RURAL HILL NEWS RELEASE
Contact: 704.875.3113 or office@ruralhill.net

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 2009 FELLOWSHIP CHALLENGE

September 21, 2009

HUNTERSVILLE, NC:  Rural Hill held their annual “Fellowship Challenge” on September 8, 2009, just prior to the official opening day of the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze.  With more than 100 competitors and 24 teams in attendance, members of the region’s tourism programs, parks & recreation departments, destination organizations and community partners completed the Maze and the top three time-finishing teams in two categories play for a designated charity.  First Prize: $500; Second Prize: $300; Third Prize: $200.  Unless noted below, many teams played to raise funds for their own non-profit organizations. 

The fastest team of the day completed the Maze in one hour flat and correctly answered the required “Kernels of Knowledge” regarding the Maze’s “Go Green” Energy Theme.  The annual Fellowship Challenge is a time of fun and fundraising for charities, and also allows Rural Hill to test the quality of its Amazing Maize Maze and the ability for the puzzle to be solved.  A fun time was had by all with refreshments provided by McIntosh Law Firm of Davidson.  Rural Hill extends many thanks for all who helped to get to this point, and looks forward to a very successful Maze season.  The official results are:

Group One (Friends, Sponsors, and Parks and  Recreation): 1^st place – Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation “The Women of Recreation” playing for the Partners for Parks - Sophie Hollingsworth, Jenni Peel, LaTonia Lattimore, Norma Birto and Glades Posso, 2^nd place – Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation – John Anderson, Steve Fraher, Sharon Williams, Denise Clark and Colleen Whalen, and 3^rd place – Cornelius Parks and Recreation – Rhonda Hollingsworth, Ryan Haber, Ryan Wertz and Paul Herbert. 

Group Two (Tourism, Hotels and Destination Organizations): 1^st place – Carolina Raptor Center “The Eagles” – Jaimie White, Carol Robinson, Clay Howard, Natalie Childers, Daniel Baumgarner, 2^nd place TIE (where both teams will receive a $300 donation for their charity) – Visit Lake Norman playing for the North Mecklenburg Senior Center – Melissa Manning, Leslie White, Kelly, Debra and Lora, and the Town of Huntersville playing for the Huntersville Soup Kitchen – Dave White, Scott Treon, Steve Roberson and Sierra Davis, and 3^rd place – Visit Lake Norman  playing for the North Mecklenburg Senior Center – Courtney Wolform, Travis Dancy, Sheree Roper and Amber MacIntyre..

Honorable Mentions:  The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation department arrived to the Challenge with seven teams and The Carolina Raptor Center with three!  The “best appearance” honor went to the Charlotte Regional Visitor Center/Visit Charlotte team called the “Queen City Shuckers” lead by Gina Sheridan and playing for A Child’s Place, the team from Historic Latta Plantation lead by Ken Holmes was the “most refreshed,” and the Carolina Renaissance Festival team lead by Vreanie Calhoun and playing for the R.E.S.C.U. Foundation was the “best dressed” in their full Renaissance apparel.  Other Honorable Mentions go to Metrolina Greenhouses “Plant Partners” playing for Double Harvest, Southwood Corporation lead by Trish Furr, Artisan Signs lead by Scott Crosby, and McIntosh Law Firm playing for Rural Hill’s Clock Fund lead by Bill Ellison.

Complete Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze information is online at www.ruralhill.net.  The Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze is now open through November 1 each Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM – 5 PM.  Admission is $10 for ages 13+ and $7 for ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and under are free.  Tickets may be purchased at the gate, with last tickets sold daily by 5 PM.  Proceeds from all annual events are used for the preservation of historic Rural Hill and its educational programs.  Rural Hill is a part of the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation program, and is open to all members of the community for their enjoyment.

“Flashlight Mazes” will be open October 9, 23 and 30.  Tickets will be available beginning at 6:30 PM until 8 PM on the day of the event and entrance into the Maze will be from 7-8 PM.  If you are in line at 8 PM, you are in!  Admission to the Flashlight Maze is $15 for ages 13+ and $10 for ages 5-12.  Children ages 4 and under are free.  Bring your own flashlight!

Groups of 20 or more will receive a $1 discount on admission per person in September.  Catering for groups can also be arranged.  Group discount requires that one payment is made for the group.  Advance reservations may be made by calling (704) 875-3113. 

Rural Hill extends a special thank you to its Community Partners for their support of the 2009 Amazing Maize Maze: McIntosh Law Firm, Bojangles, Duke Energy, Petco, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, Town of Huntersville and AT&T Yellow Pages.

Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville, 28078.  The former homestead of Major John and Violet Davidson, the 265 acre site is maintained and promoted by The Catawba Valley Scottish Society (CVSS).  Rural Hill features annual events such as the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games, the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze and the Rural Hill Sheep Dog Trials.  CVSS is a non-profit organization supported through membership and donations, and with proceeds from its events utilized for the preservation of historic Rural Hill and its education efforts.  For more information on events or for financial support accepted securely online, please visit www.ruralhill.net.