Sports Pie

I pass this on without comment, except to note that this is the first time I have come across the phrase, or indeed concept, 'sports pie'. A window on a strange, pie-shaped world...

WORLD PIE EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
HARRY'S BAR, WIGAN
PRESS RELEASE

November 23, 2007.

BREAKING NEWS - WIGAN PIES CONFIRMED AS OFFICIAL PIE SUPPLIER.

Wigan Pies of Wigan - formerly Heaton's Bakery - is to be the Official
Supplier to the World Pie Eating Championships, which will take place in
Harry's Bar, Wallgate, Wigan, from 12 noon on Thursday, December 13,
2007 - Pie Noon.

Wigan Pies has produced a special sports pie for the competition known
as the W-PEC PiEvolution.

The local choice comes as a huge relief to organisers after an
embarrassing row that put the 2005 championships in doubt - when pies
from McManus's Bakery in Farnworth were brought in as the Official Pie,
and pickets blocked the pub entrance as a consequence.

It also means the 2007 Championships are 100% meat and 100% Wigan.

"We're going for records this year. We've had an eye on Wigan Pies for
some time, they've put in some impressive ingredients. They have the
talent, they have the speed, great delivery, an eye for an opportunity -
and they have the experience to make a significant difference to this
year's competition," said Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry's Bar.

"We understand they're also going to give their newest van a debut on
Championship Thursday."

"The ingredients are carefully selected and sized by highly qualified
pie technicians so that each cube of meat and potato in each hand-made
pie is the minimum possible size permitted by regulations thereby
meaning less chewing and less chance of swallow-stall," said Rob Stewart
of Wigan Pies.

Tony Callaghan said: "It's a relief that this year's pies are 100% from
Wigan. It's bad enough that the World Vegetarian Pie Eating Championship
Official Pie last year came from Altrincham - not just a different town,
but a different county full of posh people.

"Fortunately, the selection committee didn't get too giddy and choose a
French pie with all them funny herbs in it. And as this year's event is
once again a sprint rather than a marathon - which did confuse some
competitors expecting chocolate - the quality is crucial.

"Nevertheless, once again, we need world-class hand-made pies - and we
got them. They're consistent in size and texture, are easily bitten,
chewed and digested while not lying so heavily on the stomach that it
prevents a fall-off in competitive eating standards later in the
competition."

The pies have to be produced to strict guidelines, and were tested and
tasted at a pre-qualifying event in Harry's Bar on a secret date
(November 16) to ensure avoidance of lobbying.

The cooked dimensions need to ensure a diameter of 12cm and a depth of
3.5cm, and a pie wall angle from base to top of between zero and 15
degrees. Minimum content cube dimensions are 1cm.