World Pie Eating Championship

The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually held at "Harry's Bar" on Wallgate, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The competition has been held since 1992. In 2006, a vegetarian version was added [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,1955147,00.html Guardian article] ] after "relentless pressure" from the Vegetarian Society. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7142115.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Dog jeopardises pie championships ] ]

In the 2006 competition, the meat and potato pies were all 12cm (5in) in diameter with a depth of 3.5cm (1.5 in). In the separate vegetarian contest, the pies were 10cm (4in) by 3cm (1.2in). [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/228/228879_only_one_pie_each_at_world_title_scoff.html Manchester Evening News article] ]

In the 2007 competition, entries included a competitor's dog, Charlie, who had eaten 20 pies and damaged a further 10 the night before the competition, nearly jeopardising the event. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7142115.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Dog jeopardises pie championships ] ]

Winners

1992

Dave Smyth, a painter from Hindley, won the first contest in 1992 when he ate four pies in three minutes.

1995

Dave Williams of Preston, Lancashire.

2005

Anthony "The Anaconda" Danson, a weight trainer from Lancashire, managed to eat seven pies in three minutes, setting a new record.

2006

Matt Dunning (Australian rugby player).

2007

Adrian Frost (42) from Wigan who downed his pie in a record-breaking 34 seconds [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7142115.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Dog jeopardises pie championships ] ] .

Controversy

Imported Pies

Controversy was caused in 2005 when pies were imported from nearby Farnworth, Bolton and local Wigan pies were sidelined, resulting in a four-man strong protest. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,1668818,00.html Another Guardian article] ]

Quantity to Speed

More controversy was caused in 2006 when the competition was changed (to meet government "healthy-eating" guidelines) from the number of pies consumed in a given time, to the fastest time to consume a single pie. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6175726.stm BBC article] ]

Lack Of Stock

Controversy struck again for the third year running when the competition actually ran out of pies before the competition had finished.Fact|date=March 2008

Background

Wiganers are proud to be called pie-eaters, but the nickname is not thought to be because of their appetite for the delicacy. The name is said to date from the 1926 General Strike when Wigan miners were starved back to work before their counterparts in surrounding towns and were forced to eat "humble pie".

References