McLean's Town, Grand Bahama - What does The Bahamas have that no other country in the world has? Well besides Junkanoo, it is our Conch Cracking Competition! Each year, McLean's Town in Grand Bahama Island hosts their Conch Cracking Contest, where people flock the usually sleepy settlement to find out who will be crowned "Best Conch Cracker".
The event usually takes place on Heroes Day (a.k.a. Columbus or Discovery Day) and this year was held
Monday, October 12th.
A whole day of events take place with lots of food and music, usually
plaiting the maypole, three-legged races, egg in spoon race, and of
course the highlight is the big cracking competition!
The town hosts a day-long event, with fun-filled activities for the entire family.
Just what is Conch Cracking?
The
procedure involves hitting the third ring of the crown (base) of the
conch shell with a sharp object, such as a small hatchet or axe to make
a hole. Then, the mollusk (conch meat) is dislodged with a knife or by
hand from its shells. The winner is the person who "cracks" the largest
number of conchs within a specified time.
Trophies and prizes are
awarded for the "Conch Cracking" contests in the following categories:
- Male National Champion
- Female National Champion
- Visitor
- Amateur Championship
The Competition was founded by Geoff Morgan, a former teacher of McLeans Town school in 1972.
