News
Sweden wins World Championships!
Hasse Johannesson from Sweden is the new Guinness World Oyster Opening Champion.
His time of 2:45 saw him win the competition defeating 16 international contenders.
Ireland's Micheál Kelly was positioned in a respectable 6th place.
Results as follows.
|
Country |
|
Time |
Penalties |
Total |
|
SWEDEN |
|
2.41 |
.04 |
2.45 |
|
CANADA |
|
3.15 |
-(.17) |
2.58 |
|
NORWAY |
|
3.04 |
-(.04) |
3.00 |
|
ESTONIA |
|
3.15 |
-(.14) |
3.01 |
|
IRELAND |
|
3.06 |
--- |
3.06 |
|
U.K |
|
3.24 |
-(.12) |
3.12 |
|
USA |
|
2.59 |
.15 |
3.14 |
|
BELGIUM |
|
2.43 |
.34 |
3.17 |
|
FRANCE |
|
3.06 |
.12 |
3.18 |
|
FINLAND |
|
2.52 |
.39 |
3.31 |
|
DENMARK |
|
3.30 |
.05 |
3.35 |
|
GERMANY |
|
3.09 |
.30 |
3.39 |
|
WALES |
|
3.17 |
.34 |
3.51 |
|
CZECH REP |
|
2.34 |
2.06 |
4.40 |
|
THAILAND |
|
3.55 |
.59 |
4.54 |
|
SINGNAPORE |
|
4.09 |
.46 |
4.55 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
|
3.57 |
1.17 |
5.14 |
Celebrity Oyster Opening Challenge Launches 2007 Galway International Oyster Festival.
Galway, Sept 4th 2007: Monday evening’s Celebrity Oyster Opening Challenge hosted by Galway International Oyster Festival has raised over €9,000 for charity.
Model Glenda Gilson, broadcaster Gareth O’ Callaghan, and mountain climber Ian McKeever joined Noel Grealish TD, City Channel's Jimmy Norman and journalist Gráinne McMahon in a unique competition to open oysters and raise money for charity.
The winner was Progressive Democrat TD Noel Grealish who beat off stiff competition to open 11 oysters in 60 seconds.
The celebrities were sponsored by Galway companies, ACS, Supermacs, Padraic Connolly Holdings, The Ardilaun Hotel, Harvest Off- Licence and Jaycee Printers who pledged €100 to charity for every oyster opened.
Charities benefiting from the challenge are The Alan Kerins Foundation, Cancer Care West, Cope, The Galway Hospice, The Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children,
The event marked the launch of the 53rd Galway International Oyster Festival which takes place over four fun filled days and nights from Thursday 27th September – Sunday 30th September.
Sponsored by Guinness, the highlight of the Galway International Oyster Festival is Saturday Afternoon at the Marquee which features oyster tasting and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championships. This annual competition attracts international contestants who compete for the highly sought after world title and valuable prizes. Hoping to defend his title is Galway native and current world champion Michael Moran of Moran’s of the Weir restaurant in Kilcolgan.
Fashionistas are also well catered for on Saturday afternoon with prizes of Raymond Weil watches sponsored by Raymond Weil and Faller’s Jewellers for the best dressed lady and most appropriately dressed gentleman.
Announcing the 2007 festival, Chairman Padraic O’Maille said, “This year’s Galway Oyster Festival promises a fantastic line up of events from the exciting Mardi Gras on Friday night to Saturday’s street parade and glamorous black tie ball. In particular, Saturday afternoon with oyster opening and best dressed competitions is not to be missed. Whether it’s your first time to visit or you are a dedicated regular, this unique festival has something for everyone.”
Oyster Pearl to be Selected on Thursday 13th September
Monday 4th September saw the presentation of the 16 contestants in the 2007 Galway International Oyster Festival Competition. Running since 1954; this competition has a long standing tradition and has included Kathleen Watkins (1961) and TG4’s Loretta Ni Ghabhann (2003) among its former pearls. The 2007 Oyster Pearl will be selected from all the entrants at a glittering gala banquet hosted by well-known RTE personality Mr Marty Whelan in the Ardilaun Hotel on Thursday 13th September.
The contestants are as follows:
Norway Again!
Norway were celebrating on last Oyster Festival as they won the World Oyster Opening Championships for the second year in a row. Øystein Reinsborg was the winner after one of the most competitve championships ever. Despite having only the third fastest time, Leinstargs excellent presentation ensured first spot.
|
|
|
Time |
Penalty |
Total |
|
1 |
Øystein Reinsborg - Norway |
2.43 |
-.08 |
2.35 |
|
2 |
Bernard Gothier - France |
2.29 |
14 |
2.43 |
|
3 |
Michael Moran - Ireland |
2.59 |
-.07 |
2.52 |
|
4 |
Johann Schlag - Finland |
3.16 |
-.10 |
3.06 |
|
5 |
Michael Le Coeur - Italy |
3.20 |
-.13 |
3.07 |
|
6 |
Karsten Bonde - Denmark |
3.02 |
.07 |
3.09 |
|
7 |
Urs Muller - Germany |
3.04 |
.09 |
3.13 |
|
8 |
John Bil - Canada |
3.17 |
.09 |
3.26 |
|
9 |
Sam Tamsanguan - UK |
3.06 |
.20 |
3.26 |
|
10 |
Hans Johannesson - Sweden |
2.48 |
.38 |
3.26 |
|
11 |
Xavier Caille - Belgium |
2.41 |
.49 |
3.30 |
|
12 |
Scott Stiles - USA |
3.24 |
.06 |
3.30 |
|
13 |
Vaclav Fric - Czech Republic |
3.21 |
.93 |
3.34 |
|
14 |
Robert Graham - Nth Ireland |
3.22 |
1.35 |
4.57 |
Winner - Norway
Best Presentation - Ireland
Fastest Time - France
Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championships
Michael Moran of Clarinbridge was crowned the winner of the Irish Oyster Opening Championship at a tightly contested final in the Quays Bar on Thursday 22nd September 2005. Moran won the title just beating off Micheal Kelly of Michael Kelly Fisheries and then went on to claim third place in the World Championships held on Saturday 24th September 2005.
Lions Captain keeps us guessing
When Guest of Honour and Lions Captain greeted the audience with a "Bonjour", he instantly captured our attention as we waited with bated breath to see if he would make any announcement in relation to his rumoured move to play rugby in France. However despite a number of references to France, we still will have to wait for confirmation as the speculation increases. O'Driscoll and his girlfriend Glenda Gilson partied through the night, joining 700 other revellers in the Radisson SAS Hotel for the Oyster Festival Banquet