Terrifyingly exposed to ridicule after losing bet

by Lauren Owens
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As the first rays of the morning light yesterday peeked over Cameron Rd, a sole naked figure could be seen sprinting down the street - chased only by the sound of laughter.
The naked figure was Craig Forsman, fulfilling his end of the bet with his boss, Peter Harford, owner of Pete's Takeaways.
Mr Harford successfully quit his 40-a-day smoking habit for a month and in return - Mr Forsman was to run down Cameron Rd naked.
Momentum had been building since last Thursday, when Mr Harford completed a full smoke-free month and large crowds were expected on the day.
Only the date of the run and just how exposed Mr Forsman would be were under question until it was yesterday revealed that he covertly did the streak early in the morning.
It seemed publicity surrounding Mr Forsman's impending naked run proved too much for the 45-year-old septocologist and he instead chose to uphold the bet on his own terms.
"There was no way I would do it in front of a big audience," he said. "I've been scheming how to do it without everyone there."
So, on Tuesday night, he arranged for three workmates to meet him on 21st Ave shortly before 5.30am the next day - in the shroud of early morning darkness.
Stripping down to his birthday suit, Mr Forsman sprinted like a white, hairy thunderbolt along Cameron Rd to the RSA - with shrieks of laughter and camera flashes following him.
"It was terrifying ... being naked in public," he told the Bay of Plenty Times later in the day.
Mr Forsman said it was now a waiting game to see if anyone would complain.
"I don't think anyone saw me."
As for his workmates, he said he had to "pull them off the ground", when he returned from his run, they were laughing so much.
It was only when Mr Forsman and his three workmates arrived at work they told a very disappointed Mr Harford his employee had held up his end of the bet. Mr Forsman even produced photographic evidence and signed affidavits from the three witnesses.
"He wanted me to do it again," Mr Forsman said. "But he relented."
Mr Harford agreed the bet had been honoured - albeit far more discreetly than he had planned.
"He jumped the gun, but he did it."
He was thankful for the incentive from Mr Forsman to give up smoking, saying he never would have done it otherwise.
Mr Harford planned to remain a non-smoker, saying, "personally, I think I would be an idiot to take up smoking again".
"I loved smoking, but I just started to realise what it was doing to me."
He was amazed by the impact his story had on other local smokers, including one woman who told him her husband was now committed to quitting too.
As for Mr Forsman, he said his next goal was to get the other three heavy smokers in the work place to quit.
Although, the question remained - what could he offer them that they had not already seen?