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Builder from Wigan crowned new winner of World Pie Eating Championships
Well done Ian!
As you may or may not be aware, the 27th World Pie Eating Championships recently played out in Wigan – I mean, where else would it be?
The event saw some stiff competition, with a new winner taking the pie-crust crown home.
Harry’s Bar in the centre of the town saw dozens of athletes in peak condition step up to the challenge, with local Wigan lad Ian Gerrard taking the coveted top spot.
Harry’s Bar Wigan / Facebook
The builder managed to beat five-time champion Martin Appleton Clare to win the competition, in what was billed as a ‘heavyweight score-settler’, Wigan Today reports.
It was a close call, with only one second between the two challengers – 24 stone 4lbs Gerard managing to put away a meat and potato pie in 35.4 seconds.
This comes as he almost managed to beat 20 stone 5lbs Appleton-Clare last year, with Gerrard coming within milliseconds of toppling him in 2018 (Appleton-Clare scoffed a chicken and veg pie in just 19.58 seconds that time round).
Harry’s Bar Wigan / Facebook
Gerrard told Wigan Today: “I’m made up. I was close last year and this year I’ve won it. The trophy will be a pride of place in my local club on the top of the bar. I’ve had no training for this, it’s just natural.
“My favourite pie is meat and potato which I had today. Now I’ve won, first of all, I’ll go back to work and then I might do some training tomorrow. To celebrate winning, I might have a pint or two, but I’m not sure about a pie or two.”
He also had some strong words for anyone who thinks it’s not a true sport with proper athletes, saying: “It’s a bit of fun and a proper sport with proper athletes and it’s good for Wigan. I’ll be back next year and we’re 1-1 now, so I’ll try and beat Martin again.”
Harry’s Bar Wigan / Facebook
This time round the format changed a bit, with weigh-ins taking place first, followed by the general competition, before the heavyweight clash to finish things off.
An official World Pie Eating Championships pie comes in with a diameter of 12cm and depth of 3.5cm – reckon you could take one on in a quicker time?