MacAllister Moss, 9, of Bristol, shrugged off intense competition to narrowly win the second annual Damariscotta Mills Cannonball Festival contest Aug. 31.
Moss, a student at the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb, outsplashed 13 other competitors before tying with JoJo Martin, 12, of Newcastle, in the first round.
In a sudden-death splash off, Moss escaped with a hard-won victory, becoming the inaugural winner of the Hollis C. Nelson Jr. Memorial Trophy.
“I just went for it,” Moss said, when asked how she eeked out a win.
Moss also earned a $25 Gift Certificate to S. Fernald’s Country Store for winning the competition.
Moss said she won with a no frills, classic cannonball. She said she now plans to celebrate her victory by relaxing in her room with her trophy.
Moss’ fierce determination won her the respect and admiration of the judges.
“I knew from the beginning she was going to win,” said Bobby Whear, who co-hosted the competition with friend and LCTV “Whazzup” co-host Kit Hayden.
The competition’s producer, Mike Christopher, concurred.
“She was fearsome,” he said.
