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Skillet-Throwing Contestants Cook Up Some Fun

September 03, 2008 - WINDSOR -- Visiting Maine in general and the Windsor Fair in particular on vacation, Susan Grufstedt, of North Stonington, Conn., never pictured herself throwing the second-longest distance in the finals of the inaugural Women's Skillet Throwing Contest.

"I got talked into it," she said, shortly before collecting a glass-domed skillet for her achievement. "I thought it would be a hoot."

Shelly Bennett, of Parkman, walked off with the golden skillet and a $50 premium as the overall winner.

Nobody could top Bennett's 80-foot, 6-inch throw that appeared to skim the rear fence of the grassy plot that served as the competitive field. Her second throw was short-circuited when the black frying pan smacked into a low hanging tree branch and dropped precipitously.

Bennett is on a winning streak, having done well in other skillet-throwing competitions in Dover-Foxcroft, Skowhegan and Fryeburg.

"I'm either the bride or the bridesmaid," Bennett said.

Saturday's contest drew a lot of spectators sitting in the hot sun or trying to keep a little cooler by a fountain or in a gazebo.

Windsor Fire Chief Arthur Strout, who is also a Windsor Fair trustee, served as master of ceremonies, introducing contestants, teasing them a little and warning against letting fly while the measurements were still being taken by the judge.

"You don't want to hit the president of the fair," he cautioned, as Tom Foster bent to record a throw.

Irene Elwell, 74, of Brunswick, took the 65-plus age group with a toss of 46 feet, 4 inches.

"I've done it three times in Topsham and once in Bowdoin," she said.

But she tends to lose in the finals.

"The younger ones overtake me," she said.

One competitor tossed the skillet straight up, and had to do some fancy footwork to avoid it when gravity brought it down almost on top of her.

Six women in identical bright pink T-shirts, with "Chase Farm Bakery" on the back, entered the contest, and one, Eliza Chase, of Whitefield, won the 18-29 age category.

Becky Hapgood, of China, who is also the China town clerk, came in second in the 30-45 age group.

"We think we might add it to China Community Days," she said. "So I wanted to try it."

She admitted to practicing a little by picking up a frying pan at home.

The ones used in the contest were 2.5-pound steel pans specifically constructed for throwing.

"Thanks to all of you who can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan," said Karen Foster, who helped organize the contest.

The Windsor Fair continues today and Monday, Labor Day.

Today's events include a 3 p.m. animal costume class and a 5:30 p.m. "political pull" cow-milking contest.

08/31/2008
BY BETTY ADAMS, Staff Writer, Kennebec Journal


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Regions: Sebago, Belgrade


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