It's a slippery slide to stardom

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

Dwarf Andrew Roigard may be on a slippery slide but he doesn't need human rights groups standing up for him.

The 1.37m, 63kg Tauranga professional entertainer is loving his starring role in a pub "leprechaun curling" competition, which sees him propelled on his stomach along a 6m polythene sheet.

He rejects criticism that it is demeaning and hazardous to his health.

"Yes, I believe dwarf throwing is dangerous but this is quite different - and it's my choice," said the 39-year-old, who has a day job as an engineer.

Perhaps surprisingly, public reaction to his latest floorshow at the Mount Mellick has been predominantly supportive, as has that of other little people he knows.

Mr Roigard, a singer and variety artiste who spent several years in showbusiness in Australia, has been involved in promotions at the Mt Maunganui restaurant bar since it opened in March last year.

His reputation as a cabaret performer resulted in management inviting him to take part in their first St Patrick's Day show as the "leaping leprechaun".

Since then, his popularity had grown, said the manager, Greg Burt, and he came up with fresh ideas for risque acts all the time.

Mr Roigard suggested the "curling" contest, which had been running on a Thursday night for five weeks and would continue until the final at Labour Weekend.

In each heat, a woman on one side and a man on the other pushed off an oiled Mr Roigard, clad in boxer shorts and a crash helmet, by his feet. The aim of the exercise was to position his bellybutton inside a red square.

"He's as happy as Larry," said Mr Burt, who was one of several staff members to set up and test the stunt.

"We would never ask him to do anything he is not comfortable with."

He said Mr Roigard was fit and athletic and spent his weekends riding at motocross events. People had been coming from the Waikato and Auckland to see the contest.

Mount Mellick owner Brad Shipton, a Tauranga district councillor and former policeman, said most people thoroughly enjoyed the act for what it was - a bit of fun.

It was not dangerous or denigrating to anyone. "Andrew is a very intelligent person and doesn't need anyone to speak for him. He would be absolutely appalled and disgusted if people thought he was being taken advantage of."

Mr Roigard, who gets shunted down the slippery sheet about 12 times a week, said there were a lot of barriers in life for little people but "I have overcome them many years ago".