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Drug tests at pie eating contest First-timer wins pie-eating title
(about 4 hours later)
Drugs tests are to be conducted at an annual pie eating contest in Wigan, Greater Manchester. A father-of-two has claimed the World Pie Eating title at the annual championships in Wigan.
Organisers of the event believe some competitors could use performance enhancing substances such as cough linctus to enable faster swallowing. First-time entrant Barry Rigby, 36, polished off his meat and potato pie in just 43 seconds - eight seconds slower than the world record.
Competitors will battle it out for the title at Harry's Bar on Wallgate at 1200 GMT - known locally as "pie noon". Held at Harry's Bar on Wallgate in Wigan on Tuesday, the fastest to digest a pie wins first prize.
Whoever eats a meat and potato pie in the fastest time wins the contest. The current record stands at 35.86 seconds. He vowed to return next year to compete in the contest, which started in the town in 1992.
We're hearing rumours that cough mixture is the new Bisto Tony Callaghan, Harry's Bar owner "I was really surprised to win, I think my two boys will be very proud of me.
Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry's Bar, said random drugs tests would be put into action to make sure none of the competitors were "unfairly lubricated". "The pie tasted great. I am a big pie fan, I eat between 10 and 20 a week at least," the Asda supermarket worker added.
Random tests were scheduled before the competition to ensure that the avid pie-eaters did not "cheat" by lubricating their throats.
'Questionable concoctions'
Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry's Bar, said random tests would be put into action to make sure none of the competitors was "unfairly lubricated".
"Gravy has traditionally been the performance-enhancing drug of choice amongst pie eaters at this level, but we banned it after a series of questionable concoctions were created by contenders," he said."Gravy has traditionally been the performance-enhancing drug of choice amongst pie eaters at this level, but we banned it after a series of questionable concoctions were created by contenders," he said.
"We're hearing rumours that cough mixture is the new Bisto. "We're hearing rumours that cough mixture is the new Bisto."
"Specifically we're told that dry tickly cough linctus works particularly well in lubricating the throat and causing a mild anaesthetic effect which enables faster swallowing." Barry Rigby was eight seconds off breaking the world record
The cooked dimensions of the official pie are 12cm in diameter and a depth of 3.5cm, while they must have a 66% meat content.
Munch most pies
In response to a government drive to cut obesity, organisers revamped the competition in 2006.In response to a government drive to cut obesity, organisers revamped the competition in 2006.
First prize had always gone to the contestant who could munch through the most pies in three minutes, but now it is handed to the fastest eater.First prize had always gone to the contestant who could munch through the most pies in three minutes, but now it is handed to the fastest eater.
Fred Wyatt, a 61-year-old warehouse packer, won last year's contest with a time of 56.28 seconds.Fred Wyatt, a 61-year-old warehouse packer, won last year's contest with a time of 56.28 seconds.
He beat world record holder Adrian Frost, 43, who set the current record in 2007.He beat world record holder Adrian Frost, 43, who set the current record in 2007.