A Villafranquero eats 2.3 kilos of melon in five minutes

VilafrancaVilafranca is celebrating its Melon Festival and Fair these days with an extensive program that began on Thursday with one of the highlights (pun intended) of the program: the traditional melon eating contest.

With a high turnout of 25 people in the senior category, also from the public, the contest, which took place in Tomeu Penya Square, was crowned by Mateu Mascaró, who achieved a near-record amount by eating 2.310 kg of melon in the five minutes that the competition lasts. In second place was Miquel Llull (1.740 kg), closely followed by Mariano di Paolo (1.650 kg).

In the children's category (ages 6 to 13), 20 children participated. In this test, the time is reduced to 3 minutes. The winner was Martí Sureda (1.070 kg).

Finally, in the mini category (ages 0 to 5), with 2 minutes to eat, there were 4 participants, and the first prize was shared between Albert Castro and Paulina di Paolo, who each ate 0.120 kg.

It's worth noting that the participants ate a clean amount. That is, the melon slices in the basins are weighed when they are brought to the table and then reweighed with any remaining shell and pulp.

The strategies followed in the senior category are varied. It is said that some eat like a harmonica, while others eat by biting. This year, there was even one participant who seemed to have a coach who was advising him on "swallowing strategies" as the minutes ticked by.

Be that as it may, with this participation, results, and above all the level demonstrated in all categories, it seems that the people of melons have secured the future of this competition for many years to come.