State champion oyster-shucker upstaged by her sister

URBANNA

Virginia's reigning state champion oyster shucker didn't take the women's national title on Sunday. Her sister did.

Deborah Pratt of Urbanna finished second at the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival in Maryland. Her sister, Clementine Macon, repeated as national women's champion at the event.

Mike Martin of Florida took the overall national title for the second consecutive year and will represent the United States at the 2012 Galway World Oyster Opening Championship in Ireland.

Pratt and Macon, both of Middlesex County, have dominated the professional oyster-shucking circuit for years. Pratt has held the overall national title four times.

"It was close," Pratt said. "We're happy with what we got, and we're bringing it back home to Virginia."

Virginia's 2011 oyster shucking title will be decided on Nov. 5 at the Urbanna Oyster Festival. For more information, call (804) 758-0368 or go to www.urbannaoysterfestival.com.