The Bluff Oyster & Food Festival is back and it is just as popular as ever.

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After an enforced break last year due to alert level restrictions, showery weather did not deter the crowd as the queue stretched around the block waiting for the gates to open at 10.30am.

Crowds gather at this year's Bluff Oyster Festival. Photo: Salina Henry

When they did, the race was on to get a good spot.

Thirty minutes later the Bluff Oyster was piped onto the main stage, the Ode To The Oyster was recited, Festival Chairman John Edminstin welcomed one and all, and the festivities were underway.

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Later Edminstin said, “it’s a good crowd, a crowd that are very well behaved. Things are going well.” He thanked the public for their support and the travellers for making their way to Bluff. He also had a special word for the volunteers and their efforts in putting the Festival together.   

Champion ladies oyster opener Vic Pearsey accepts her title at this years Bluff Oyster Festival. Photo: Salina Henry

The iconic Oyster events attracted a big crowd and they witnessed history as Bluff woman Vic Pearsey of Barnes Oysters made it ten titles in a row when she won the Ladies Opening race with a time of 2 minutes 59.42 seconds. Pearsey had to wait two years for the opportunity to go for number ten after last year’s cancellation. She then went into a first-ever shootout with the winner of the Men’s race, Ricci Grant, also from Barnes Oysters. Grant who had also won the Men’s title in 2019 took the victory but it was close, his time, 2 minutes 36 seconds while Pearsey took 2 minutes 51 seconds.

Men's Champion Oyster opener Ricci Grant accepting his prize. Photo: Salina Henry

Pearsey said she was “absolutely rapt” with the tenth title. “The oysters were pretty firm and the knife was a bit bendy, but there were no cuts (cut oysters draw a penalty in the event).” The clash against Grant had been “a lot of fun and at the end of the day that is what it is all about.” Before the event Pearsey said this would be her last. “It is time for someone else to have a go,” she said. “I will come back and enter the relay with the boys but that’s all,” she said after her achievement.

Staff and stall holders were kept busy. Photo: Salina Henry

Grant admitted he had been “a bit nervous.” “Vic wanted to take the men on and I was the one. I take my hat off to her,” he said. Grant cut part of his thumb off opening oysters four years ago and I never thought I would open oysters again. “It is a tribute to my surgeon.”

A first-time visitor to the Festival, Matiu Ferris of Porongahau in Central Hawkes Bay won the Oyster Eating Competition saying he would like to return and defend the title next year.

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Mike Lane of Radio Hauraki won the Wasabe Chilli Challenge.

Meanwhile around the rest of the venue the crowd enjoyed Bluff Oysters, other great southern seafood and other foods, a range of beverages and an entertainment programme featuring the Bluff School Kapa Haka Group, the Dunedin based Julian Temple Band, 11-piece Christchurch band Capitol City, a Polynesian Dance Off, local group The Freshies and another appearance by Capitol City with plenty of giveaways and prizes interspersed throughout the day