At the Topsfield Fair’s 6th annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, a first-time participant claimed the title and grand prize of over $200 after scarfing down nine, quarter-pound hot dogs in seven minutes flat.
“They’re much bigger than I thought they were gonna be,” the winning eater, Colin Coates, 39, of New Hampshire, said of the hot dogs that were piled on his plate.
The contest is held annually at the Trianon Stage by the main entry gate to the Topsfield Fair.
Marc Freedman of the B’nai B’rith Jewish food booth, and state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-1st Essex/Middlesex, were co-emcees for the event.
The contest, described as a “massive phenomenon” by Freedman since its inception six years ago, brought together 14 participants — this year made up of 13 men and one woman.
The contestants are challenged to consume as many quarter-pound Hebrew National beef hot dogs — bun and all — as they can in seven minutes, according to Freedman.
Each contestant is given five hot dogs on a platter to start with. And once they have finished those five, they are brought three more until they can’t keep eating or the time runs out.
A large crowd, which Freeman described as “electric,” assembled in front of the stage.
They cheered for the contestants as they scarfed down fistfuls of hot dogs — one after another. Some contestants dunked their dogs in water to aid the process. Others chugged the bottled water that had been given to the competitive eaters.
Last year, Brandon Wood of Warren won the contest, setting the record at 10 hot dogs. That’s 2.5 lbs. of hot dogs all told.
Coates said despite this being his first hot dog eating contest and winning, it may be his only one.
He said participating was a “bucket list” item. And he competed on Saturday at the behest of his mother-in-law.
Colin Coates of New Hampshire speaks with state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr after Coates was named the winner of the contest. Tarr was a co-emcee of the event.Chris McLaughlin
Coates said he was also inspired by Fourth of July hot dog eating contests he has seen on TV.
In honor of the 206th annual Topsfield Fair, Coates was awarded a $206 prize from Freedman and Tarr. Asked what he’d do with the prize money, Coates said he’d likely donate the money to a good cause.
The Topsfield Fair runs for 11 days this year through Monday, Oct. 14. Other notable events include the annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and a new dog-jumping competition.
