Cookie Jarvis, Charles Hardy, Sonya Thomas Storm Buffalo

Eating Contest Ranks Among America's Greatest

Despite a threat from surging newcomer Sonya Thomas, the 106-pound beauty who has struck awe into veteran gurgitators in recent months, America's top-ranked eater Cookie Jarvis secured victory in Buffalo at the National Buffalo Wing Festival.

Jarvis downed 92 chicken wings in 12 minutes to win his third major title in as many events at the Labor Day championship in Buffalo, New York. Hungry Charles Hardy came in second, while Thomas, a rookie who has displayed amazing capacity and hand speed, placed third. Donovan Busta, another rookie, took fourth, followed by Oleg Zhornitskiy and Floridian powerhouse Jammin' Joe LaRue. Celebrities who attended the match included cookbook author Chef Armand, Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Buffalo Mayor Tony Masiello.

"We brought the finest athletic eaters in America to the birthplace of the Buffalo Wing," said Drew Cerza, organizer of the National Buffalo Wing Festival who is known in the competitive eating community as the 'Wing King.' "Buffalo is a great sports town and festival attendees enjoyed watching the world's greatest eaters go after our city's most famous fare."

The festival, which attracted more than 50,000 people, took place Buffalo's Dunn Tire Park. The event was sanctioned and hosted by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). The IFOCE sanctioned the Wing Eating Contest as part of its Harvest Series, a fall circuit of competitive eating events making stops in Seymour, WI, New York, NY, and Reno, NV. Additional information is available by visiting ifoce.com or www.buffalowing.com.