Fans of one of Greater Manchester's best-loved traditions will have to wait a bit longer for its return amid ongoing industrial action. Harry's Bar, in Wigan, usually hosts the town's famous World Pie Eating Championships in December.
The covid pandemic meant fans of the iconic event have had to wait three years since the last edition, when Wigan builder Ian Gerrard took the crown after gobbling a meat and potato pie in 35.4 seconds. And the wait will now go on for the 28th World Pie Eating Championships, with organisers saying the ongoing train strikes mean competitors would struggle to get to and from the event.
The contest is now expected to take place in January, with a date yet to be confirmed. 'Piemaster' Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry's Bar, told followers in a tongue-in-cheek post on Facebook: "We're now consulting with the elite competitors to try to find a slot in a crowded January 2023 calendar that doesn't clash with kebab night, chippy lunch day, or times when Asda discounts the 'best before' sandwiches and pasties.
READ MORE: Urgent warning with over 600 people stuck waiting for ambulances tonight
"The sporting world is used to fixture congestion, but we're challenged with fixture digestion. It's hard enough explaining to entrants from the likes of Bolton and Chorley how to get here without the additional complication of having to work out bus timetables because there's no trains.
"It's alright for them southerners from Worsley and Altrincham getting away from their lobster and caviar and doing once-a-year pie tourism with their Ubers and limos to the front door, but when we have unpractised entrants there's a risk we could be here all afternoon. Door security also assures me this time they'll be all over the bloke who stands outside opening car doors and taking a £50 entrance fee from anybody arriving in a Mercedes."
At the 27th World Pie Eating Championships, winner Mr Gerrard pipped his rival by one second in front of a packed out crowd. He said at the time: "Last year was my first time and I tried to eat it in one go.
"I thought I'd break it in half this year and it seemed to have worked." Organiser Mr Callaghan added: "I started it as a bit of fun and it's just got bigger and bigger.
"It's an important competition and people treat it seriously. These guys are athletes."
READ NEXT:
-
'It is kicking off big time': GMP descend on Manchester Arndale
-
Two men arrested on suspicion of raping a child after police storm home
-
Road-rage dad threatened Mercedes driver with screwdriver and yelled 'get out of the car'
-
Family in tears and '£10k out of pocket' after being stopped from boarding Manchester flight
