Thousands of oyster lovers converged on the port of Bluff on Saturday for the 2016 Bluff Oyster and Food Festival.
The popular annual oyster festival was a sellout, attracting a crowd of 5300 from throughout New Zealand and overseas.
Festival chairman John Edminston was very happy with the success of the day.
"We expected about 5000, based on last year, and we got that. All and all it was very good -and the weather was very helpful,'' he said.
The 20,000 Bluff oysters were the star attraction, but festival-goers also delighted in tasting a variety of other seafood delicacies on offer.
The Bluff Welcome Home Titi Committee won the award for the best food stall with their stuffed, roasted or salted muttonbird, muttonbird heart stew, curried crayfish and marinated mussels.
The popular oyster opening and oyster eating competitions drew large crowds.
Shane Wixon, of Ngai Tahu Fisheries, shucked 50 oysters in 2min 30sec but two penalties, adding eight seconds to his time, put him in a tie for first place with Ricci Grant, of Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters, forcing a head-to-head final, which Mr Wixon won, shucking 20 oysters in 56sec, ahead of Mr Grant's 1min 4sec.
Victoria Pearsey, of Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters, won her sixth straight women's title, opening 50 oysters in 3min 19sec.
Cory Boyce, of Direct Fish and Oyster, won the blindfold race, opening 10 oysters in 41sec.
He and his team-mates from Direct Fish won the relay race.
Michelle Wilson, of Blenheim, won the overall and ladies oyster eating competitions.
Daryl MacDonald, also of Blenheim, won the men's title.
Tickets for next year's festival, scheduled for Saturday, May 20, are now on sale.
- Petrina Wright
