When one of our Tim Gates Classic Fun Run photographers filed this image, it begged investigation. Did the little chap do the course? Probably not, given the OZTiming finish line clock showed 23.56 minutes.
This is Oscar Doggett, aged 4. The story goes that his parents Simon and Frances entered as a family and so were eligible for four T-shirts, but there is five in this clan of the Doggetts, a family associated with the club for some 30 years. As Oscar wanted to wear “his shirt”, Mum gave up hers, knotting it at the back so the little fella would not trip up. Family harmony was preserved.
With siblings Taylah (10) and Charlie(7), Oscar heads off with Mum on the 5km run/walk but he lasts just a few hundred metres, deciding to return to the start with his brother Charlie and mates where more fun could be had. Whilst Frances and Taylah continued on the journey Oscar was captured crossing the finish line wearing Frances’s entry bib registering a remarkably fast time for his mother!
Sometime later a sweaty and exhausted Dad, doing the 10km run, greets Oscar on approach to the finish line and suggests they run the last 50 metres together. As they crossed the finish line Oscar was sporting a large cheesy grin and prompted some people in the crowd to ask if Oscar had actually completed the 10km run with his dad.
All’s well that ends well. Not necessarily. In taking Mum’s shirt, he also took her number, which was later announced as the winner of the Women’s Masters category. Judges were suitably confused to find the number finishing twice.
Other members of the Doggett family who took part were Ken and Christine.
We showed the photo to Jane Gates. She told us: “Tim would have loved this story and photo because it represents his values – kids being active, kids learning to participate, and families together on the beach at the club.”
