Cromwell puckers up for cherry-spitting champs

Cromwell may have its Big Fruit roadside sculpture but it's the tiniest of stone fruits that will draw a crowd to the town at the end of December.

McNulty House gardens in the Heritage Precinct beside Lake Dunstan will play host to the annual New Zealand National Cherry Stone Spitting Championship.

Contestants of all ages, from youngsters to seasoned spitters, are invited to pucker up and put their cherry pit spitting skills to the test.

Last year there was some good old trans-Tasman rivalry at the top of the men's leaders board, with seasoned Kiwi competitor Aaron Collins tying with Melbourne Simon Oliphant both spitting a distance of 9.3 metres, while Anna Bassett took out the women's title with a distance of 6.8 metres after a tense battle with runner-up Dorothy McHugh.

Event organiser Kelly Cruikshank-Giles, of the Cromwell and Districts Promotions Group, says the event is a hit with locals and visitors.

"With some entertaining competitiveness and lawn games for the kids, it's a fun day in the sun, so come along and have a go.” 

The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 27, and registrations open at 11.30am.

While spectators are free, would-be cherry champs will need to pay $2 for three cherries, but anyone dressed in red will receive an extra cherry to boost their chances of winning.

The event will finish at 1.30pm.