Just a little mussel between them

SCOTT HAMMOND/Marlborough Express

HEADS YOU WIN: Picton's Jamie Milham won the Mussel Munch competition, a race to eat a pot of mussels and drink a beer.

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One lone mussel remaining in a pot cost Nelson's Philip "Wiggy" Winstanley the Mussel Munch title at the Havelock Mussel Festival on Saturday.

Mr Winstanley and Picton's Jamie Milham fought off competition from about 30 others who had to wolf down a pot of mussels, drink a beer, and put the cup on their head.

The final was a tie-break so the pair entered into a "mussel-off".

Cheered on by his supporters, Mr Winstanley won, but officials found a mussel in his pottle, disqualifying him and transferring the title to Mr Milham.

"I knew once I looked down and saw it in the pot, I was gone," Mr Winstanley said, who won the title about three years ago.

Mr Milham, a builder, was "stoked" to win, even if it was by default.

"I've always been able to hold my own when it comes to eating."

His trick? "Just swallow them whole."

Meanwhile, Rey "Racing Rey" Bernal, of Christchurch, won the Kono New Zealand mussel-opening competition.

Mr Bernal had entered for the last three years, but had not been placed until now.

The 30-year-old has worked full time for Pacifica Seafoods for nine years.

Mr Bernal was issued with 110 mussels, given two minutes to select the best 100 for opening, and then open them as quickly as he could. Penalties were given for damaged or missing mussels.

Mr Bernal said his technique was to hold the mussel in his left hand, and use his right hand to hold the knife and open the mussel. It was important to keep the style consistent, he said.

Winning the individual crown gave Mr Bernal the chance to break the Guinness Book of Records' world record time of 2 minutes 11 seconds to open 100 mussels.

The record was set in 2007. Mr Bernal missed out by seven seconds and said it was "very hard".

"I would have liked to do it again, I thought I had made it," he said with a laugh.

Mr Bernal said he was always the slowest shucker in his Pacifica Seafoods factory.

So what do his colleagues think of his title?

"They are pretty quiet now!"

About 5500 people attended the festival.

Many said they appreciated that the festival had not turned into a "boozy" event, and remained a relaxed family day.

Nelson couple Leigh Potton and his partner Angela Levick liked the atmosphere.

"It's a family day, it should be kept that way."

Entertainer Frankie Stevens and group The Lady Killers got the crowd dancing.

Marlborough 4 Fun chief executive officer and event organiser Katrina Lange said there were no plans to increase the number of beer or wine stalls. "It's not a drinking event, and we want to keep it that way – it's aimed as a family day."

* More pictures on page 10.

- The Marlborough Express