If there's one place that's synonymous with pies, it's Wigan. Brimming with bakeries selling the much-loved pastry, it's fair to say it's the UK's pie capital.
Even Wigan Athletic F.C.'s mascot is a pie.
So, it will come as little surprise to hear that a Wigan warehouse worker has been crowned the new lord of the pies after triumphing at the World Pie Eating Championships held in the town. The covid pandemic meant fans have had to wait three years since the last edition, when Wigan builder Ian Gerrard saw off tough competition to secure the win.
This time though, hometown hero, Barry Rigby, 49, scoffed a 12x3.5cm meat and potato pie in a remarkably fast 35.4 seconds, taking the pie crown for the third time. The warehouse worker previously won the championships in 2009 and 2014, and this time saw off 11 other entrants to take home the coveted 'Bradley Piggins' trophy.
Read more: Could Wigan lose its crown as the top place to get a Wigan kebab?
Held at Harry's Bar in Wallgate, the messy but beloved tradition stretches back 26 years and has become an annual fixture for the Greater Manchester town. Previous champions including 43-year-old Ian Gerrard and 41-year-old Martin Appleton-Clare also took part in the 2023 edition, but it seems that Barry had been ready and waiting to stage his comeback.
Both the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due the pandemic, while the 2022 edition, which was due to take place in December, was delayed due to bad weather and transport strikes.
Commenting on the win and his tactics, Barry said: "I'm a three-time world champion now. The trick is to take small bites and get small chunks in your mouth and swallow them as quick as you can."
Congratulating the warehouse worker on his victory, organiser Tony Callaghan added: "It was a high quality chunder - that's the collective noun we use for elite pie eaters - who barely left a crumb for the cleaners and demonstrated their true potential by hanging round for a free lunch afterwards.
"Although in the contest some did show that time away from the table during the pandemic does take its toll with a few competitors fighting swallow stall throughout. However, our efforts to follow a policy of sustainability have tripped up after the work experience lad was given instructions to find a recycled trophy but came back with a cycling club cup."
The event, which was first held at Harry's Bar in Wigan - where locals are affectionally known as 'pie eaters' - started in 1992. It is thought the nickname originates from miners eating humble pie after going back to work following the 1926 general strike.
The annual tradition starts at ‘pie noon’ - or midday - and attracts competitors, spectators and media from across the globe. It made global headlines in 2016 when organisers sent a pie into space attached to a weather balloon.
Read next:-
- 20 amazing places you need to visit across Greater Manchester in 2023
- The BBC Happy Valley cafe that has fans flocking to
Manchester party-goers given chance to win all-expenses paid ‘ultimate house party’
- The Manchester restaurant hailed among the best in the UK
- Festive lights left in parks after Lightopia owner falls into administration
