Putz’s Ultimate Sports Challenge winner Gerry Robillard, Jr., of Westfield, second from right, and his father, Gerry Robillard, Sr., center, display Gerry Jr.’s grand-prize, flat-screen TV, alongside The Westfield News publisher Patrick Berry, left, circulation manager Melissa Hartman, second from left, and sports editor Chris Putz, far right.
WESTFIELD – The bad news for Gerry Robillard, Jr., when it came to playing Putz’s Ultimate Sports Challenge this past year: a home project sidetracked Robillard from playing out the entire competition to completion.
The good news: Robillard managed to mail out a winning entry for the Kentucky Derby on May 5.
Robillard correctly chose Justify, and in doing so qualified for our grand prize flat-screen television. This week, in a random drawing conducted by our publisher, Patrick Berry, Robillard was selected as our grand prize winner.
On Thursday, Robillard accepted the flat-screen TV, alongside his father, Gerry Robillard, Sr.
“I think it’s something fun to do,” Robillard, Jr., said. “I like that it’s competitive, and instead of just reading the paper it is a way to interact.”
Robillard, Jr., who has been playing “Putz’s Ultimate Sports Challenge” and “Beat The Putz” since the contest’s infancy, finished second in the points race in the Ultimate Challenge in 2017 when the top points-getter took home the prize. (The contest rules were tweaked this year to allow participants to jump in and out of the contest at will without having to worry about losing points. Six entrant winners were eligible for the grand prize. I somehow managed to remain unbeaten in seven of the 13 events.)
Although Robillard galloped out of our office with his grand prize thanks to his horse racing prognostication, the Westfield native admitted NASCAR and football as his two favorite sports.
Pro football fans will have even more to cheer about.
Our “Beat The Putz” pro football contest returns bigger and better than ever with more prizes.
While the rules remain the same, there will be three grand prizes up for grabs – a Super Bowl spread courtesy of North Elm Butcher Block (first place), a charcoal grill from Manny’s (second place), and a $50 gift certificate to International Food Market.
To qualify for one of these three end-of-season prizes, contestants must beat sports editor Chris Putz’s weekly record and finish first among all entrants for that respective week.
Each weekly winner will receive a gift certificate to The Tavern.
Contest forms will be available weekly in The PennySaver and The Westfield News. Look for Putz’s picks in the Saturday editions of The Westfield News (beginning Sept. 8). Each weekly winner will be announced by in The Westfield News the following week.
