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Press release / Robin Wells wins Bath’s pie eating contest

Press release issued for Pie Fest host the Inn at Freshford, a Somerset country pub on the outskirts of Bath

Pie Fest showdown at the Inn at Freshford: Matt Tudge, left, and Robin Wells, right before the 'pie-off' to decide the Man vs Pie 2014 winner

Pie Fest showdown at the Inn at Freshford: Matt Tudge, left, and Robin Wells, right before the ‘pie-off’ to decide the Man vs Pie 2014 winner

A FROME man won Bath’s second annual charity speed eating contest at the weekend.

Robin Wells, 28, devoured eight pork pies in ten minutes to retain his Man Vs Pie crown at The Inn at Freshford’s Pie Fest II.

When Bradford On Avon’s Matt Tudge finished the speed eating competition with nine pies under his belt, 2013 champion Robin looked to have lost his title. But after a steward’s enquiry, Matt was deemed to have broken the rules by drinking more than the one allocated cup of water.

The pair then had to go head to head in a tense ‘pie-breaker’ to decide the winner, with Robin eventually eating a single pork pie in the faster time of 54 seconds.

Despite travelling more than 3,500 miles to take part in Man Vs Pie, Siberian Peter Piestrovsky was disqualified in disgrace when judges discovered he had concealed eight pork pies in his pockets – as well as fed one to an onlooker’s dog.

Pie Fest II’s Man Vs Pie contest attracted a crowd of more than 100 people. All funds raised from the event (which are still being counted) will go to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Freshford Church of England Primary School.

Robin, who smashed his personal best of seven pork pies to lift the Man Vs Pie shield for the second year in a row, said: “I had the serious shakes when it went to the pie-breaker, but I knew deep down I had the pie of tiger to clinch the Man Vs Pie trophy again.

“And despite eating one more pie than in 2013, I still managed to eat steak for my dinner.”

The free, one-day family festival also invited local bakeries, chefs and keen amateur bakers to submit their most unusual pies for its Pie Idol competition. Festival goers got to mark each entry in exchange for a donation to charity, with Norton St Philip’s Farleigh Road Farm Shop and Café eventually scooping first prize with its giant Mexican pulled pork pie. Little Jack Horner’s, of Mells, finished second with its chicken and mushroom pie, while Shepton Mallet’s Unusual Pork Pie Company took third place with its faggot pie.

Liz Nelson, owner of Farleigh Road Farm Shop and Café, said: “Our cook’s pie was as scrumptious as it was big and we’re absolutely thrilled it won over the festival goers taste buds.”

Pie Fest II marked the start of British Food Fortnight. For more details about next year’s event, follow @InnatFreshford on Twitter.

 

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