Hot Dog Eating Contest at Steve's Snappin' Dogs

Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 9:30 p.m.

Seven seconds left as the top 3 battle it out, contestant Ryan Lucchese checks the time ascontestant Brant Gilbert throws in the towel and becomes a spectator. 2/33

Thesecompetitions are so close, in this photo down on the bottom left you can see the scale used to weigh any left over hot dogs that might be left when time expires. 7/33

Contestant Mark Sutherburg, 39, of Denver, was last year's 3rd place winner. His goal for the competition? "Shooting for first, in it to win it." 11/33

Mark Sutherburg placed third once again with nine and 1/2 dogs. Being a repeat winner had Steve Ballas telling him "Once awiener always a wiener." 12/33

Contestant Andrew Lane, a.k.a. "A-Bomb," 39, of Aurora. Lane competed in a scotch egg eating contest the day before. 13/33

Contestant Paul Danek, 37, of Denver." If I get six or seven down in 8 minutes, I will be proud of myself," Danek said before the contest. 15/33

Contestant Jimmy "The Jimineator"Mares. Jimmy is last year's winner and current record-holder with a total of thirteen dogs downed in eight minutes, making that the number to beat. Being last years winner dubs him "The Big Weiner!" 19/33

It was clear that returning champ JimmyMares has a set style and technique to his dog eating. Jimmy isactually a member of the World League of CompetitorEaters. 20/33

The Denver Roller Dollsget last minute instructions. They were on-hand as the official score-keepers for the contest. 21/33

Thecontest was held as a charity event forProject Angel Heart. Twenty-five percent of all sales for the day, plusone dollar from any "Angel Dog" sold, and all money collected in the donation boxes were donated. Four-year-old Sydney Kesler of Denver makes her donation before heading home. 22/33

ContestantMichealO' Neil, 39, of Denver, getting suited up for competition.Michael is an actual employee of Steve's Snappin' Dogs, and the mostvisibly excited, smiling from ear to ear and saying, " I'm getting ready to eat a ridiculousamount of hot dogs in a shortamount of time." 25/33

MC Steven Ballas give's the crowd a last minute overview of the rules, and nature of the days event. 26/33

Contestant Joe Chapman, 17, of Denver. Chapman showed up minutes before the contest started and left minutes after it ended. 27/33

The contestants were given ten dogs to start and the option to dress it any waythey chose. Here A-Bomb (Andrew Lane), gets his dogs ready with a little catsup. 28/33

A patriotic andenthusiastic crowd was on hand. After all nothing more American than a good hot dog eating contest. 30/33

MichealO' Neil came out of the gates slamming his first dog down. His spitfireapproach would soonbe his downfall, leaving him with the most untouched hot dogs on his tray. 31/33

MichealO' Neil gets heckled from MC Steve Ballas for being the one that cooked the dogs, and he only got credit for eating two. Makes youwonder what Mike put in the hot dogs. 33/33

Hot Dog Eating Contest at Steve's Snappin' Dogs

Eight contestants stuffed as many hot wieners in their mouths as possible in three minutes for "Chow Down for Charity," an event to benefit Project Angel Heart, a local nonprofit that supplies meals to people with potentially life-threatening illnesses. The contest was held on Sunday, July 25, 2010. Photos by Eric Gruneisen.

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