Chow Down for Charity Hotdog Eating Contest
 

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Nick Stock and A-Bomb Lane advance to the finals


K. Neveau and son Jake become the first mother
and son team


Tommye Wall of Broomfield becomes oldest competitor

The Contestants
Andrew "A-Bomb" Lane
Nick Stock
Ian Gilbert
Bruce Slanniello
Keriba Neveau
Jake Neveau
Andrew "Tommye Wall
 

A-Bomb Easily Takes Top Spot - A Three-way Tie for Second Place ends with Eat-off

Andrew "A-Bomb" Lane came in to today's qualifier as the clear favorite - he did not disappoint eating more dogs in the three-minute timeframe than any other at Steve's Snappin' Dogs third of four qualifying hot dog eating contests hosted on June 29th.  In all, A-Bomb only needed to eat a total of four dogs to qualify.

Second place was a much different story. Nick Stock of Quad Cities, Illinois along with Denverites Ian Gilbert and Bruce Slanniello, all tied with three dogs a piece.  "I never thought I'd see it happen," says Steve Ballas, owner of Steve's Snappin' Dogs.  "But I guess it did!" He added.  To identify a clear winner for the second spot at the July 27th finals table, a 30-second eat-off ensued with all three remaining contestants.  Although already qualified, A-Bomb Lane decided to join in the competition as a gesture of his competitive nature.  The competition was close but the it was the out-of-state contestant Nick Stock who took the second spot eating 7/8 of dog in the 30-second tie-breaker.

The event featured the first vegetarian as Keriba Neveau of Denver ate the equivalent weight in vegi-dogs of a regular "Snapper."  Neveau's 14-year-old son Jake also competed in the qualifier making Jake the youngest competitor in the contest and the Neveau's the first mother and son team.

One of the biggest highlights of the qualifier was the participation of 75-year old Tommye Wall of Broomfield.  While Wall was not in it to win it, she did participate and requested to eat a Chicago-style hot dog instead of the plateful of "Snappers" the other contestants received.  In typical competitive spirit, Wall ate her dog within the allotted timeframe becoming the oldest competitor and supporter of the benefiting charities - Project Angel Heart and Colorado Aids Walk.


 

Check out YouTube video of Contest Introductions - Click Here
Check out YouTube video of the June 29 Qualifier  - Click Here
Check out YouTube video of the 30-sec Eat-off  - Click Here

Donavan Busta and Matt Kish advance to the finals

Allyson Hathaway became
the contest's first female contestant

Click here to view some awesome photos


The Contestants
Click on name for photo
Donavon Busta
Matt Kish
Andrew "A-Bomb" Lane
Jason Medrano
Jeff Dankenbring
Kevin Mumford
Scott Arnold
Allyson Hathaway

Donavon Downs Double the Dogs on Dad’s Day - Set's Contest Record at Seven

Many of us who have heard of competitive eating contests automatically think of the name of Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi – the guy credited with eating 58-odd hot dogs in 12 minutes. Even few of us know that he was beaten last year by Joey Chestnut, who won by eating a world record-breaking 66 hot dogs and buns in the same time frame. But how many could these two guys, or anyone for that matter, be able to eat in three minutes? And what if the contest was a “dry” or “picnic-style” contest that allowed no dunking? Well, up to Sunday, June 15, the bar stood at four – well at least in the Chow Down for Charity event hosted by Denver’s own Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs.

Forty-one-year-old San Wong of Denver set the four-dog contest record on June 1st during the first of the four qualifying events. On June 15th, thirty-five-year-old Donavon Busta of Centennial nearly doubled that number by consuming seven complete hot dogs – bun and all, in front of a capacity crowd at the second qualifier. Busta was one of eight competitors on the Father’s Day feast-off vying for a chance to qualify for the July 27th finals.

“I’ve done some wings contests,” says Busta, who went on to elaborate on his successes eating competitively during Colorado Mammoth halftime shows and other events. “I haven’t done dogs before.” He added. Busta along with Matt Kish of Denver will join a group of eight elite contestants that will advance to the final Chow Down for Charity on July 27th. Kish took the second spot downing five and half dogs narrowly beating out Andrew “A-Bomb” Lane by a bite’s-worth.

Lane, along with several other competitors will re-try their luck at one of the two remaining qualifiers to be contested on June 29th and July 13th. The contest is geared toward gaining awareness and funds for the Colorado Aids Fund and Project Angel Heart. The entire $25 entry fee and a portion of all hot dog sales on Sunday’s will directly benefit these charities.
 

Check out CBS Denver's video coverage - Click Here
Check out YouTube video (.50 sec) - Click Here
Check out YouTube video (2:40 sec) - Click Here

San Wong and Ron Bolseth qualify for the finals

The Contestants
Click on name for photo
San Wong
Ron Bolseth
Brady Weingardt
Sonny de Guzman

 
 

The First Chow Down For Charity Qualifier Attracts All Ages

Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs kicked off the first qualifying event for its inaugural hot dog eating contest last Sunday, June 1 at 2:30 pm. The contest featured the youngest and the oldest registered participants as sixty-one-year-old Sonny de Guzman of Thornton went up against twenty-one-year-old Brady Weingardt along with forty-one-year-old San Wong and thirty-three-year-old Ron Bolseth, all of whom are from Denver.

Contestants were given a total of three minutes to devour as many hot dogs as they could. Wong was the clear winner with a total of four hot dogs eaten within the time span. Bolseth narrowly beat out Weingardt by a fraction of a hot dog. Both Wong and Bolseth will advance to the finals to be contested on July 27, 2008. Subsequent qualifiers will take place on June 15, June 29 and July 13 and we are still accepting new entrants.
 

Chow Down for Charity Contest FAQ

What does the contest costs?
$25 dollars will be collected from each contestant at the qualifying events and will be used as a donation to the Colorado Aids Walk and Project Angel Heart as well as cover minimal expenses.

How do I register?
Complete the form on this page. Once signed up, a packet of information will be sent contestants which will include overview, release of liability and more information.

How many minutes is the qualifying event?
Contestants are given 3 minutes to eat as many hotdogs as they can. The top two at each qualifier moves on the finals.

Do I need to compete at a qualifying event to be eligible for the finals?
Yes. Qualifying events will take place on the following Sundays: June 1, 15 and 29 and July 13, 2008. The top two at each qualifier will move on the finals which will feature the elite eight.

Is this a “Dry” or “Wet” hotdog eating contest?
It is a dry hotdog eating contest (all hotdogs will be served on a bun) and contestants will be given a choice of condiments.

To enter, complete the form below.  Each contestant must enter a qualifier to be eligible for the finals.  The top two contestants of each qualifier moves to the finals:

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