Mussel fan rues one that got away

STUFFED MUSSELS: Philip 'Wiggy' Winstanley takes part in the Mussel Munch contest.

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

Mr Winstanley and Picton's Jamie Milham fought off competition from about 30 others who raced to 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 remaining 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.

The 30-year-old, who has worked fulltime for Pacifica Seafoods for nine years, was issued with 110 mussels, given two minutes to select the best 100 for opening, and then open them as fast as he could.

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 set by Havelock's Kannah Keo in 2007.

Mr Bernal missed out by seven seconds and said it was "very hard".

The festival attracted 5500 people.

Nelson couple Leigh Potton and his partner Angela Levick said they were pleased the festival was not a boozy occasion. "It's a family day, it should be kept that way."

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

Event organiser Katrina Lange agreed it was a good family atmosphere.

- © Fairfax NZ News