Hiya,

Boy, am I exhausted but exhilarated too. It seems like an age since I woke up this morning although, to be honest, I really did not sleep very well last night. I was sooo nervous about the River Swirle Hop-A-Thon. This consists of having to hop eight laps of the harbour and some of the surrounding streets too.

Well, it all started when we arrived at the harbour. We had to register before we could all line up at the start. I was very nervous and my legs were jelly. Herring Gull Harry and I were at one at one end of the starting line and, out of the corner, of my eye I could see Rotten Rory (my enemy) at the other end. Uncle Wilf, who was my manager, had told me not too hop too fast at the start of the race so that I had a better chance of finishing and I have to say it was very tempting to follow Rotten Rory as he sped off but I somehow stuck to the plan and hopped at my own pace with Herring Gull Harry while Rotten Rory seemed to be leading the race.

At the end of each lap we had a glass of a purple energy drink and then continued with the hopping. Half-way through the race some of the other competitors in front of us seemed to slow down and Herring Gull Harry and I overtook them which gave us confidence but Rotten Rory was still out in front.

Then, as Herring Gull Harry and I approached the table with the energy drinks on for the last time and our legs were getting tired of hopping, we saw what looked like a group of people talking amongst each other and then, as we drew closer, we saw that two frogs were being held back from each other. I did not recognise the first frog that I saw although he was sporting a massive bruise on the cheek of his face but imagine my surprise, froglettes, when I saw the other frog, Rotten Rory, and he looked red with fury and had a blood running down his face from a cut above his right eye. Well, Herring Gull Harry and I exchanged surprised looks but continued with the race. The sight of Rotten Rory injured gave us fresh hope and we tackled the last lap of the Hop-A-Thon with new energy. One by one, we overtook the other competitors that were in front of us as we made our way back towards the harbour.

As we hopped into the harbour and saw the finish line, I decided it was now or never. It was just me, Herring Gull Harry and one other frog in front of us. I hopped for all it was worth and as the finish line approached, I drew level with the frog. However, my legs did not seem to have any speed left to over-take him so I did what I have seen athletes do on countless occasions on television. I put my head down as we crossed the line … and then I fell over. Not something that I have ever seen the athletes do and as Herring Gull Harry crossed the finish line behind me, he was laughing his head off. Typical.

However, froglettes, for once I did not mind as by doing that as I won the Hop-A-Thon by a head from the other frog.

It turned out that Rotten Rory and the other frog collided head on with each other at the table over the drinks and they started fighting so were disqualified for breaking the rules. He is so furious that he can no longer boast about winning the race now and I am celebrating with Herring Gull Harry, Uncle Wilf, and a large glass (or two) of pumpkin juice.

Yours exhausted but ever so happy,

E