE Attorneys refreshment station . They then proceeded to guzzle their guilty pleasures with what appeared to be a wellpractised ritual .
Images : Stuart Mann , Instapix , Catherine Dixon & courtesy AOT Running Club
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