Oyster Festival Another Good Show

27 May 2012

Oyster Festival Another Good Show

Crowds flocked to Bluff in their thousands on Saturday as the seaside town hosted the 2012 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival.

Large numbers gathered early, and once the gates opened the festival site was soon full to near capacity. The delicious array of seafood, including the iconic Bluff Oyster, proved irresistible to festival goers while both the entertainment stage and the unique oyster events attracted large audiences.

Festival Chairman, John Edminstin was rapt with the day. "The Bluff community has put on a good show again," he said.

Keith Lovett of Bluff took his ninth Oyster Opening title when he defeated one of the strongest entries ever assembled in the Men's Section. However his time of 2 minutes 52 seconds was slower than his record time from last year of 2 minutes 24 seconds. In the Women's Section Vic Pearsey made it three in a row when she opened her 50 Bluff Oysters in 3 minutes 25 seconds. Shane Wixon won the Blindfold race while Direct Fish & Oysters took the honours in the Factory Relay race.

In a special challenge Lovett, the Bluff Champion, met Ben Warren, the Russell Oyster Festival Champion, in a repeat of their meeting at the Russell Oyster Festival last year. The pair had 24 Bluff Oysters and 24 Pacific Oysters to open and, as he did at the Russell event, Lovett came out on top to retain his title of New Zealand Oyster Opening Champion. Warren was slightly ahead after he opened his Pacific Oysters before Lovett forged back in front on the Bluff Oysters.

The Kayes Bakery Supreme Creativity Award was won by the Secondary School Section winner, Daria Ryan of Southland Girls High School, after she was judged the best from all the section winners in both the Oyster Sack Fashion and Foveaux Fantasy competitions. Daria won the Secondary Section of the Foveaux Fantasy while Tania Sutton won the Adult Section and Anna Robertshawe the Primary Section. Last years Oyster Sack Fashion Adult Section winner Jane McKenzie of Bluff was first equal with Anne Shuttleworth in that section this year.

Moses Hurinui of Mahia won the Mens Oyster Eating title while a Southlander, Natalie Conner of Invercargill, won the Womens Title. Mike Lee of The Erin Simpson Show was the best of the celebrities.

The Curly Tree Whitebait Stall from Haast won the Best Stall Trophy from second placed Stewart Island Promotions with Barnes Oysters and Stellas In Bluff third and fourth respectively.

RESULTS

OYSTER OPENING COMPETITION

Men's Open Section
1st: Keith Lovett (Direct Oysters) 2minutes 52 seconds
2nd: Dylan Topi (Direct Oysters) 2 minutes 57 seconds
3rd: Clive Westwood (Barnes Oysters) 2 minutes 58 seconds

Women's Open Section
1st: Vic Pearsey (Barnes Oysters) 3 minutes 25 seconds
2nd: Raewyn Rautahe (Barnes Oysters) 4 minutes 18 seconds
3rd: Herepaenga Witehira (Barnes Oysters) 4 minutes 32 seconds

Blindfold Race
1st: Shane Wixon (Ngai Tahu) 51 seconds
2nd: Keith Dawson (Direct Oysters) 56.5 seconds
3rd: Keith Lovett (Direct Oysters) 61.1 seconds

Factory Relay
1st: Direct Oysters

Challenge Race
1st: Keith Lovett
2nd: Ben Warren

Kayes Bakery Creativity Awards

Supreme Award 2012
Daria Ryan (Southland Girls High School) - Muttonbird

Oyster Sack Fashion Adult Section
1st equal: Jane McKenzie / Anne Shuttleworth
Highly Commended: Jo Ratana

Foveaux Fantasy Adult Section
1st: Tania Sutton
2nd: Maryanne Christie
Highly Commended: Lusia Kuresa

Foveaux Fantasy Secondary Section
1st: Daria Ryan
2nd: Andi Telfer
Highly Commended: Sarsha Hutchinson / India Perrie

Foveaux Fantasy Primary Section
1st: Anna Robertshawe - Scallop
2nd equal: Victoria Ashwell - Mermaid
2nd equal: Zarah Grace Roderique - Sea Horse
Highly Commended: Tarryn Black - Whale / St Teresa's School Room 1 Te Waka

OYSTER EATING COMPETITION

Celebrity Race Winner - Mike Lee - The Erin Simpson Show
Men's - Moses Hurinui - Mahia
Women's - Natalie Conner - Invercargill

ENDS

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