EAU CLAIRE, Mich. (AP) -- A husband and wife are tops at this year's cherry pit spitting competition in southwestern Michigan.

Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause, of Tuba City, Ariz. spit for the win Saturday at the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship. In somewhat windy conditions, he shot a pit 48 feet, one-half inch.

Organizers say his wife Marlene took first place in the women's contest, spitting a pit 36 feet, 3 inches.

The Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm just north of the Indiana border hosts the event. Orchard owner Herb Teichman launched the competition as a lark 36 years ago, but it now attracts competitors from the U.S. and beyond.