Select local dignitaries acted as guinea pigs of sorts this week as Rural Hill opened its Amazing Maize Maze for the first time, sending scores of people through it for the maiden march.

The maze took more than two months to construct and features the figures of a bicyclist, swimmer and a runner.

Of the teams that competed, Huntersville Park and Recreation Department completed the maze in a blistering 28 minutes. Visit Lake Norman’s team finished in second with one hour and three minutes and the Herald Weekly, working with Huntersville Connection, finished the maze third in one hour and five minutes.

Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, will open the course to the public on Saturday, Sept. 3. For more information on the Amazing Maize Maze visit www.ruralhill.net.