"It's a 30 job but somebody's got to do it" was the theme for the 30th annual O. Henry Pun Off.

The Pun-Off is one of the oldest public events in Austin, and is open to 32 punslingers in two categories of competition: "Punniest of Show" and "High-Lies & Low-Puns." The battle of words has strict time limits, and the last one left standing at the end of the competition is declared the winner.

"When I go up I will be up against another person, whoever number 11 is and they will say the category is flowers. So then I have to say "I'm glad I rose to the occasion" and then they have to say "the daisies are going by so fast." And we keep thinking of puns and we cannot repeat words," annual contestant Valerie Ward said.

The Pun-Off is definitely an “Austintatious” event, even though many competitors and judges are from all over the United States

First Place in Punniest of Show went to Joe Sabia of Los Angeles, who scored an unpresidented 40 out of a possible 40 points.

Second place went to Carmen Petrick of Houston, whose 39-point presentation on mobile phones raised the bar for everyone.

Third place was awarded to Linda Eldredge of Austin who scored 37 points with a thoughtful treatise on religion.

The Pun-Off raises money for the restoration of the Susanna Dickinson house and the O. Henry Museum.