IT'S TOO L ATE, BUT LET'S BASK AGAIN

A long time ago, it seems all too long, Paul Omodei Jnr brought the trophy home. Almost. In fact, he didn't even get home before we lost it.
This is how they wrote him up in NZ.

Aussie blowhard wins cherry-stone spitting

BY AIMEE WILSON - The Southland Times | Monday, 03 December 2007

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AIMEE WILSON
Southland Times

BIG SPITTER: Paul Omodei, of Western Australia, is New Zealand's 2007 cherry stone spitting champion.

They have found a useful way of dealing with those annoying stones you find in the middle of cherries in Cromwell.

Okay, so they stole the idea off the Aussies but, even worse, this year's New Zealand cherry stone spitting champion is from across the ditch.

Paul Omodei has been the Australian champion twice and on Saturday he took the Kiwi title from Michael Robinson, of Oamaru.

The agricultural consultant from Pembarton-Manjimup, where the competition originated, pushed his cheeks out to blast a stone 11m, just slightly ahead of Mr Robinson.

Mr Omodei said while he didn't work specifically with cherries in his field of work, he admitted to having four trees in his backyard, "so I was able to practise a bit," he said.

For full results of the NZ competition, click here: Cromwell