By Cara Spilsbury
In Lane 1, "Sparkle" took his spot. In Lane 2, "Mrs. Connolly" was ready to take home the gold. "Ham-pire" looked strong in Lane 3 and "Lovey Dovey" was anything but in Lane 4.
After a 3-2-1 countdown, the four little mechanical piggies were off and students at Pentucket Lake Elementary School erupted in screams and cheers for their favorites.
The Pig Race was the final event of the school's annual fall fundraiser, organized by the PTO. In total, $8,241 was raised for the school by students and families selling from a catalog.
Each classroom in which 50 percent of students participated in the fundraiser was awarded a pig. Teachers and students had almost a month to dress and "train" their race entries. In all, 16 classes received racing pigs.
Race Day arrived on Oct. 31. The winning pig would take home $100 for its classroom.
After four heats of four pigs each, the four winners hoofed it to the starting line. Sparkle, Mrs. Connolly, Ham-pire and Lovey Dovey were off!
The battery-powered pigs waddled and oinked their way across the race course.
Lovey Dovey started out of the gate quickly and took an early, yet miniscule lead. Ham-pire came from behind for the victory.
Ham-pire was created by Lindsay Nolte's class of first- and second-graders.
Judges were principal Dianne Connolly and custodian Luis Gonzalez, both dressed from head to toe in pig costumes, sewn by Connolly's mother, Corrine Taplin.
