Location: Fairmont, WV
ESPER CLAIMS FIRST WORLD EATING RECORD!
Major League Eating is proud to announce the date, place and time of Geoffrey Esper's first MLE world record-setting performance. The man from Oxford, MA, ate 36 Pepperoni Rolls at Palatine Park in downtown Fairmont, WV, on Saturday May 27th, 2017, in the evening light—call 8.43pm Eastern time. Those who were there to witness it will not forget it quickly. It was a performance for the ages, as Esper displayed complete and supreme mastery of the food in question. It will not be his first world record-setting performance in MLE competition. You can quote me on that. Esper is elite. No one—and I mean no one—will take him lightly from this night on. If they ever did previously, they are fools.
Esper's mark of 36 Pepperoni Rolls bested the previous record of 34, set by Matthew Stonie in 2015. Those of you who know a thing or two about this competitive eating caper will know that Stonie used that record-setting win to drive a campaign that ended with him claiming the Nathan's Famous title that year. Which is not to say that Esper is a lock for the Nathan's title this year, it's just worth noting that success in Fairmont, WV, travels is all.
Hat tip too to Miki Sudo, with 30.5 Pepperoni Rolls in 10 minutes. That mark would have been good for the win 12 months ago. She is in impressive form as we enter the dense part of our season, a passage of time where men and women are tested and reputations count for nought. Sudo appears rested, relaxed and ready to extend her legacy.
And let's not forget the impressive Pepperoni Roll debut of new MLE member Darron Breeden. He ate 26 Pepperoni Rolls in 10 minutes to best some MLE legends in this event. He will be closely watched from here on out, no doubt.
Full results below.
FULL RESULTS! 1. Geoffrey Esper 36 Pepperoni Rollin 10 min, New WR! 2. Miki Sudo 30.5 3. Darron Breeden 26 4. Dud Lite 20.5 5. Juliet Lee 20 6. Derek Jacobs 13 7. Wild Bill Myers 9.5 8. Michael Deitz 600 8 9. Jeff Chapman 7 10. Brett Shepherd 3.75 11. Alicia Hill 3.5
This contest took place at 8pm on Saturday May 27th, 2017 at Palatine Park in Downtown Fairmont, WV!
About The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival! This year marks the 38th year for The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival and the 7th year as host of The Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship. In these seven short years, it has become the main event for the Festival. The dates for this year’s Festival are May 25, 26 and 27, 2017. The Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship will be held on the last night of The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival—Saturday May 27th—at 8 pm.
Pepperoni Rolls are a regional cuisine. The classic pepperoni roll consists of a soft white yeast bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle. It is delicious. The rolls originated as a lunch option for the coal miners of north-central West Virginia in the first half of the 20th century. The Roll that is sanctioned for The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship weighs 3.25 ounces. At the 2016 event, Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, MA—ranked number five in the world by Major League Eating—ate 23 in 10 minutes for his first Title. Matt Stonie holds the World Pepperoni Roll Eating Record with 34 Pepperoni Rolls in 10 minutes. That record will be on the line at this year’s Championship event!
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*All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.