The Turkish Airlines World Oyster Eating Championship returns to the international stage at the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival on Saturday 3rd September 2016, when undefeated champion Colin Shirlow will once again defend his title.
The Dromore man faces added pressure this year as he takes on the challenge for the eleventh time and attempts to beat the new Guinness World Record which he set in 2015 by eating 235 oysters in 3 minutes.
Helping this international eating competition receive the global recognition it deserves is sponsor Turkish Airlines which aims to provide the necessary backing for attracting visitors and challengers from across the world to Northern Ireland’s famous oyster festival.
Onur Gul, Ireland Marketing Executive, Turkish Airlines said: “Turkish Airlines is very excited to be coming on-board as a principal sponsor for this year’s Hillsborough International Oyster Festival and for the main event spectacle, the World Oyster Eating Championship. It is a very unique but lively event that attracts food enthusiasts worldwide which is a great boost for the local economy during the Festival.”
Now aged 60 years, oyster king Colin Shirlow, from Dromore, is hoping to meet his match in the 2016 competition. In past feats, he has encountered some of the world’s best and fastest competitive eaters in the world including Matt Stonie, Sonya ‘The Black Widow’ Thomas, Miki Sudo, Bob Shoudt and Michelle Lesco, none of whom has been successful.
Sharing some of his pearls of wisdom, oyster eating champion Colin Shirlow said: “Anyone wishing to compete against me in the Turkish Airlines World Oyster Eating Championship needs to understand that the game is quickness not quantity. It’s my technique of speed-eating that most of my competitors find difficult to replicate and keep up with.”
For further information on the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival’s full programme, which runs from Tuesday 30th August to Saturday 3rd September 2016, and to purchase tickets, visit www.hillsboroughoysterfestival.com.
The Hillsborough International Oyster Festival also kindly acknowledges the support of Tourism Northern Ireland and Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council in the staging of this year’s event.