Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Oct. 19, 1989, edition 1 / Page 50
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New chucking champion lo Be Crowned With the lure of more prize money and a better chance than in recent years to win the state title, an expanded Field of contestants is expected to compete in Saturday's 1989 N.C. Oyster Shucking Cham pionship. For the first time, the official state contest will have a sponsor, Jones Ford of Shallotte. "By having a sponsor, we've been able to up the prize money," said Contest Chair man Allan Dameron. Cash prizes of $100, $75, $50 and $25 will be awarded to the first four finishers respectively. Last year, awards were $50, $25 and $15 to the top three places. "I think we'll have quite a few entries this year because the prize money has increased," Dameron said. Only three shuckers competed last year. A field of at least eight competitors is expected Saturday. But perhaps more important to prospective shuckers is that for the first time in four years, the oyster shucking competition will be with out three-time stale champion and record-holder Cathy Carlisle of Boones Neck. Dameron said Ms. Carlisle will be in Leonardtown, Md., Saturday, competing in the National Oyster Shucking Championship and de fending her national women's divi sion title. She was overall national champion in 1986 and competed in the 1987 International Oyster Opening Contest in Galway, Ire 1? r BEACON Fllf PHOTi THE HANDS OF CHAMPION Cathy Carlisle (left) are a blur as she shucks her way to a new N.C. Oyster Shucking Championship record last year. Also pictured (from left) are Tara Futch and Karen McNeil. "Any lirne you have a three-year champion, it might have an effect" on the size of the field, Dameron noted. Contest officials last year at tributed the low number of entries and a lack of male competitors to Ms. Carlisle's skill with an oyster knife. Despite her absence, the defend ing champion won't be forgotten Saturday, as contest organizers hope to arrange a telephone hookup to Leonardtown around 5 p.m. to talk with Ms. Carlisle about her perfor mance earlier that day in the nation al competition, Dameron said. Then the state championship begins on the Oyster Festival stage. Competitors must shuck and ar range 24 oysters on a tray as quick ly and neatly as they can. Oysters must be whole, uncut and free from the shell and placed on an unbroken half shell on the tray. The contestants arc timed indi vidually. However, the appearance of the oysters is more important than the speed in which they are shucked, according to the contest's official rules. "The zenith of an oyster lies in the pleasure of its being eaten," the rule book points out "The impor tance of presentation is uppermost. An appetizing arrangement of a tray of shucked oysters is rewarded over a sloppy or 'butchered' offering." As a result, contest judges may add penalty seconds to a contes tant's overall time for oysters not presented in an appealing manner. They also can reward a competitor for a particularly attractive tray by cutting up to 10 seconds from his or her time. Penalties include three seconds for an oyster not completely sev ered from its shell; one second for an oyster presented on a broken shell; and three seconds for any oyster presented with blood or grit on the flesh or any cut oyster. The most severe penalty is 20 seconds for any missing oyster. In last year's championship, Ms. Carlisle accumulated the most penalties of the three shuckers, with 29 seconds added to her original time of 1:52:40. However, she still won by 17 seconds, #nd her adjust ed 2:21:40 marie shattered the record time of 2:40:27 that she set in 1987. Ms. Carlisle's absence may change the complexion of the com petition, but the return of experi enced judges will give continuity to the event, Dameron said. Again this year, chief judge is Eddie SweaU, editor and publisher of The Brunswick Beacon. Other judges are Ed Jones of Jones Ford, former shucking contest chairmen Don Evans and Alan Holden, and one other judge who had not been named by presstime. Head time keepers are Tim Gibble and Mike Bauerschmidt. Dameron said contestants may sign up for the championship until Saturday at 4 p.m., when they will gather to review contest rules. There is no entry fee. John Evans was winner of the first state championship, held at the 1981 Oyster Festival. Lloyd Mil liken out-shucked the competition and won the next two annual titles, then was dethroned as shucking king by Milton Williams in 1984. Williams successfully defended his crown the following year. Ms. Carlisle won the first of her three straight state championships in 1986. Sandwiches ? Salads ? Soups ? Desserts Beer ? 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 19, 1989, edition 1
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