Cherry Stone Spitting Championship in Italy, Record 22.80 Metres: New World Champion Sought

New cherry stone spitting champion to break the record of 22.80 metres: in Italy seeks for international competitors


Back, as part of the XXXV edition of the Celleno Cherry Festival in Italy, is the traditional competition that for years has measured competitors' ability to throw a cherry pit as far as possible. The challenge is open in Italy and around the world: to beat Celleno's Mauro Chiavarino, who in 2018 achieved a throw of 22.80 metres. In 2021 the record was 'only' 17.11 metres, also achieved by Chiavarino himself. The historic competition is held in Celleno (VT), also known as the 'Borgo Fantasma' (Ghost Town), a small medieval village an hour's drive from Rome, considered by the Telegraph to be among the 25 most beautiful villages in Italy.

The competition is subject to strict controls: the kernel of the fruit must be strictly prevented from the Municipality of Celleno, as must the spit of the kernel, and the conditions of the competition are scrupulously examined by a judge and a special commission. The whole thing was set up by Prof. Saverio Senni, a professor of the Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences at the University of Tuscia (Viterbo) resident in Celleno, importing the practice from the USA.

Claudio Fordini Sonni, councillor of the Municipality of Celleno, comments: This year, in this edition that finally brings us back to normality, we have decided to accept bookings that can arrive on-line so that people can better organise themselves to reach us, even from far away. The record that we will try to beat again this year remains 22.80 m, set in 2018 by Mauro Chiavarino. Last year's edition we held a limited-invitation event, due to health restrictions, with 10 representatives of local sporting realities to allow them to introduce themselves and do some publicity in the hope of getting a fresh start. We invite everyone to come to the beautiful Cherry Festival to be held on 10-11-12 June, and those who feel like competing are free to do so. Our spittoon awaits participants from all over the world.

The cherry stone throwing takes place as part of the well-known Celleno Cherry Festival. As part of this event, there are many attractions, among which all the restaurants in the village offer cherry-based menus starting with the starter and ending with dessert. Before the pandemic, there was a competition to make the longest cherry tart. All the women of the village prepared tarts strictly with Celleno cherry jam, which, when all joined together, created one long tart that crossed the entire village square.This year, a shortened version of the large tart will be made to avoid dangerous crowding by following the anti-Covid health restrictions.




Media contacts:

Claudio Fordini Sonni, councillor of the Municipality of Celleno

+39 3486616324

Comune di Celleno - Piazza della Repubblica, 8, 01020 Celleno VT Phone: +39 0761 912002

More information on Celleno - Il Borgo Fantasma :

Celleno, also known as the 'Borgo Fantasma' - Ghost Town - has been listed by the Telegraph as one of Italy's 25 most beautiful villages lost in time.
The Municipality of Celleno is located in the Province of Viterbo, on a tuffaceous spur in a strategic position: between Civita di Bagnoregio and Lake Bolsena, just an hour's drive from Rome, and close to Orvieto and the Tuscan border.
Of great importance is the majestic medieval castle located in the village square. The Orsini Castle, once inhabited by a large part of the population, was abandoned after a violent earthquake. For 40 years, the castle was subsequently only inhabited by the internationally renowned artist Enrico Castellani, who died in December 2017. In his workshop-studio in Celleno, Castellani created most of his art, which has spread all over the world and reaches millions of euros per work. Today, visiting the Orsini Castle, it is possible to breathe in the art of the recently discovered Maestro, along with the uninhabited structure. Celleno is the 'Phantom Village' for its unspoilt beauty, with the Orsini Castle on the tufa cliff (like the nearby Civita di Bagnoregio) and the surrounding green area full of opportunities for slow tourism and various food and wine highlights.

Particularly well known is the Celleno Cherry Festival held every year, with the characteristic 'sputo del nocciolo' (hazelnut spitting) with the proclamation of the national winner of the one who has been able to expel the hazelnut the farthest. Celleno is also called 'the cherry country' because of its historical tradition of cherry cultivation and the well-known festival.

Of great attraction is the 'Teverina Buskers' street artists' festival, one of the most important events in Italy in this field, with more than 50 artists from all over the world. The next edition will be held in the village of Celleno from 13 to 15 September 2019.

Many artists have visited and noted Celleno for its beauty and the start of film projects, such as the recent visit of director Sorrentino.

This release was published on openPR.