![Gerard Doody Dennis won Australia's oyster shucking competition at Narooma Oyster Festival. Pictured here with celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge, competition MC John Susman, with judges Simon Marnie (red shirt) and Martin Bosley and 3rd place-getter Greg Carton. Picture by Marion Williams. Gerard Doody Dennis won Australia's oyster shucking competition at Narooma Oyster Festival. Pictured here with celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge, competition MC John Susman, with judges Simon Marnie (red shirt) and Martin Bosley and 3rd place-getter Greg Carton. Picture by Marion Williams.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/08753e36-9545-45fa-906f-42edab4bac6c.jpeg/r0_45_4032_2106_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It was a bittersweet moment for Gerard Doody Dennis when he won Australia's oyster shucking competition at Narooma Oyster Festival.
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After three heats, four shucking pros made it to the final.
Jim Yiannaros of Batemans Bay Oysters, Greg Carton of Pambula Lake's Broadwater Oysters, Jim Wild of Jim Wild's Oysters in Shoalhaven and Doody, also from Batemans Bay, had the crowded marquee on the edge of their seats as they shucked their way through oysters that are specifically grown for the competition.
It was a dead-heat between Jim and Doody.
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![From left Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mat Hatcher, shucking judge Simon Marnie, comp commentator Colin Fassnidge, second place-getter Jim Yiannaros, Australia's 2023 oyster shucking champion Gerard Doody Dennis, third place getter Greg Carton, shucking judge Martin Bosley and competition MC John Susman. Picture by Marion Williams. From left Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mat Hatcher, shucking judge Simon Marnie, comp commentator Colin Fassnidge, second place-getter Jim Yiannaros, Australia's 2023 oyster shucking champion Gerard Doody Dennis, third place getter Greg Carton, shucking judge Martin Bosley and competition MC John Susman. Picture by Marion Williams.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/5269e4d5-661a-43fb-a91b-4c08cab0504f.jpeg/r0_376_4032_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
For the first time in its history, Narooma Oyster Festival had a shuck-off.
Unbelievably, it was again a tie, with both men finishing with a time of 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
It came down to the presentation and cleanliness.
It was a real nail-biter as the audience and shuckers awaited the judgment of ABC radio presenter Simon Marnie and award-winning chef, author and fishmonger Martin 'Bos' Bosley from New Zealand.
Festival chair Cath Peachey said two of Jim's oysters had grit and there was a nick in the flesh of another, which gave him a final score of 2:54 against Doody's 2.49.
![It was a special moment for Gerard Doody Dennis and Jim Yiannaros, the man who taught Doody to open oysters and who represented Australia at the world championship in Galway in September 2022. Picture by Marion Williams. It was a special moment for Gerard Doody Dennis and Jim Yiannaros, the man who taught Doody to open oysters and who represented Australia at the world championship in Galway in September 2022. Picture by Marion Williams.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/c26c0483-69a8-4f19-a597-38396d798e40.jpeg/r564_851_3790_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Originally from Walgett, Doody moved to Batemans Bay 22 years ago.
It was a two-week work experience with Terry Lucas of T & J Lucas Oysters that shucked him into the industry.
Doody went on to do an apprenticeship with C & J Single Seed Oysters where he learnt a lot
The next step was with Jim and John Yiannaros.
It was Jim who taught him to open oysters.
![Narooma Rocks chair Cath Peachey watches on as judges Simon Marnie and Martin Bosley examine the shucked oysters for any flaws in presentation and cleanliness. Picture by Marion Williams. Narooma Rocks chair Cath Peachey watches on as judges Simon Marnie and Martin Bosley examine the shucked oysters for any flaws in presentation and cleanliness. Picture by Marion Williams.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/7c7bf293-eecd-41d0-82ce-2f535d425785.jpeg/r0_161_4032_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"I am a very competitive man," Doody said.
He challenged Jim to a race to open 10 dozen oysters.
It took Jim 13 minutes and 30 seconds while Doody's time was 15 minutes.
He refined his technique to get his time down to just over 12 minutes.
![Jim Yiannaros of Batemans Bay Oysters won the oyster shucking competition at Narooma Oyster Festival last year and trained this year's winner Gerard Doody Dennis. Picture by Marion Williams. Jim Yiannaros of Batemans Bay Oysters won the oyster shucking competition at Narooma Oyster Festival last year and trained this year's winner Gerard Doody Dennis. Picture by Marion Williams.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/43a25e67-61ec-4185-ad1b-9474e7f747b4.jpeg/r0_376_4032_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"That was when Jim said you need to compete."
On Saturday he was overwhelmed that he beat the man who taught him and who represented Australia at the world's oyster shucking championship in Galway last year.
"My heart goes out to Jim. He loves the industry and the atmosphere of the festival," he said on Saturday, May 6, in the minutes immediately following the judges' result.
![The champion oyster shuckers at Narooma Oyster Festival 2023 - Gerard Doody Dennis with a final score of 2.49 and female champion Sally McLean of Wild's Oysters with a score of score of 2.54. Picture by Marion Williams The champion oyster shuckers at Narooma Oyster Festival 2023 - Gerard Doody Dennis with a final score of 2.49 and female champion Sally McLean of Wild's Oysters with a score of score of 2.54. Picture by Marion Williams](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/63ee1291-859b-45fa-8eee-83078ec038bb.jpeg/r977_0_4032_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
He is looking forward to the trip to Ireland in September.
"It is surreal to think a young man from Walgett where oysters don't grow is representing Australia in oyster opening," Doody said.
"Jimbo is going to be my coach and I will be chasing money and sponsorships to get there."
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