THERE'S holes in the bucket see, so you have to really leg it. And there does be Fairy liquid all over the plastic, so it's really slippy when you're running." Alex Eager (14) briefs his team on the bucket carrying over slippery plastic race. The Power Rangers listen intently to their mentor.
Atlanta, eat your heart out. It may not be Georgia but Nicola (12) will attest to the ferocity of the competition for these over 12 Olympians taking part in the "It's a Knockout" teenage sports party. It is part of the 9th South Docks Festival, run by the community around Pearse Street and Westland Row in Dublin.
From the grassy side lines at Trinity College, which has given the use of its cricket area for the event, Nicola and I eye up the brawn.
"I support Liverpool, for their looks. Keith Murphy, ahhh." She clasps her 12 year old breast and swoons onto her side. Anto Andrews (14) is dismissive of this "girl". He agrees though on her choice of team. "They are the hot favourites.
All week in the festival there have been children's arts workshops. Their wares will be on full and splendid display in the Festival Parade tomorrow. It will wind its way from Pearse Street to Merrion Square, setting off at 12.15 p.m.
All kitted up in some flamboyantly chosen rig outs, the motley crews are herded into position for the first "Knockout" event, the obstacle course. First to burst his able way forth is a member of the Slippery Fish.
Not a bother on him. He quicksteps precisely through the nine laid out tyres, retains his poise magnificently across the balancing bar, tosses his person effortlessly through the hulahoops and chimmies his belly skillfully along the ground under the army net and out the other side to the adulation of his awaiting comrades.
"Hmm, they might win," ponders Nicola.
But Liverpool have been practising for weeks and are especially confident about their form for the bucket of water race. The seven other teams have been well sized up.
They haven't taken any steroids but Alex admits that he's taken some drugs - "E numbers", he laughs.
Coca cola has contributed cans of E numbers as prizes so it's all to play for as Liverpool come out the victors of the first round.
"Liverpool should be disqualified," shouts a somewhat disheartened member of the Brady Bunch as the grass skiing begins. Nicola is exultant that Kevin is doing so well.
"I knew they'd be winning." I ask her why she's not on a team herself.
"Ah, I used to be with the Brady Bunch but I left. They're a useless team. You have to follow your instinct," she adds philosophically.
She seems to have a point and her instinct serves her well. Liverpool did the business for the fans. The Brady Bunch only came third.
