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Photo: Supplied \/ Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group\n<\/p>\n
A Dunedin family has swept the podium at the annual Cherry Pit-Spit Championship in Cromwell.<\/p>\n
The Collins family dominated multiple categories at the quirky Central Otago event on Sunday, which challenges entrants to hoick a cherry stone as far as possible.<\/p>\n
Aaron Collins launched a cherry pit 10.47 metres to take out first place in the men’s category.<\/p>\n
His sister, Hannah Collins, placed second in the women’s event, while his children, Emma and Daniel, also finished on the podium.<\/p>\n
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\nAaron Collins launched a cherry pit 10.47 metres to take out first place in the men’s category.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group\n<\/p>\n
The women’s winner was Laure Vaneilhan, from France, who has just arrived for the cherry-picking season and delivered an 7.93m spit.<\/p>\n
Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group marketing and communications manager Tanya Dennis said hundreds of people either lined up at the mat, or came along to watch on what she described as a “perfect”, sunny Central Otago day.<\/p>\n
“We had people coming from England, we had people from Japan, we had people from Germany and America – these were people that were just curious. They were visiting the region … and then came along to the event. So it was a real cross section, and of course, we had locals and regional visitors as well,” she said.<\/p>\n
The event has been running since 2006 and offers plenty of entertainment for spectators, Dennis said.<\/p>\n
“Some of the competitors make real light of it, and some get very serious. We’ve got some die hard followers of the event.”<\/p>\n
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\nEven kids get involved in the competition.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group\n<\/p>\n
The record belongs to Dunedinite Tui Smith, who fired a pit nearly 16m in 2023.<\/p>\n
The world record for cherry pit-spitting is 28.5m, set in Michigan in 2004.<\/p>\n
Cherries for this year’s National Cherry Spit Championship were provided by Jackson Orchards in Cromwell, and the day also featured a best-dressed competition and lawn games.<\/p>\n
“Anyone can give it a go and the, you know, bragging rights is, of course, the big thing. It’s open to all age groups … and it’s a good day all round,” Dennis said.<\/p>\n