Hungry competition at eating contest

The title of Vodacom Winter Festival Hotdog Eating Champion is a real mouthful.

And while the ‘old dogs’ of the local competitive eating scene dominated, the new kids on the block are equally prepared to chow down for all the carrots.

It was utter carnage at this year’s competition.

Almost one hundred hotdogs were the casualties, as the three semi-final rounds took place to determine who had the strongest gut.

This year, Gerrie Hendriks had a lot to prove.

Hailed as the former King of eating in Newcastle, this powerhouse crushed hundreds of competitors in pie-eating before he was dethroned in 2014.

Even without his crown, this monarch of hunger still reigns.

At the end of the first five-minute round, Mr Hendriks had played the strategic game to win, sparing his stomach for the final battle against nemesis, Marthinus Klemp.

Mr Klemp was the same eater who ended a nine-year vicegrip on the competition.

However, his path to the final round was not so simple; pressure from competitor Gcina forcing Mr Klemp to demolish seven hotdogs to secure his spot.

Round 3 was more of a mixed bag.

Although one competitor’s spot remained empty, the three wildcard contestants devoured the pressure and food in a thrilling finish to the semi-final rounds.

Tucking away five rolls, Juan le Grange joined the big dogs in the final.

And there it was, a three-way battle to the finish between the outsider, Mr la Grange, the formidable legend, Mr Hendriks, and the man who bested the ‘Beast’, the current champion Mr Klemp.

For the hotdogs, it was five more minutes of slaughter.

The dust settled, the crowds roared in adoration, and Mr Klemp raised his hand aloft in victory, the spoils of war on his face and hands.

Until the next festival, he can boast the champion’s crown.

Speaking after the competition, the consensus was the pies were more favourable, but the tomato sauce was simply ‘lekker’.