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World Pie Eating Championship
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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 November 2006, a vegetarian version was added[1] after "relentless pressure", from The Vegetarian Society's Keith Lorraine and Phil English.[2]
In December 2006, in the competition, the meat and potato pies were all 12 cm (5 in) in diameter with a depth of 3.5 cm (1.5 in). In the separate vegetarian contest, the pies were 10 cm (4 in) by 3 cm (1.2 in).[3] In December 2007, in the competition, entries included a competitor's dog, Charlie, who had eaten twenty pies and damaged a further ten the night before the competition, nearly jeopardising the event.[2]
Winners
[edit]1992
[edit]Dave Smyth, a painter from Hindley, won the inaugural contest in 1992, when he ate four pies in three minutes.
1995
[edit]Dave Williams of Preston, Lancashire.
1998
[edit]Scott Ormrod of Aspull, Wigan, Greater Manchester, eleven pies in thirty minutes.
2005
[edit]Anthony "The Anaconda" Danson, a weight trainer from Lancashire, managed to eat seven pies in three minutes, setting a new record.[4]
2006
[edit]Matt Dunning (Australian Rugby Union).
2007
[edit]Adrian Frost (42) from Wigan who downed his pie in a record breaking 35.86 seconds [5]
2008
[edit]Fred Wyatt, a sixty one year old warehouse packer won the 2008 Championship, which was broadcast live on the internet by pie per view.[6][7]
2009
[edit]Barry Rigby, a warehouseman won, eating a pie in forty five seconds.[8]
2010
[edit]Neil Collier, aged 42, won this contest, with a new World Record of 23.91 seconds.[9]
2012
[edit]Martin Clare won, with a new record time of 22.53 secs.[10]
2013
[edit]Ian Coulton of Wigan took the title, albeit with the slowest winning time ever of 1 minute and 6.61 seconds.
2014
[edit]Former champion Barry Rigby once again recorded the best time.[11]
2015
[edit]2012 champ Martin Appleton Clare regains his title after missing 2013 and the "wrong size pie" incident of 2014.
2016
[edit]The reigning champion, Martin Appleton-Clare registered a record breaking third win to take the 2016 Championship.[12]
2017
[edit]It is the third time in a row for Martin Appleton-Clare.
2018
[edit]Martin Appleton-Clare won the new category of "Chicken and Carrot" with a time of 19.6 secs after a fierce Pie Off
2019
[edit]Ian Gerrard won the contest with a time of 34.5 seconds.[13]
2022
[edit]Barry Rigby, 49, guzzled down the regulation meat and potato pie in a relatively average time of 35.4 seconds, taking the pie crown for the third time. The championship was delayed slightly and took place in January 2023 as opposed to its usual December date. The Wigan man previously won the championships in 2009 and 2014.[14]
2023
[edit]Ian Coulton faced off all competition and ensured the trophy remained in Wigan, winning the competition for the first time since his previous victory ten years earlier, in 2013. [15]
2024
[edit]At this year's contest - which was held on December 12 2024 with 22 contestants - Michael Chant, 43, from nearby Bury, broke the world record for eating a pie the fastest, completing it in 17 seconds - beating the previous record holder Martin Appleton-Clare, who ate his pie in 23 seconds. Channel 5 filmed the event for their TV show 22 Kids and Counting, as the show's star Noel Radford supplied the pies for the competition. The championship's organiser and "piemaster", Tony Callaghan, dropped and partly broke the trophy. Hits Radio interviewed Callaghan afterwards. Several newspapers were also present.[16][17][18]
Controversy
[edit]Imported pies
[edit]In December 2005, controversy was caused, when pies were imported from nearby Farnworth, Bolton, and local Wigan pies were sidelined as it was believed they were substandard, resulting in a four-man strong protest.[19] In December 2009, a similar situation arose, with pies being sourced from Adlington.[8]
Quantity to speed
[edit]In November 2006, more controversy was caused, 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.[20]
Lack of stock
[edit]In December 2007, controversy struck again for the third year running, when the competition actually ran out of pies before the competition had finished.[citation needed]
Wrongly sized pies
[edit]In December 2014, pies of the wrong size were delivered to the event, while the intended pies were sent to a nearby divorce party. The contestants competed with halved pies, but the results were nullified.[11] The head of the World Pie Eating Championship went to court on the television show Judge Rinder because of this, against the pie maker of the wrongly sized pies, but was awarded nothing.[21]
Background
[edit]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".[3]
This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (January 2024) |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Pie-eating championship goes slimline". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media. 23 November 2006.
- ^ a b "Dog jeopardises pie championships". BBC News. 13 December 2007.
- ^ a b Rooth, Ben (22 November 2006). "Only one pie each at world title scoff". Manchester Evening News. M.E.N. Media. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016.
- ^ Neil Tweedie (16 December 2005). "Pie championship is a piece of cake for The Anaconda". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "The pie's the limit for Adrian". wigantoday.net. 14 December 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "AFP: Local cleans up in World Pie Eating Championships". Google News. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "World Pie Eating contest at Wigan pub". Morningadvertiser.co.uk. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- ^ a b Wainwright, Martin (15 December 2009). "World pie-eating contest leaves competitors choking". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
- ^ Wainwright, Martin (15 December 2010). "World pie-eating competition sets new record". theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ "Barry regains pie crown". Wigan Today. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ a b "World Pie Eating Championships: Humble pie for Wigan chef after pie mix-up". BBC News. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ Emily Heward (20 December 2016). "Watch: World pie-eating champion's 'Usain Bolt' moment at Wigan competition". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ "Chaotic scenes on the eve of Wigan's World Pie-Eating Championships". 23 January 2023.
- ^ Campbell, Jenna (25 January 2023). "Wigan man crowned world pie eating champion after devouring snack in record time". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Wigan man becomes lord of the pies at this year's World Championships". 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Man breaks world record by eating meat and potato pie in 17 seconds". Metro Newspaper.
- ^ "Wigan World Pie-Eating Championships: veterans' shock disqualification as champ is declared". Wigan Today Newspaper.
- ^ "Whitefield builder wins World Pie Eating Championships". Bury Times Newspaper.
- ^ Lewis, Paul (16 December 2005). "I ate all the pies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Health drive hitting pie eaters". BBC News. 23 November 2006.
- ^ Armstrong, Jeremy (20 March 2016). "Judge Rinder's latest case sees him rule on a disputed PIE-EATING competition". mirror. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
World Pie Eating Championship
View on GrokipediaOverview and History
Origins and Cultural Significance
The World Pie Eating Championship was established in 1992 at Harry's Bar in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, as an annual contest celebrating the town's affinity for pies.[6] This event emerged from Wigan's longstanding cultural identity, where locals are affectionately known as "pie eaters," a nickname rooted in the 1926 General Strike. During the strike, Wigan miners, facing severe hardships, returned to work earlier than their counterparts in other regions, leading to the derogatory stereotype that they had to "eat humble pie" while others held out longer.[7] The inaugural competition featured a straightforward format, with participants tasked to consume as many traditional meat and potato pies as possible within a three-minute timeframe.[2] These pies, a staple of Northern English cuisine, underscored the event's ties to local working-class traditions and the industrial heritage of the area. The first champion was Dave Smyth, a painter from nearby Hindley, who devoured four pies in the allotted time, setting a modest yet symbolic benchmark for the contest's early years.[2][8] Over time, the championship has evolved to reflect broader dietary preferences, including the addition of a vegetarian category in 2006 to accommodate diverse participants.[2] This development highlights the event's cultural significance as a lighthearted emblem of Wigan's resilience and communal spirit, transforming a historical slur into a point of pride and annual festivity.Key Developments and Milestones
The World Pie Eating Championship, held annually in Wigan—known culturally as the "land of the pie-eaters" due to its historical association with pie consumption—has evolved significantly since its inception in 1992, adapting to societal pressures, health concerns, and logistical challenges to maintain its appeal and inclusivity.[9] In November 2006, organizers introduced a vegetarian category following relentless advocacy from The Vegetarian Society, led by Keith Lorraine and Phil English, to accommodate non-meat eaters and broaden participation.[10] That same year, the competition format shifted from a quantity-based structure—where participants consumed as many pies as possible within a fixed three-minute window—to a time-based one, challenging contestants to eat a single pie as quickly as possible, in alignment with UK government guidelines promoting healthier eating habits.[2][11] To address participant complaints about digestive discomfort, including flatulence from the traditional meat and potato pies, a new "Chicken and Carrot" category was added in 2018, offering an alternative filling that proved easier on the stomach while preserving the event's competitive intensity.[12][13] The championship faced notable disruptions in the early 2020s due to external factors. The 2021 event was canceled amid COVID-19 restrictions, as authorities mandated masks for all indoor competitors, rendering the pie-eating format impractical.[14][15] The following year's competition, originally scheduled for December 2022, was postponed to January 2023 owing to scheduling conflicts and adverse weather conditions that complicated logistics.[6][16] Recent years have seen continued growth and media exposure. The 2024 edition attracted 22 contestants and gained visibility through its association with Channel 5's reality series 22 Kids and Counting, with pies supplied by cast member Noel Radford, enhancing the event's national profile.[17][5] However, the ceremony was marred when organizer and "Piemaster" Tony Callaghan accidentally dropped and partially damaged the trophy during presentation, adding an unexpected mishap to the proceedings.[18]Event Details
Venue and Timing
The World Pie Eating Championship takes place annually at Harry's Bar on Wallgate in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, a venue it has used exclusively since the event's inception in 1992.[6][19] The competition is typically scheduled for a single day in December, aligning with the Christmas season to capitalize on festive spirit, though disruptions have occurred: it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the 2022 edition was postponed to January 24, 2023.[6][16] The 2024 event returned to its traditional timing on December 12.[19] As a one-day affair, the championship culminates in the finals at "Pie Noon" (12:00 PM), when contestants compete head-to-head to consume a regulation pie as quickly as possible.[20][21] The event attracts a lively local crowd of spectators to Harry's Bar, fostering a boisterous atmosphere that celebrates Wigan's longstanding pie-eating heritage.[22] It is organized by Wigan residents, notably Tony Callaghan, the bar's owner and event "Piemaster," with participants entering for a modest fee to join the competition.[19][23]Pies and Equipment
The standard pie used in the World Pie Eating Championship is a meat and potato variety, with cooked dimensions of 12 cm in diameter and 3.5 cm in depth.[24][25] This specification ensures uniformity across competitions, as deviations in size have previously led to disqualifications.[26] A vegetarian pie category was introduced in 2006, featuring a smaller pie measuring 10 cm in diameter and 3 cm in depth to accommodate the event's format shift to single-pie eating that year.[2] In 2018, organizers introduced a chicken pie option, maintaining the same 12 cm by 3.5 cm dimensions as the standard pie, primarily to mitigate flatulence issues reported with the meat and potato filling in prior events.[27][12][28] Pies are served on plain plates placed before each competitor, with rules prohibiting the use of hands after the starting signal to enforce mouth-only consumption.[1] Water is provided at each station but was not permitted for consumption during the event until 2023, when it was allowed for the first time to aid swallowing.[29] Timekeeping is managed by officials using stopwatches to record the exact duration from start to full consumption.[30]Rules and Categories
Competition Format
The World Pie Eating Championship originally operated under a format where competitors attempted to consume as many pies as possible within a fixed three-minute time limit, with the winner determined by the highest quantity eaten.[2][10] This approach emphasized volume over speed and was in place from the event's inception in 1992 until 2006.[1] In 2006, the format underwent a significant revision to align with government healthy eating guidelines, shifting the focus from quantity to speed by requiring participants to eat a single standard pie as quickly as possible, with victory awarded to the competitor recording the shortest completion time.[2][31] This change limited consumption to one pie per entrant to promote safety and reduce overeating risks, while also introducing a vegetarian pie option for that year.[8] Ties are resolved through a pie-off round among equal-time finishers.[32] All entrants compete in a single round, with the overall winner decided by the fastest time.[1] Competitors must fully consume the entire pie without spitting out any portion, and they may not touch the pie until the starting signal is given; hands are permitted for eating once the contest begins.[11] Official timekeepers record completion times to the nearest tenth of a second.[30] Judging is overseen by event officials who enforce strict protocols, with disqualifications issued for incomplete consumption, rule infractions such as premature handling of the pie, or other violations like excessive spillage.[5] These detailed rules were codified in response to early disputes, evolving into a comprehensive framework to maintain fairness and resolve controversies.[33] The post-2006 single-pie limit underscores ongoing health priorities, mitigating potential hazards associated with rapid or excessive food intake.[31]Participant Categories
The primary category at the World Pie Eating Championship is the open meat and potato pie event, accessible to all adults regardless of age or gender.[34] This division forms the core of the competition, emphasizing speed in consuming a standard-sized pie without restrictions on eligibility beyond being an adult participant.[34] A vegetarian category was introduced in 2006 in response to advocacy from the Vegetarian Society, featuring smaller vegetable-filled pies measuring approximately 10 cm by 3 cm to accommodate dietary preferences.[2] This separate division maintains its own winner and distinct competitive records, allowing non-meat eaters to participate fully.[2] In 2018, organizers temporarily switched the main category to chicken-filled pies to mitigate digestive issues, such as excessive flatulence, associated with meat and potato fillings; the traditional meat and potato pies were used in subsequent years.[13] Competitors are predominantly local to Wigan and surrounding UK areas, with rare instances of international entries; participants typically span ages from their 20s to 50s and consist of amateur enthusiasts rather than professional competitive eaters.[35] Entry is open via registration, drawing a modest field of top contenders.[1] All categories have employed a time-based format since 2006, where the fastest completion time determines the winner.[34]Winners and Records
List of Champions
The World Pie Eating Championship has crowned champions annually since its inception, with the main category focusing on the fastest consumption of a standard meat and potato pie. Early competitions involved eating multiple pies within a time limit, transitioning in 2006 to speed-eating a single pie, which remains the format today. A vegetarian category was introduced in 2006 to accommodate dietary preferences, featuring vegetable-based pies. Below is a chronological summary of notable winners in both categories, highlighting key outcomes and repeats where applicable.[2]Main Category Winners
| Year | Winner | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Dave Smyth | Ate 4 pies in 3 minutes, inaugural event.[2] |
| 1995–2004 | Various local competitors | Gaps in comprehensive records; early repeats by Wigan-based entrants, such as Dave Williams in 1995.[36] |
| 2005 | Anthony "The Anaconda" Danson | Ate 7 pies in 3 minutes, setting a record at the time.[37] |
| 2006 | Transition to single-pie format | Winner not prominently recorded amid format changes.[2] |
| 2007 | Adrian Frost | Completed in 35.86 seconds.[36] |
| 2008–2009 | Local winners | Fred Wyatt in 2008; Barry Rigby in 2009, with controversy over pie sourcing but result upheld.[33] |
| 2010 | Neil Collier | Completed in 23.91 seconds, world record at the time.[30] |
| 2012 | Martin Appleton-Clare | Completed in 23.53 seconds, new record.[35] |
| 2013 | Ian Coulton | Completed in 1:06.61, slowest winning time.[24] |
| 2014 | No official winner | Results nullified due to non-standard pie sizes.[24] |
| 2015 | Martin Appleton-Clare | Retained title.[38] |
| 2016 | Martin Appleton-Clare | Third career win.[39] |
| 2017–2019 | Local champions | Martin Appleton-Clare in 2017 and 2018; Ian Gerrard in 2019; 2018 saw shift to vegetarian pies impacting competition dynamics.[40][41] |
| 2020–2021 | Cancelled | Due to COVID-19 pandemic.[6] |
| 2022 (held Jan 2023) | Barry Rigby | Completed in 35.4 seconds, third career win.[42] |
| 2023 | Ian Coulton | Won in 44.9 seconds after pie-off; second career win.[23] |
| 2024 | Michael Chant | Initial attempt ~15 seconds (invalid due to dropped filling); won pie-off in 17 seconds, new record.[4][19] |