Forget the Melbourne Cup, the race that supposedly ‘stops a nation’, don’t worry about the 100m final at the Olympics, nor the Tour de France, this is THE race on the annual sporting calendar that gets sporting purists salivating each year.
Rick the Rock had high hopes after a long off-season training regimen, which saw him scaling sand dunes, pumping iron and running countless laps around his beloved Patersons Stadium, but unfortunately he didn’t quite have what it took on the night.
Nevertheless, our feathered friend can be proud of his performance knowing it’s a personal best.
Taking on a world class field, the beloved Eagles mascot was gallant in defeat, with the pacey ‘Captain Hurricane’ from the Hammond Park Junior Football Club taking it out from the very slippery ‘Gary the Gecko’ from the Shire of Roebourne, with Rick two metres away to round out the podium.
Rick says although he was disappointed not to win, the money raised for Telethon is the big positive.
“The start cost me, but once I got up and flying I thought I was a big chance to run them down,” he said.
“Unfortunately the gap was too great, but third is great and it’s for a terrific cause.
“$22,000 for Telethon is a great result, and I look forward to coming back next year!”
