IFOCE.com reports that Tim Janus has won the Nathan’s Hartford qualifier for the third year in a row with a total of 41.5 hot dogs. Tim Brown ate 24 HDB and Russ Keeler was third with 23 HDB.

update The Star Tribune has an interview with Tim from before the qualifier.

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From IFOCE.com

“The East Hartford contest is typically held in an open-air parking lot. For years we’ve been blessed with good weather for this event. In consideration of this Saturday’s forecast, we’ve elected to hold the contest in a building that is the former home of an Ames department store. This vacant Ames is in the same strip mall as the Nathan’s Famous in East Hartford. It is the ideal replacement venue for this qualifier.”

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The East Hartford Gazette has a preview of the May 19 Nathan’s qualifier. Tim Janus and Tim Brown are expected entrants.

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“Gentleman” Joe Menchetti attended the finals of the bar bite eating contest in Hartford, CT called “Munch Madness” and emailed me the following report:

The winning team had 2 members on it. They called themselves “The Big Boys” They completed the bar bites in 3:33

I did an exhibition where I ate the 12 burgers solo in 2:22

The exhibition came about because I tried to qualify w/my wife in Southington. Long story short, she won’t be in anymore eating contests. At the qualifier, I ate my 1st 3 in 30 sec & the 2nd 3 in 23 sec. So, it was worked out that i’d do an exhibition at the finals. Which was moved to the Hartford location.

A bar bite resemble a White Castle or Krystal…just much better. I believe it is a half lb burger (Pre cooked weight) cut into fourths, put on a lightly toasted bun with a pickle, cheese & a very tasty dijon mustard sauce.

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ctnow.com has an article about a qualifier for a team bar bite (mini-hamburger) relay contest called “Munch Madness”. The finals for that contest will be held on March 29. The author is apparently unaware of Tim Janus’ victories in the East Hartford Nathan’s qualifiers:

It’s what draws the masses to New York for Nathan’s Famous hot dog competition. It’s what’s helped build Philadelphia’s Wing Bowl from a local radio station stunt to an international event. Maybe Hartford will find itself on the competitive eating map with Munch Madness.

“At this point, I don’t see why not,” says Kienle, who deems the event a big hit for its first year. “If we become known as the place in the state to get little hamburgers, even better for us.

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The Hartford Courant has a long profile of “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti. Menchetti dreams of becoming an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas and claims a bench press of 405 lb.

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The East Hartford Gazette has a good (with the exception of calling Lerman Don “The Eater” Moses) writeup of last Saturday’s Nathan’s qualifier. There were PETA protesters at the contest. I did not realize that the Elvis impersonator was Bill Stobierski.

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beautifulbrian.com is hosting a video of the entire Nathan’s Hartford qualifier, courtesy of “Krazy” Kevin Lipsitz. The contest is close between Tim Janus and Pat Philbin but Janus is able to hold off his rival from Moonachie at the end.

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Official results for the Hartford qualifier have been posted on IFOCE.com. Russ Keeler surprised with 16 hot dogs and a third place finish.

This East Hartford Gazette article has profiles of some of the Connecticut entrants.

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From beautifulbrian.com & mosesnews.com

1. 27.5 Tim “Eater X” Janus
2. 25 Pat Philbin
3. unknown
4/DQ 15 Don Moses Lerman
5 Kevin Lipsitz 15 dogs / 13 buns

Liz has an interview with Tim Janus for urbanhonking.com/digest.

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In this Buffet post, Bob Shoudt claims that Kenji Oguni, who finished 4th last year with 29 hot dogs, will compete in the Hartford Nathan’s qualifier on Saturday. If this is true, it does not seem fair that foreign competitors can compete in US qualifiers but American eaters cannot enter overseas qualfiers.

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The Hartford Courant has an interview with Connecticut native Tim “Eater X” Janus in advance of his appearance at the Hartford Nathan’s qualifier Saturday.

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The East Hartford Gazette has details about the Nathan’s qualifier that will be held in Hartford on May 20.

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