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Happy Australia Day – BYO cockroach…
The great Australia Day tradition of cockroach racing is…..wait. What?! Yes, it’s true!
Cockroach racing had a distinguished beginning in the bar of the Story Bridge Hotel, Kangaroo Point in QLD, 1981. Two punters apparently sat arguing over which suburb had the biggest and we can only assume fastest, cockroaches.
To settle the argument, both men went home, caught a cockroach then headed back to the pub. They then decided to race them, as you do, and history was made! The races have now been held at the Story Bridge Hotel for 30 years.
The races at some point moved from the pub car park to an area of land adjacent to the hotel, where there is now a small stadium, with corporate boxes and all. The “track” is a four metre wide square with a circle inside it. It doesn’t matter which direction the cockroaches run, it’s just the first over the line that wins!
Image from cockroachraces.com.au
Entrants pay $5 to buy a roach and $5 to enter it or their own in a race. All roaches are numbered, yes this is done by hand and they are bought and flown up from Melbourne, (not Sydney?!) but sometimes there’s still not enough to go around, so people are encouraged to bring their own roach.
Funnily enough, the event seems to be more about dressing up and getting into the spirit of it all than the actual race and all proceeds from the entry, racing and dunking machine go to the children’s charity, Variety. There are also, DJs, live bands and food marquees and a Best ‘Stable’ Costume Competition and a Miss Cocky Competition, which is all about poise and sophistication.
Image from cockroachraces.com.au
Image from cockroachraces.com.au
Image from cockroachraces.com.au
THE OFFICIAL RULES OF COCKROACH RACING AS APPROVED BY SOCOG
(Society of Cockroach Only Gaming)
- Races are only open to entrants registered and weighed in by the stewards prior to event.
- It is the job of the stewards to catch the first 3 cockies across the line. Their decision is final.
- After each event, entrants may be re-entered in further events (if you can catch them). Best wishes and good luck to any of the entrants which evade capture…..we hope to see you next year.
- Flying will not be tolerated, entrants thought to have gained an unfair air-born advantage will be disqualified. If disqualified entrants may be banned from competing in future events.
- Ownership of entrants ceases after each race.
- Only stewards are permitted on ‘The Olde Canvasse’. Pitch invaders are liable to a $100,000,000.00 fine.
- The cost of entering a ‘Roach is $5.00. Prizes are as follows; 1st place – Sponsors Prize & Trophy. 2nd place – $25 Cash!!. 3rd place $15.00. Scientifically bred Cockroaches (of the highest calibre) can be purchased from the Stewards.
- As outlined by the governing bodies, entrants may be tested for performance enhancing substances at any time. Penalties are severe! Owners are advised that stewards will also be scanning for so called “natural” enhancers e.g. coffee, white sugar, and red cordial to name a few.
- The Cockroach Races are first and foremost a fun event. All funds raised in this event from the buying or entering of ‘Roaches go to Variety. Therefore anyone who disagrees with the official rules, the running of the event or decisions made by the Stewards, will be considered to be ”Wowsers of the highest order” and not very Australian at all.
Thanks to cockroachraces.com.au
Staff Travel Story – Sarah Fotia
Sportsnet’s Sarah Fotia takes us with her to Mexico…
One of my favourite places in the world is Playa Del Carmen in Mexico, which I only recently travelled to. It is such a gorgeous coastal town.
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from mexicotravelguideblog.com
Playa del Carmen, or just “Playa”, has one of the most laid-back main streets I have ever visited. Avenida Quinta or “Fifth Avenue” is a pedestrians only strip that goes for 2 miles with a line of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops that you can walk along without fear of cars. Our Hotel “El Taj” came highly recommended, was right on the beach and the service was phenomenal and all within arms reach of the famous “Fifth Avenue”.
Fifth Avenue, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from deatoncrew.com
An experience that I will never forget was when we went off the main strip one night for something different and we encountered a carnival that the locals attend. We were the only tourists at the carnival which had local food stalls, rides for the kids and lots of dancing. I had the most amazing local dessert which was a nutella style crêpe. We asked one of the locals how many times a year the carnival is put on for the town and he said only one night a year! All of the local families look forward to it each year. It was a pretty special experience.
A must when travelling to this town is to ensure that you eat as much Mexican food as possible, as it is amazing. I highly recommend that you visit Chichen Itza which was one of the largest Mayan cities and is likely to have been one of the great mythical cities. Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, an estimated 1.2 million tourists visit the ruins every year.
I highly recommend all to visit this amazing place. If you love sun, beach, culture and dancing, this is the place for you.
Dancers, Fifth Avenue, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from nytimes.com
Mexican food by the beach - Image from mayanreservations.com
5th Ave, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from cityimage.net
Chichen Itza, Mexico - Imge from citypictures.org
The Cenote Azul, Chichen Itza, Mexico - Image from traveljournals.net
Staff Travel Story – Ornella Tonetti
Sportsnet’s Ornella Tonetti tells us about Peru…
SN: What is your favourite place in the world that you’ve traveled to and why?
OT: Peru. I had always dreamed of doing the Inca Trail and visiting Machu Picchu, one of the world’s most familiar icons. My favourite animals are also llamas and alpacas and I had always heard they just roam around the streets in certain towns. I have always loved everything about South Americans and their culture.
SN: What is your most vivid memory of Peru?
OT: After trekking for 4 days on the Inca Trail, no showers, sore legs, altitude sickness and dying trying to make it up Dead Woman’s Pass, which is 4200 metres high, you reach the Sun Gate which is the entrance to Machu Picchu. Seeing Machu Picchu was completely overwhelming. Tears of joy and pain ran down my face. I couldn’t believe I had actually made it and now got to enjoy this spectacular lost city of the Incas.
SN: What do you recommend is a MUST do for fellow travellers when visiting Peru?
OT: Besides doing the Inca Trail, stay a week in the beautiful city of Cuzco which is situated in the Peruvian Andes and sits at 3400m above sea level. Here you can try the local delicacies of Guinea pig and Llama steak and wash it down with either a Pisco Sour Cocktail or Peru’s national soft drink Inca Kola. Best tip : Chew on coca leaves and drink coca tea to help with altitude sickness!
Centre Court at the Australian Open 2012
By Sportsnet Roving Reporter Dave
After lathering up with SPF30+ and donning dark sunnies to appear – by all accounts – just another tennis celebrity strolling the courts, I scanned my ticket and rolled through the turnstiles and onto the brightest blue surface I had ever seen. It was, quite literally, as if the Smurfs had eaten too many Smurfberries and lost their breakfast on the floor!
The bluest of blue!
The Melbourne summer was clearly in full swing from the moment I arrived. Singlets, thongs, tans and shorts were rife and the queues at the free water fountains told the tale of the heat early on during the day.
Conducting a quick self-navigated tour around the complex and stalls, I then headed off to Rod Laver Arena to get me some tennis action! After a short queue waiting for the current game to end, I found my seat, took out my camera and proceeded to soak up the atmosphere. Alas, the atmosphere was not quite what I expected it to be. Rod Laver Arena was unusually subdued, especially given World #1 and Serb Novak Djokovic was playing his first match of the tournament. As I gazed around the thin crowd, those in the sun seemed intent on either gaining more of a tan or covering up completely and avoiding the sun altogether, whilst those in the shade drifted in and out of meaningless conversation all the while the Djoker easily, yet lazily, put away Italian Paolo Lorenzi.
Rod Laver Arena
Wanting to find out where the crowds were, I set off again and discovered immediately that most of the action appeared to be off centre court. The throngs of patrons descending on the likes of the Optus Best Shot Competition, ANZ Dome, Drumstick Games Plaza and the Dove marquee. The latter of which yours truly spent 20 mins sweating under the summer rays for. Luckily enough this roving reporter was smart enough to buy sunscreen on the way! Not that it would have mattered with the Cancer Council having a stand present. Anyway, back to Dove…
After spending what seemed liked an eternity waiting with many, many women – NB. not complaining! – I took my sample bag and headed inside. My first instructional lesson was on a new moisturising soap for men and how it wouldn’t dry my skin whilst showering. This was followed by stand #2 where I learned about a new deodorant and then, finally, onto the reason why the fans were queueing for so long – free hand massages! Yes, the Dove tent had 3 women at a breakfast bar throwing all caution of germs into the wind and giving each person who sat down a 5 minute hand massage.
Hand massages at the Dove Marquee
My adventure to discover the crowd took me towards the outside courts where I found them between two spots: a) Margaret Court Arena, watching local Jelena Dokic cruise to the second round (where was Damir I wonder?) and b) a site aptly called ‘Experience’… Home of the Heineken Beer Garden. I have a feeling that Nova 100.3FM made a good selection in their broadcast venue of choice as the crowds seemed to be settling in quite nicely under the 35C heat, beer in hand waiting for the live shows to start early evening.
"Experience" site
Those unlucky enough not to get a seat at ‘Experience’ moved 50m across to the Jacob’s Creek area that resembled a mediterranean beach location, complete with beach hammocks, wines and many topless….. males 
Jacob's Creek area
After a short ‘refresher’, I set off once again. Following some more meandering around the outside courts and watching a poor qualifier serve 5 faults in a row, table service and air conditioning awaited me inside the Game, Set & Match cafe – FREE for all Sportsnet guests – where a time out was needed from the heat. Luckily enough, the facility had mega television screens so I was able watch the action I was missing outside!
A short 'refresher'
As 3pm ticked over, I suddenly realised that the crowds had thinned and I was running late for Australia’s great female title’s hope, Sam Stosur, the 6th seed opening her account on Rod Laver Arena. I strode back through the halls of Rod Laver Arena, the smell of soy sauce and chips tantalising my taste buds, quickly taking my seat in amongst the Sportsnet faithful to watch Sammie take on her much younger, unseeded opponent.
The lovely Sportsnet crowd
Whilst the crowd was at least twice the size for Stosur as it was for Djokovic, they had little to cheer about. Aside from minor glimpses of the form that took her to claim her maiden Slam at last years US Open, Stosur limped to the finish line with a mixed of unforced errors and hesitation, going down in straight sets in just 1hr 23.
Sam’s defeat signalled the end to my day, so on I went on my merry way, out past the MCG and bronze statues of some of Australia’s finest, struggling to locate my car in amongst the thousands parked outside AFL’s hallowed home. After finally finding my white beast and discovering that I could have fried eggs and bacon on my front seat, I hopped in and proceeded away from the Australian Open 2012, looking forward to kicking back on my couch and watching Lleyton try to succeed where Sammie did not.
- Happy Australia Day – BYO cockroach…
- Staff Travel Story – Sarah Fotia
- Staff Travel Story – Ornella Tonetti
- Centre Court at the Australian Open 2012
- To roll or to fold, that is the question!
- Sportsnet Staff Travel Story – David Thomas
- Scott Pedder – BOSCH Australian Rally Championship
- Don’t want to touch that hotel remote? The Ri Universal Remote has changed it all.
- Staff Travel Story – Sally Irons
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