Competitors from around the globe have battled it out in competitions at the Galway International Oyster Festival in Ireland.
Narooma Oyster Festival’s Australian Shucking Champion, Gerard ‘Doody’ Dennis from Batemans Bay, represented Australia at the World Oyster Opening Championships over the weekend.
Dennis didn’t come away with the win, finishing midfield, with a fellow from the UK defeating Irish Champion Steve Nowland to claim victory.
“He (Dennis) did an amazing job, it was a huge crowd, he was opening the European Flat Oyster, the first time get ever tried that was the day before, it’s a very different beast,” Chair of Narooma Rocks (the organisation behind the Narooma Oyster Festival), Cathy Peachy told East Coast Radio.
“He did us proud and represented Australia really well,” Ms Peachy continued.
Doody became the first Indigenous Australian to compete, and is a proud Gamilaroi/Kamilaroi Man from Walgett, living on Yuin Country at Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.
“Congratulations to the UK, it wasn’t our turn but Gerard has learnt so much from participating in this event and I know he’s going to be back,” Ms Peachy said.
Ms Peachy, who travelled to Galway for the festival, also took time to speak to the organisers of the World Cup about bringing the event to the NSW South Coast.
“They’re very excited at the prospect of doing that,” Ms Peachy said.
“So now, Narooma Rocks will go away and figure out how we might be able to combine a world cup with the Narooma Oyster Festival in coming years,” she said.
“So all up, it’s been a great weekend in Galway, congratulations to Gerard ‘Doody’ Dennis again, he did us proud and now we’re looking forward to getting home.”
Images: Narooma Oyster Festival
