NJ’s Oyster Bowl X
A Record Breaking Success
The sun was shining, the crowd roaring and the competitors slurping during NJ’s Oyster Bowl X, held February 1st in front of Princeton’s Blue Point Grill. This year marked the 10th anniversary of New Jersey’s annual oyster eating contest and fundraiser benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey.
Chris Stevens was crowned the Oyster Bowl Champion, from among the 90 contestants participating, with a record-setting 102 oysters eaten during a two-minute period — narrowly edging out last year’s champion Jayson Taylor, who finished second with 96. Stevens, a previous winner invited back in honor of the event’s 10thyear, won a trip for two to Punta Cana courtesy of Apple Vacations. “I feel good. I knew 96 was the number to beat so I lined up 110 oysters in front of me to start,” said Stevens. “I knew where I had to be, and I was in the zone.”
Theza Friedman downed 65 oysters to take the Women’s Division title. Ten area businesses competed in the Corporate Team Division. Team Mathematica Treatment, led by former Oyster Bowl champ Barbara DeVaney easily won with 244 oysters consumed by the four-person team.
Most importantly, NJ’s Oyster Bowl X broke a fundraising record, with more than $20,000 raised for breast cancer awareness; more than $115,000 cumulative since the event’s inception.
Organized by Blue Point Grill restaurant and Susan G Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey, New Jersey’s Oyster Bowl X was made possible through sponsorships from Gold Sponsors: Volvo of Princeton, First Choice Bank, Dey Equine Vets, 94.5 PST and JM Group; Silver Sponsors: Nassau Street Seafood & Produce Company, Borden Perlman and East Point Brand Oysters; and Bronze sponsors Aztec Graphics and Mathematica. Grand prizes were provided by Nassau Broadcasting Partners, Mrs. G’s TV & Appliance and Apple Vacations.com. Additional support was provided by Joel Gibbs Productions, Savage Drive Productions, Fennelli Design Group as well as numerous area businesses that have donated raffle prizes.
NJ’s Oyster Bowl XI is set for Super Bowl Sunday 2010.
