Residents have a Field Day at Swifts Beach event
It wouldn’t be summer in Swifts Beach without the annual Swifts Beach Field Day.
In its 35th year, Field Day took place Sunday morning at the Joseph W. Conway Sr. Swifts Beach Playground, with competitions taking place for participants young and old.
“This is summer,” said Tom Pilleri, who coordinates/officiates the event. “We’ve been doing this every year for a long time.”
Pilleri said Swifts Beach residents and local businesses such as Shaws, Kool Kone, and Perry’s Last Stand all pitched in for the event, with gift certificates given to those who took first place in games such as the three-legged race, the egg toss, and the mile run for youngsters.
“Everybody has a good time,” said Pilleri, “And it’s all for the Swifts Beach Improvement Association.”
The Swifts Beach Improvement Association sponsors events and promotes initiatives for continued improvement of the beach and the neighborhood.
One of the highlights of Field Day was the egg toss, with the finalists eventually hurling the egg a distance in excess of 30 feet while attempting not to break the eggs. The winners were Michael and Colin Sweeney, a father-son duo from Foxborough.
“Soft hands and the basket catch are the key,” said Michael following the event, which they won for the second straight year.
“It’s hard to catch them without them exploding,” said Kerry Burke of Easton, who participated in the event with her son William.
Children and teenagers took part in the mile run, with Kevin McMahon winning the 14-and-over boys division and Lauren Giordano winning the 14-and-over girls division. Jack McMahon took first place among 14-and-under boys, with Serina D’Amico outrunning the 14-and-under girls. John D’Amico took second place boys 14-and-under.
“I’m proud of ‘em,” said mother Karen D’Amico, mother of both John and Serina.
Brady Petrucci, 11, of Raynham participated in several of the events.
“We look forward to it every year,” said Petrucci.
“We love it down here, and we try to be active,” added Pilleri.