Sun, 09/18/2022 - 11:23 am

KEVIN BURNHAM

The Boothbay Charities Classic committee cheers after co-chairman Brenda Blackman announces that the second annual Cornhole Challenge raised just over $50,000 for Special Olympics Maine. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Wicked Cornhole owner Bruce Taylor and BCC committee member Rob Wheeler have some fun during the live auction. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Some of the opponents in the 70-team Boothbay Cornhole Classic. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BCC committee member Sawyer Boulette gets ready to launch the bag. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Nick Ullo lets the bag fly. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Charities Classic committee longtime leaders, co-chairmen Brenda Blackman and Tony Krason. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Robbie Watts shows good form. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sarah Hyson gives it her best shot. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Josh Miller watches his attempt. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A happy participant. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Matthew Rego shows some intensity. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Ernie Gamage throws a twister. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Krystal Blackman-Navarrete gets ready to hug her daughter Penny after the youngster drew her winning number in a raffle. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Wicked Cornhole owner Bruce Taylor and BCC committee member Rob Wheeler have some fun during the live auction. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Julie Roberts looks for an ace in the hole. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Ronnie Hyson goes for the hole. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Glenn Hyson sets his sights on the board. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Richard Hyson watches his bag fly. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sawyer Boulette gets ready to release the bag. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Some of the many silent and Chinese raffle prizes. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Craig Andrews and Alyssa Allen were busy bartenders during the event. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Andy Hollon gets off a shot. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Barbara Jean Warlo lofts the bag. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BCC committee members Brenda Blackman and Russ Hamm. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Picking a Chinese auction winner. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Krystal Blackman-Navarrete. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Jason Chamness. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Belinda Campbell. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Tom Campbell. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Having some fun at the Cornhole Classic are Patricia Royall, Tony Krason and Duey Graham. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Andy Pinkham and Leon Blackman running the food concession. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Rob Wheeler of J. Edward Knight, a major sponsor, shows his happiness on another live auction bid. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

First place winners. Facebook photo

Second place winners. Facebook photo

Wicked Cornhole owner Bruce Taylor and BCC committee member Rob Wheeler have some fun during the live auction. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Some of the opponents in the 70-team Boothbay Cornhole Classic. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BCC committee member Sawyer Boulette gets ready to launch the bag. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Nick Ullo lets the bag fly. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Charities Classic committee longtime leaders, co-chairmen Brenda Blackman and Tony Krason. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Robbie Watts shows good form. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sarah Hyson gives it her best shot. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Josh Miller watches his attempt. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A happy participant. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Matthew Rego shows some intensity. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Ernie Gamage throws a twister. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Krystal Blackman-Navarrete gets ready to hug her daughter Penny after the youngster drew her winning number in a raffle. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Wicked Cornhole owner Bruce Taylor and BCC committee member Rob Wheeler have some fun during the live auction. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Julie Roberts looks for an ace in the hole. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Ronnie Hyson goes for the hole. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Glenn Hyson sets his sights on the board. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Richard Hyson watches his bag fly. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sawyer Boulette gets ready to release the bag. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Some of the many silent and Chinese raffle prizes. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Craig Andrews and Alyssa Allen were busy bartenders during the event. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Andy Hollon gets off a shot. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Barbara Jean Warlo lofts the bag. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BCC committee members Brenda Blackman and Russ Hamm. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Picking a Chinese auction winner. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Krystal Blackman-Navarrete. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Jason Chamness. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Belinda Campbell. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Tom Campbell. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Having some fun at the Cornhole Classic are Patricia Royall, Tony Krason and Duey Graham. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Andy Pinkham and Leon Blackman running the food concession. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Rob Wheeler of J. Edward Knight, a major sponsor, shows his happiness on another live auction bid. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

First place winners. Facebook photo

Second place winners. Facebook photo

“This is incredible,” said Boothbay Charities Classic co-chairmen Brenda Blackman and Tony Krason.

The duo was referring to the great turnout of participants in BCC’s second annual Boothbay Cornhole Classic on Saturday, Sept. 17.

“Last year we had 22 teams and this year, 70 teams competed,” said Blackman.

When all was said and done – with the tournament registrations, sponsorships, auctions silent and live, raffle drawings, food and beverage concessions – Blackman announced at 4 p.m. Saturday that just over $50,000 was raised for Special Olympics Maine – the charity the BCC has supported since 1990.

“Last year we were able to raise $15,000 for SOME, with our first try at holding a cornhole tournament, but this year we were pleasantly surprised at the amount we’ll be able to give,” said Blackman.

The seven-plus-hour tournament was conducted by Wicked Cornhole of Tewksbury, Massachusetts and owners Bruce and Stacey Taylor were integral parts of the success. They kept track of the winners and losers throughout, with updates announced via a PA system and running standings on an electronic scoreboard. During lulls in the announcements, music played over the PA system.

“This is such a giving crowd,” said Bruce Taylor, who also conducted the raffle drawings, live auction, and silent auction winners. The live auction items went for big money, more than the starting minimum bid. The items included two Boston Bruin tickets, a two-night stay at Sugarloaf, lighthouse tour, Brunswick hotel and dinner package, a 20-passenger boat trip aboard the Nellie G., a two-night stay on Ram Island, a two-night stay at Cliff House Resort in Ogunquit, VIP seating for eight at Tugboat Inn, and a two-hour cruise on the Grand Banks classic, Slowpoke, around Boothbay Harbor.

As competitors lofted the bean bags onto the cornhole boards with the major sponsors’ logos emblazoned on them, others not competing enjoyed the grilled food and adult beverages and soft drinks manned by committee members and volunteers. Bartenders Craig Andrews and Alyssa Allen donated their tips ($420) to the total raised for SOME – $50,420.

Cash payouts for the Classic winners were $500 for first place, $350 for second place and $150 for third place. The round robin format saw the 0-4 and 1-3 teams being eliminated, while the 2-2, 3-1 and 4-0 teams moved on to the finals in a single-elimination round.

The BCC committee is scheduling the third annual Boothbay Cornhole Classic for Sept. 16, 2023.

“We might have to hold a two-day tournament if this grows in popularity,” said Krason.