Champlin was 'champ'in 1st hot-dog eating contest
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- The first annual hot-dog eating contest July 5 came right down to the wire. The addition of another donation pushed champ Jim Champlin over the top. and won the belt.
Champlin, sponsored by bankHometown, and John Spratt, sponsored by Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes, each ate eight hot dogs in three minutes. The tie-breaker was a look into which contestant brought in the most donations. Champlin won.
The contest, sponsored by the Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club, was a fund-raiser. According to Matt Granier, the club's new president, the contest pulled in $4,000 which will go toward scholarships. Nikki's Dog House supplied the hot dogs.
Putnam Parks and Recreation Director James Callaghan said that he expects the contest will run again next year. He anticipates it will run later next year, closer to the town's concert/fireworks extravaganza.
Competitors included: Nick Rauh from Radical Auto Detail; Spratt; Granier; Mayor Barney Seney (he ate1); Eric Gould from Savage Systems; Josh Dumas from Nikki's.
captions, page 8:
From top: Mayor Seney, Eric Gould and Jim Champlin. Linda Lemmon photos.
The competitors lined up before the contest.
John Spratt, left, and Matt Granier.
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