Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 28127

Sam Tamsanguan, assistant head oyster man at London's Wiltons restaurant, emerged victorious for the third time in the British Oyster Opening Championship, held last week at Bibendum Oyster Bar, on London's Fulham Road.

Mr Tamsanguan opened 30 oysters in three minutes and 29 seconds and scored extra points for good presentation.

The event, sponsored by Tabasco Pepper Sauce, marks the start of the native oyster season - flat oysters that are native to the waters around the British Isles, Ireland and France.

By tradition, native oysters should only be eaten when there is an "r" in the month because they breed in the summer and disturbing the oyster beds would cause a decline in their stocks.

Mr Tamsanguan, who also won the championship in 1992 and 1994, will now go on to represent Britain at the International Oyster Opening Championships in Galway, Ireland, later this month.