The hot dog eating contest, now in its second year, is definitely becoming one of the must-not-miss highlights of the annual Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival.

So there they all were for this year’s contest. Seated in the Tent Up Top at the festival, the seven best hot dog eaters our island can produce, limbering up their salivary glands ready to stuff their faces with buns and frankfurters.

Dave Valkema, founder of Dave’s Delicious Dogs who provided the food, was compere for the contest.

He announced encouragingly: ’We’re giving them five minutes for all the hot dogs they can eat.’

And it should be added that, in keeping with the spirit of the Food and Drink Festival, Dave’s are definitely superior hot dogs, being made with local Manx meat, completely traceable as it all comes from Ballakelly Farm in Andreas.

A quick rule check showed that ’partially eaten hot dogs count if they are subsequently swallowed’ and ’hot dogs in the mouth at the end still count’.

Reassuring to know.

However, more worrying for the contestants, Rule 12 added: ’If there is a tie the contestants go to a five hot dog eat-off to see who can eat that many quickly’ - try telling that to competitors already gagging at the thought of another frankfurter.

As the countdown to the contest began the contestants had their hot dogs lined up in front of them and were liberally sprinkling them with ketchup and mustard, glasses of water at the ready to help them slip down.

Dave sounded the klaxon and off they went.

There were a few different techniques on display: one contestant appeared to be dipping his in water to make them easier to swallow.

But there was one who stood out for his head down, relentless chewing style: Greg Cowell, the eventual winner with no fewer than six hot dogs swallowed.

Alarmingly he still looked hungry as Dave presented him with the winner’s - ketchup-coloured - belt.

Along with the belt came the grand prize of an American hot dog barbecue party for Greg and 100 of his friends.

Not a bad prize for someone who possibly never wants to see another hot dog as long as he lives.

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