It's all about shuck or be shucked! Think you can tackle this decadent hermaphroditic mollusc and open an oyster in 4.5 seconds? Eleki Ngcwangu did it in 2006, shucking 30 oysters in 2.27 minutes becoming the new SA Oyster Shucking Champion!

The competition is held at the Knysna Oyster Company each year, and is one of the most popular events during the Pick 'n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival — the longest running festival in South Africa.

Apparently even Idols' judge, Gareth Cliff won in his category last year...

The 3rd National Shucking Competition will once again be held at the Knysna Oyster Company on Thesen's Island on 8 July 2008 from 7pm. Anyone over the age of 18 can compete and entry is free of charge. The event is a fun filled evening for the whole family.

'Scars to prove it'

Event co-ordinator, Hilmar Venter says: "Not a single person has ever escaped scot-free after shucking an Oyster. I have the scars to prove it."

"Competitors need to be built for speed, demonstrating precision and dexterity with the oyster knife while presenting both oyster and shucker intact in an upright position with all digits accounted for."

Heats take place in teams of fours, each given 10 cultivated oysters. The first person to open all 10 successfully will go through to the next heat until there are four main contenders in the final round.

In the finals, the four brave hearts each receive 30 oysters to open. During this heat, time is not the only factor but also presentation — well-opened oysters without flaws, the oyster muscle intact, no cuts, slices or wounds and orderly, neat appearance of all concerned. Penalties will be awarded for unopened oysters, damaged shells and non-adherence to competition criteria.

The ultimate deciding factor for the judges is how attractive the tray of opened oysters would look for a potential customer in a hotel or restaurant.

First prize is an all inclusive weekend for two sponsored by the Knysna Oyster Company and The House of JC Le Roux. This fantastic prize includes return transfers to the Stellenbosch Winelands, accommodation in Stellenbosch with an exclusive tour, tasting and lunch at the JC Le Roux Cellars.

Knysna Oyster Company, owned by Vernon Rice, was the first sponsor of the Knysna Winter Festival, 25 years ago, which then became known as the Knysna Oyster Festival. The Oyster Company has played a pivotal role in the success of the Oyster Festival with an estimated 2.25 million cultivated oysters supplied over a quarter of a century with a percentage of oyster sales going towards various local charities.

Last year, proceeds went to the Diepwalle Crèche and Magdalentjies Playgroup via the Knysna Education Trust sponsoring children from impoverished backgrounds for one year’s education. Proceeds will go to the Knysna Education Trust again this year.