Australian Oyster Shucking Championships

The race that stops the festival!

Australian Oyster Shucking Champions, Sue McIntyre (Broadwater Oysters, Pambula Lake) and Gerard Doody Dennis.

Shell grit? Penalty! A cut in the oyster? Penalty! Blood? Disqualification!

Australian Oyster Shucking Championships is one of the most unique races you will ever experience and it’s not just the Australian titles at stake, the winner is invited to compete at the World Oyster Opening Championships in Ireland in September!

Shuckers must be both fast AND tidy in their presentation. Oysters must be presented in the bottom shell, flipped and with the adductor cut. Once the shuckers open all their oysters and the clocks are stopped, judges take a closer look. Time penalties are added if the oyster isn’t sitting neatly in the shell, hasn’t been flipped or has shell grit inside the shell.

In 2023 we introduced the John Susman Medal, an honour presented to Australia’s Oyster Shucking Champion and a recognition of John’s longstanding support of the festival. One of Australia’s most eminent seafood authorities, Chair of Judges for the Sydney Royal Aquaculture Competition and all round legend, John’s lively commentary during the Championships is surpassed only by his contribution to our Ultimate Oyster Experiences.

This event is proudly supported by Australia’s Oyster Coast, Australia’s largest producer of Sydney Rock Oysters.

See the competition rules here.

2025

Narooma Rocks Competition Official: Cath Peachey.

Hosts: John Susman (Chair of Judges Sydney Royal Aquaculture Competition) and Al Brown (Depot Eatery, NZ).

Judges: Simon Marnie (Food journalist) & Corey Costelloe (20Chapel)

Timekeepers: Joe Zappia (Sydney City Oysters), James White (Olsson’s Salt) and Jules Crocker (Joto Fresh Fish).

3.30pm: Women’s Competition

4pm: Men’s Competition

5pm: The John Susman Medal presented to the overall winner, who becomes the Australian 2025 World Championship contender.

Champion Shucker Sally McLean raises her hands in victory after shucking her 30 oysters to win?
Sally McLean of Jim Wild's Oysters

2025

2025 Men's and overall Australian Oyster Shucking Champion Greg Carton, with Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mat Hatcher, Narooma Rocks Chair Cath Peachey and Women's Australian Oyster Shucking Shucking Champion Sally McLean.

Winner of the John Susman Medal

Greg Carton, of Broadwater Oysters, Pambula Lake, took overall champion on the day with a time of 2 minutes 52, and a ‘perfect plate’ – no penalties!

Women's Competition

PrizeNameRepresentingTime
GoldSally McLeanJim Wild's Oysters3:32
SilverSue McIntyreBroadwater Oysters3:34
BronzeJade NorrisOyster Shed on Wray3:40

Men's Competition

PrizeNameRepresentingTime
GoldGreg CartonBroadwater Oysters2:52
SilverJim YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters3:08
BronzeDoody3:12

2024

Australian Oyster Shucking Champions, Sue McIntyre (Broadwater Oysters, Pambula Lake) and Gerard Doody Dennis.

Men's Competition

PrizeNameRepresentingTime
GoldGerard Doody DennisIndependent2:49
SilverGraeme RushPinnacle Oysters3:00
BronzeGreg CartonBroadwater3:16

Women's Competition

PrizeNameRepresentingTime
GoldSue McIntyreBroadwater Oysters, Sapphire Coast3:20
SilverSally McLeanJim Wild's Oysters3:24
BronzeJade NorrisThe Farm gate on Wray Street4:01

2023

Men's Competition

A group of men stand on stage surrounding Gerard Denis, winner of the 2023 Shucking Competition and inaugural winner of the John Susman trophy
2023: Australian Champion and inaugural winner of the John Susman Medal Gerard Doody Denis celebrated his win with medalists Jim Yiannaros (Batemans bay Oysters) and Greg Carton (Broadwater Oysters) and supporters.
1Gerard ‘Doody’ DennisIndependantEurobodalla2:41
2Jim YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters, Clyde RiverEurobodalla2:54
3Greg CartonBroadwater Oysters, Pambula LakeSapphire Coast3:00
4Jim WildJim Wild’s Oysters, Greenwell PointShoalhaven3:07

Women's Competition

5 people stand together, the woman in the middle is holding a huge trophy and is flanked by two women wearing medals.
1Sally McLeanJim Wild’s Oysters, Greenwell PointShoalhaven2:54
2Sue McIntyre Broadwater Oysters, Pambula LakeSapphire Coast3:13
3Jade Norris Farm Gate on Wray Street, Clyde RiverEurobodalla3:48

2022

Men's Competition

3 men stand on a stage, each has a medal around their necks and the middle man is holding his young granddaughter.
John, Jim and Doody in 2022.
1Jim YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters, Clyde RiverEurobodalla2:390
2Gerard ‘Doody’ DennisIndependantEurobodalla2:391
3John YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters, Clyde RiverEurobodalla2:43

Women's Competition

Pip Boyton of The Oyster Barn and Australia's Oyster Coast, Sue McIntyre of Broadwater Oysters, Sally Mclean of Jim Wild's Oysters, Jade Norris of The Farm Gate on Wray Street and Vlasia Yianarros of Oysters Unplugged.
1Sally McLeanJim Wild’s Oysters, Greenwell PointShoalhaven3:04
2Sue McIntyre Broadwater Oysters, Pambula LakeSapphire Coast3:32
3Jade Norris Farm Gate on Wray Street, Clyde RiverEurobodalla3:33

2020

Men's Competition

Two men are stading by a bench of shucked oysters. They are emb racing and congratulating each other on a good race.
Jim and Doody in 2021.
1Gerard ‘Doody’ DennisAustralia’s Oyster CoastEurobodalla
2John YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters, Clyde RiverEurobodalla
3Jim YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters, Clyde RiverEurobodalla

Women's Competition

Three women in a race to shuck oysters. The woman in the middle has finished and raised her hands in victory.
Sue, Pip and Sally in the 2021 final.
1Sally McLeanJim Wild’s Oysters, Greenwell PointShoalhaven
2Sue McIntyreBroadwater Oysters, Pambula LakeSapphire Coast
3Pippa BoytonMerimbula Gourmet Oysters & The Oyster Barn, Merimbula LakeSapphire Coast

2019

Men's Competition

2019 Oyster farmers Greg Carton, John Yiannaros and Gerard Doody Dennis celebrate their win.
Greg, John and Doody in 2019.
1John YiannarosBatemans Bay Oysters, Clyde RiverEurobodalla
2Greg CartonBroadwater Oysters, Pambula LakeSapphire Coast
3Gerard ‘Doody’ DennisAustralia’s Oyster CoastEurobodalla

Women's Competition

2019 Three women stand, each has a medal and the woman in the middle has a shield. They are Sally McLean, Sue McIntyre and Jade Norris
Sally, Sue and Jade in 2019.
1Sue McIntyreBroadwater Oysters, Pambula LakeSapphire Coast
2Jade NorrisFarm Gate on Wray StreetEurobodalla
3Sally McLeanJim Wild’s Oysters, Greenwell PointShoalhaven

Proudly supported by Australia's Oyster Coast

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