Couple race as bottle and butt for Southern Water - 23/7/2010
A fleet-footed couple who go head-to-head dressed as Southern Water’s characters Mr Drink-It and Mr Save-It have revealed what life is like in the mascot race fast-lane.
Husband and wife Martin and Nicki Jackson dress as the company’s water bottle and water butt characters to take part in races around Sussex.
The couple, from Tarring in Worthing, are regular helpers at Southern Water’s roadshows across the region and earlier this year turned their hands, and feet, to mascot racing.
Keen runners, they completed this year’s Brighton Marathon but concede that the mascot races are just as competitive.
Martin, 30, said: “It’s a lot of fun but some of the runners take it very seriously. When we agreed to do it we thought it would just be a laugh but once people are inside the costumes there is a fair bit of competition.
“The main thing for us is that we have fun and help raise some money for charity. It’s a breeze compared with a marathon but the costumes are awkward to run in.”
Despite the fierce competition, the couple have tasted victory with Martin romping home first at a race in Lingfield Park Racecourse in June.
Martin and Nicki, who have three children, met before they started working at Southern Water. They both eventually got jobs with the company where Martin is a distribution inspector and Nicki works in corporate accounts.
Nicki, 28, said: “It’s a lot of fun doing the races but they’re not easy because the costumes are like running wearing a giant toilet roll.”
After each race, they join mascots from other companies and charities to collect donations from punters for charities including The Children’s Trust and WaterAid.
Martin and Nicki will be under starter’s orders again when they take part in a mascot race at Southern Water’s Irish Race Day at Fontwell Park Racecourse on October 2.
Seven charities will benefit from the event, which will culminate with a concert by Irish band The Saw Doctors.
For more information, visit www.southernwater.co.uk.
