Just weeks ago in the world’s oldest pie and mash shop, Max Stanford ate a staggering eighteen pies and seven portions of mash in less than an hour to set a world record for pie and mash eating. Max was back again to take on all-comers from around the UK in a pie and mash speed eating contest on Sunday (September 26). But, as the saying goes, it was no contest, writes Michael Holland…
By midday on Sunday the scene was set in the legendary Manze’s with competition tables taped off and laid out with napkins, cutlery and water in readiness for a contest to see who could eat the most pies and mash in 20 minutes.
Max arrived early in a T-shirt telling the world that he is Max v Food and a ‘Competitive Eater, Food Adventurer and Fitness Fueler’. He and his entourage looked confident as they waited for his rivals to turn up.
Speaking to the News before the match, Max said the eating competitions are a hobby to raise money for charity, but which he takes very seriously so combines the contests with a healthy eating and fitness regime.
For today’s speed-eating contest he had a big meal of vegetables and smoothies on Friday and fasted for the two days leading up to the start time. In between he did weight training, lots of cycling and today walked to Tower Bridge Road from his Brixton home as part of his preparation.
Plates of Double-Double were placed in front of the four contestants, with standbys on an adjoining table ready to be swapped for plates as they became empty. At one o’clock the whole shop collectively counted down from 10 and the eating begun.
Max immediately used his hands for the pies and a spoon for the mash and liquor. Luke, Joe and Danny used knife and forks, which was slow, cumbersome and showed that they were just pretenders to the crown.
After five minutes cracks were already beginning to appear. The liquor was sloshing everywhere as the underdogs tried to go faster. Luke and Joe ditched the cutlery and manually crammed meat and mash and pastry into their mouths. Danny, with his family looking on, kept up a steady but sedate pace.
The crowd cheered every time a plate was cleared and another one took its place. Cameras flashed. Gasps of amazement were audible. A round of respectful applause went up as Luke, looking like a beaten man, dropped out. The first to succumb.
Joe was now concentrating on the pies and seemingly taking bigger mouthfuls than the reigning champion, but he needed to up his pace to keep in this race. Danny plodded on, a hero to his children.
On Max Stanford’s table the empties were mounting up. Five plates, six plates, seven. ‘Three minutes left,’ declaimed the Timekeeper. Joe was losing focus – and time. Max was in the zone.
One minute left. Max was on his 8th plate.
’10, 9, 8,’ the crowd cried. ‘7, 6, 5, 4.’ South London’s Max was spooning up the last of the mash and liquor. ‘3, 2, 1.’ Cutlery hit the crockery for the last time and a big cheer and standing ovation filled the air. We had witnessed legends at lunch and it was a memorable sight.
The empty plates were counted. Danny had ate six pies and two mash. Luke had polished off an impressive eight pies and 3.5 mash in the short time before he could go no further. Joe put himself on the outside of eight pies and 3.75 mash, just pipping Luke’s effort. But it was an easy contest for World Record holder Max Stanford, who ate 16 pies and mash in 20 minutes.
As the numbers were read out mouths gaped open. Everyone there were pie and mash fans and all knew their own limits, so were very aware of the feat they had seen accomplished before their very eyes in Manze’s.
Max Stanford we salute you.
Check out Max and his eating skills: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaxvsFood
Photos: M Holland