Rick “The Bearded Builder” Thibodeau chomped his way through 55 wings to re-claim the crown at the Wismer House third annual Wing Eating Contest.
Hub Staff
The Bearded Builder, Rick Thibodeau returned to claim his crown at the Wismer House's third annual Wing Eating Contest April 20 and, as a result, set a new contest record of 55 wings in 30 minutes.
Thibodeau, from Owen Sound, won the inaugural contest in 2017 consuming a total of 54 wings but did not participate in last year's event, where Steve “Uncle Bumpy” Lodge took first prize with 48 wings.
Laura McInnes of the Wismer House said that this year's seven contestants, five cockerels and two hens, would start with a plate of 10 wings apiece. Each time they finished, they would be brought a new plate of 10. “They're going to come unsauced and each competitor has picked their own sauce that they can dip,” McInnes said. “They have to place their bones onto a tray so that we can make sure that the bones are cleaned off," she said.
McInnes added that a new luxury for the contestants this year was that they were allowed to drink water when in previous years this was not allowed.
After 30 minutes of chomping and chewing and 264 wings later, the empty plates were tallied and the results announced. The Bearded Builder took first, Kyle “the Fallen Vegan” Court took second place consuming 46 wings and Kyle “Curious Gorge” Gallagher came in third with 40 wings.
This year's contest was a family affair with competitor Roger Steudle joined by his daughter Lisa Steudle and son-in-law Kyle Court and Saugeen Shores Councillor Dave Myette competing alongside his daughter Sydney Myette.
“These are our best competitors yet. They really came out to play,” said McInnes explaining that $140 was raised from the contest for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Thibodeau said his wing eating tactics were to eat a normal breakfast and then have a protein shake for breakfast. “That way I'm still hungry but I'm not starving, so my stomach doesn't contract,” he said, adding that exercise was also key for a healthy appetite.
For his efforts, Thibodeau received a gift bag from Outlaw Brew Co. in Southampton, a $100 Wismer House gift card and his name placed once again on the Wismer House Wing Eating Contest plaque.
Nine contestants ready to start eating wings, from left, Lisa Steudle, Roger Steudle, Kyle Court, Kyle Gallagher, Rick Thibodeau, Sydney Myette and Dave Myette.
Sydney Myette and her dad, Saugeen Shores Councillor Dave Myette, both reached their personal targets at the third annual Wing Eating Contest at the Wismer House.
Kyle “Curious Gorge” Gallagher gorged his way through 40 wings to claim third in the contest.
It was a family affair at one end of the table as Lisa Steudle (left), her dad Roger Steudle (centre) and her husband Kyle Court, ate their way through a combined total of 113 chicken wings.
Looking a little fuller than 30 minutes previous, contestants ate through a total of 264 wings. From left, Kyle Gallagher, Sydney Myette, Rick Thibodeau, Dave Myette, Kyle Court, Roger Steudle and Lisa Steudle.
The Bearded Builder claimed his prize from the Wismer House's Laura McInnes.
