Killer trophies for Zombie-Pitch Tournament
But the latest trophies to arrive at the Elora, ON racetrack aren’t the usual fare, and won’t be distributed to exuberant horsepeople. These masterful depictions of a severed arm and zombie hand clutching a ball will be awarded to the top finishers in the track’s inaugural recreational coed Zombie-Pitch Tournament on October 24.
The creator of these truly one-of-a-kind awards is former Grand River Raceway employee, and Elora native, Emily Skoggard. Shifting from being an equestrian competing internationally in showjumping, Skoggard worked in the racetrack’s paddock, and later in the marketing department prior to her enrollment in CMU College of Makeup Art & Design (formerly Complections) in Toronto.
Close-up of Grand River Raceway’s keeper trophy for Zombie-Pitch, handcrafted by Emily Skoggard.
Since graduation nearly five years ago, Skoggard has been immersed in creative work in the film and television industry. Creating prosthetics and special effects make-up has taken her to the sets of corporate commercials for products like Skittles, to TV shows and films including Resident Evil: Retribution, Saving Hope, The L.A. Complex, Darknet, Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil, and Wolves (where she worked for Academy Award-winning makeup artist David Elsey), to name a few.
The Zombie-Pitch trophies are crafted from a plastic composite and finished in gold, silver and bronze for the top three teams. The track’s display trophy is a detailed replica in a life-like material complete with black veins, exposed bone and brains. It’s terrifically gross.
To vie for one of these incredible trophies, act quickly, as only two of the 12 team spots for Zombie-Pitch remain.
The one-day three-pitch event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. on October 24 and features a grand prize of $300 plus a team party (maximum 12 people) for Dinner & Races in the Captain’s Quarters tiered dining room at Grand River Raceway during the 2016 race season (total $600 value).
All players dressed as zombies will win prizes, with a grand prize valued at $50 for the best zombie lookalike.
The tournament takes place in the track infield and features easy access to the tournament headquarters in the nearby Lighthouse Restaurant for team standings, plus food and drink.
The cost per team is $300 (maximum 12 players) and all players receive a tournament cap.
Deposits of $150 are required to hold a team’s spot and must be paid no later than October 16. There are only 12 team spots available — first come, first served.
There is no admission charge for spectators.
To inquire or register a team, contact the Bookings Department at Grand River Raceway: 519-846-5455 ext. 247 or ealdridge@grandriverraceway.com
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