This year, 2010, we will hold the third annual western regional “pit spit” held in Utah at the Big Red Barn just south of Santaquin, Utah on I-15. The date of this is July 30, 2010 at 3:00 P.M.
What is a cherry pit spit?
The definition of a cherry pit spit from Wikipedia is: Cherry pit spitting is the act of spitting, or ejecting, the pit (the seed) of a cherry from one's mouth with great speed so as to send the pit a great distance. Spitting cherry pits is an amateur sport; there are no professional leagues of cherry spitters known, though this may change if enough people begin participating in this sport. Simply it is a person attempting to spit a pit for the longest distance.
The rules are simple: pick out a cherry from the bowl, step up and let it fly! Prizes will be awarded for the longest distance, the most creative pit spit, and for the best sport. There will be age brackets from youth to oldies. Sometimes the “oldies” are the “goodies”. A cherry pit, the pit of a cherry, is very small, about the size of a front tooth, and is very slippery when first removed from the cherry, making it easy to spit. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the record distance is 95 feet and 6.5 inches (29.12 m).
Come and join the fun, the “cherry pit spit” record book will begin this year for the western region of the United States.
Cherry Pit Spit Competition Rules
- The contest is open to everyone regardless of age or sex.
- All contestants must register in qualifying court prior to spitting, unless spitter is awarded a special exemption by the official tournament judge.
- Registration deadline is 12:00 noon on day of Championship.
- No foreign objects may be held in the mouth which would give an advantage in spitting the pit. Denture racks will be provided for those wishing to remove their teeth.
- The contestant's foul line will be determined on a handicap basis according to height, in order to remove any advantage to taller contestants. The handicap will consist of a two-inch (50.8 mm) withdrawal from the base foul line for each one-inch (25.4 mm) of contestant height over four feet (1.21 m). Any contestant four feet tall or less will stand at the base foul line.
- The decision of the tournament line judge is final.
- Contestants must select three cherries from the regulation variety (Montmorency) supplied by the tournament committee.
- Cherries must be washed and chilled to 55-60 degrees F pit temperature.
- Each cherry must be inserted in the mouth whole, all soluble solids eaten prior to spitting of the pit. No part of the cherry may be removed from the mouth after insertion.
- Each contestant must spit his/her pit within 60 seconds of the time he/she is called to the line by the tournament judge.
- Three spits are allowed. The longest of three is recorded. If a pit is swallowed, that spit is forfeited.
- Contestants' hands must remain below the shoulders (to avoid popping one's cheeks). Contestants' feet may not touch or cross the foul line. Spitters must stand flat on the ground -- or ground level platform -- to spit. Spitters are prohibited from using any kind of mechanical or other device to improve body thrust or spit length (including hydraulic hoists, wall support, etc.).