A 22-year-old biology undergraduate from Dunbeg, near Oban in Argyll is heading for Ireland this weekend to take part in the Bollinger World Oyster Opening Championships.
Date:
Wed, 21 Sep 2011
Source:
Seafood Scotland
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Angus Vajk, son of oyster farmers Hugo and Judith Vajk of Caledonian Oysters, won the Loch Fyne Scottish Oyster Opening Championships in Glasgow last month, beating a dozen other competitors - including his father!
He will now compete with world's best at the prestigious championships in Galway on 24th September.
"I have been opening oysters since before I could walk," he quipped, as he accepted a prize plate from Virginia Sumsion, marketing and events director of Loch Fyne Oysters.
"I am thrilled to have won, and excited about going to the World Championships, but it will be daunting being up against so many experts. I will be putting in a lot of speed practice this week."
Part of his prize was a trip to Galway to enjoy the annual international oyster and seafood festival, but Angus had to wait for the organisers of the world competition to confirm that his opening time of 4 minutes 5 seconds for 30 oysters was good enough to allow him to compete.
"Angus was a worthy winner and we are delighted to sponsor his entry in the worlds," said Virginia Sumsion. "We hope he will do well and bring the cup back home."
Seafood Scotland, which helped to organise the Scottish competition at the recent Glasgow Riverside Festival, also wishes Angus the very best of luck.
"This is the first time ever that the World Oyster Opening Championships have had a Scottish competitor, so it is an honour for Angus to fly the flag for his country," said marketing manger, Clare Dixon.
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