43
Competitors, crowd relish Niles hot dog eating contest
Photo
Ryan Ford, a Niles High School football player, right, chows down on a hot dog during an eating contest at Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day on Sunday. At left is Niles football coach Luke Stucke.
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
Whatever the late Harry Stevens of Niles envisioned for the hot dog, the creation he is believed to have named in the early 20th century, he could not possibly have imagined Sunday’s event.
A festive day in his memory was highlighted by 11 men and one woman gorging themselves with hot dogs in three minutes to win $100 and a trophy.
The contest required competitors to down eight hot dogs in three minutes and to “keep your food down,” warned Ryan McNaughton of Avenue and Main, the organizing committee for the second annual Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day. In less than a minute, one competitor’s stomach let him know enough was enough. He jumped from the table and turned his back to the several hundred cheering spectators who were spared the sight of the hot dogs’ upward return from whence they came.
For Tom Fabian, 30, of Niles, it was no contest. Fabian, who says he works out five days a week and looks it, finished off all eight dogs in 2:18, easily defeating the other competitors.
“I just knew I was going to win this,” said Fabian, who works for a heavy-equipment company. “It was fun and I’d do it again absolutely.”
Two of the competitors, Chris Glaser, 40, of Solon and his 14-year old son, Chris Jr., had finished only four hot dogs each when Fabian claimed victory. Asked if they would consider competing again, their responses reflected their age difference: “I definitely would,” said the younger Glaser. “No,” said his father.
Another hot dog contest between two members each from the Niles McKinley High School soccer and football teams was won by Ryan Ford, 16, a football wide receiver who said he wasn’t worried that the six hot dogs he ingested would slow him down.
Mayor Ralph Infante served as one of three judges who had to choose the best hot dog sauce out of seven entries. “I ate pieces of all seven and I’m done for the day,” said the mayor.
Even man’s best friend got into the act. Pixie Dust, a 7-year-old long-haired miniature dachshund, won the 30-yard “wiener dog” race. “She lives on our farm in North Lima, so she gets plenty of exercise,” said Evanna Nagy, her owner.
Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day activities were not limited to eating. At the President William McKinley Memorial, 20 girls, age 5 to 8, competed in the Little Miss Niles Pageant, an event not conducted since 1999. Gracie Glista, a lively 7-year-old, took the title of Little Miss Niles 2014.
Gracie was asked how she felt moments after receiving the first-place trophy. “Awesome,” she shouted to the cheers of the audience.
“I think next year we will continue with this tradition,” said Rebekah Loveland, a pageant co-chairperson.
And what of the man whose name graced the activities?
The committee honored Harry Stevens, who died in 1934, in a memorial ceremony Sunday afternoon at his stately tomb in the Niles Union Cemetery.