If you are going to spit cherries, best the wind does not change.
Because if your face gets locked in its prime cherry-spitting expression for the rest of your life, you might not be looking pretty.
Pulling a silly face is just a part of most people's technique at the New Zealand Cherry Stone Spitting Championships, which were contested in Cromwell yesterday.
The competition has been running in the town since it was first considered in 2006. Yesterday, about 100 people took part.
Entrant John Mann, of Christchurch, had expected to do well, but suspected his form was compromised by a ''rotten cherry''.
''I could not get all the flesh off it - there was too much drag. I think practice is the key.''
Mike Benny, of North Canterbury, called it a new experience.
''Normally I just swallow them.''
Returning entrant Heike Reintjes, was happy with her spit of 7.62m, but she had bettered 8m before.
She was hoping for a good result, boasting a track record to back up her hopes - she had won the event three times.
Reigning champions in their categories and father-son duo, Mike Wardill and son Bob (14) were back to defend their titles.
Although Mr Wardill could not retain the title, beaten by Nathanael Napier of Oamaru, with an 11.6m spit, Bob retained the junior male title, spitting 8.83m.
Ms Reintjes' previous experience paid off, when she won the female category.
Organiser Terry Emmitt said although numbers were slightly lower than last year, he was happy with the event.
The competition would also be held as a demonstration at the New Zealand rural games in Queenstown on Waitangi weekend, he said. Other activities during the day included a hands-free cherry pie-eating competition.
