NORTHAMPTON — The rules were simple. Contestants had five minutes to eat as much ice cream as possible without getting sick, and 19 people stepped up to Herrell’s “Great Ice Cream Eating Competition” on Saturday.
The grand prize was coveted by many: an overnight stay with breakfast at the Hotel Northampton, a dinner for two at Paul & Elizabeth’s, a “bottle of bubbly” from Provisions, a box of truffles from Heavenly Chocolate, a $100 gift card to Thornes Marketplace, and a Herrell’s t-shirt along with a $20 gift certificate to the ice cream shop.
Or as 11-year-old Elijah Phelps marveled with amazement, “you eat ice cream and you get free stuff?”
The contestants, who had to be over 18, were handed a gallon-and-a-half of their chosen ice cream flavor and the contest was divided into four rounds.
Strategies varied amongst the participants. Some cradled the bucket of ice cream close to their bodies in an attempt to melt it as much as possible. Others used their hands to try to soften the ice cream.
In the end, Springfield resident Marco Maggi came in first place, crushing 39.4 ounces of vanilla ice cream in the allotted time. Using mostly small, but quick scoops, Maggi devoured a large chunk of ice cream from his bucket in rapid fashion.
Arriving at Herrell’s following his child’s baby shower that day, he said he won the prize for his wife.
“I literally had to come from that to come here,” Maggi said. “My wife is from Northampton and she is pretty proud.”
Following Maggi was Alex Brady, of Suffield, Connecticut, in second, who ate 36.6 ounces. In third, Mark Hafley, of Hadley, ate 31.4 ounces. Both of them won Herrell’s t-shirts, and all contestants were able to bring whatever ice cream they didn’t finish home with them.
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com