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The Way Forward For Elite Pie-Eating

There are contests for how long you can hold your breath, others for growing the ugliest vegetables, and in comparison the up-coming World Pie Eating Championships in Britain seem kind of lame. But they are controversial just the same.

Apparently, scoffing as many pies as possible in three minutes is considered unhealthy. So is the lack of a vegetarian option. So this year's Pie Eating Champs (December 16 is the date to note) have new rules: you only have to eat one pie, and the fastest eater is the winner. Plus, there's a vegetarian pie competition running side-by-side with the traditional meat and potato. Championships organizer Tony Callaghan made this statement:

I realise it may be controversial, but this is the way forward for pie-eating at this level...It will make for an exciting sporting spectacle, whilst also doffing its cap to government guidelines on obesity.

If you've been training all year with the old "as many pies in three minutes" guidelines in mind, we're sorry for you (and your waistline), but good luck anyway: may the biggest and greediest throat win.

[Photo: Martin Gordon]

Related Stories:
· Health Drive Hitting Pie Eaters [BBC]
· Hold Your Breath for Fun and Profit [Jaunted]
· Attack of the Killer Tomatoes [Jaunted]