Extra safety at World Pie Eating Championships as cheat tries to sneak in funnel
Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry’s Bar, in Wigan, Greater Manchester, has ordered the increased surveillance after he was told that a competitor was planning to cheat
Extra security staff are set to be deployed at this year’s World Pie Eating Championships after the owner was tipped off about suspected foul play.
Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry’s Bar, in Wigan, Greater Manchester, has ordered the increased surveillance after he was told that a competitor was planning to cheat during Thursday’s event.
It was alleged that a pie-eater had planned to smuggle in a B&Q funnel under a baggy anorak for the rapid pie-eating event, which sees people scoff a pie as fast as possible.
The distasteful technique would divert pie spillage down inside the front of his trousers thereby masking actual consumption levels.
Tony said: “We suspect the prospective dodgy competitor is a binman, because the tip-off came from a waste disposal operative who sneaks into Harry’s Bar on Tuesdays under cover.
“We’ll be deploying security to check for secreted funnels, and anybody who looks like a baddy from Slow Horses will be denied entry.”
The 2024 contest was won by 43-year old builder Michael Chant from Bury, Greater Manchester, who set a new benchmark time of consuming a regulation pie in 14.9 seconds.
The cooked dimensions of the official regulation pie are a diameter of 12cm and a depth of 3.5cm, and a pie wall angle from base to top of between zero and 15 degrees. Ish.
Despite the controversy, the event will still be taking place at Harry’s Bar at pie noon (12 pm).
