One of the highlights of the Narooma Oyster Festival on Saturday was the judging of the Biggest Oyster hosted by TV personality Paul West and overseen by Narooma veterinarian Kate Le Bars.
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Paul West explained to everyone that there was a set of criteria the big oysters needed to meet before they were judged on size, the first being that they were alive.
Dr Kate happily checked all the entrants - stethoscope to shell for signs of life after which the oysters were checked to see that their shell was closed and that they passed 'the sniff test'.
Oysters were also checked for hangers-on that might skew results.
First entrant to come on stage was oyster farmer Sally McLean from Shoalhaven with her large Pacific oyster called 'Little Jim'. Little Jim passed his vet check and weighed in at 1.32kg measuring 21cm in length.
Clyde River oyster farmer Kirk Hargreaves was next on stage with his six to seven-year-old oyster 'Uncle Ray' weighing 2.33kg and measuring 26cm.
When host Paul West asked Kirk what his secret was to growing big oysters, Kirk said he wasn't giving anything away.
Next on the stage was Bateman's Bay oyster farmer Vlasia Yiannaros with two large Pacific Oysters. First to weigh in was 'Stick' weighing 1.26kg and measuring 30cm in length and was by far the longest oyster on the day.
The second oyster was eight-year-old 'Georgie' weighing 1.89kg and measuring 25cm.
Last entry on the stage was former winner 'Jack' owned by Clyde River oyster farmer Bernie Connell
Jack has been a previous winner of the Biggest Oyster competition and unsuccessfully attempted for a Guinness World Record in 2018.
"Jack is back," Paul West said as Jack was weighed in at a massive 2.71kg becoming the winner of the Narooma Oyster Festival Biggest Oyster competition for 2021.
