It was hardly a contest in the Holyrood Squidfest squid eating face-off on Sunday, July 20 as two strapping construction blokes from the Great Northern Peninsula scarfed down the delicious deep fried squid rings and took home the prizes in a walk, or this case, a chew. Travis Eddison, left, originally from Hay Cove, just outside the Viking settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows, and Brad Bridger, right, originally from St. Lunaire-Griquet, were also representing one of the sponsors of this year’s Squidfest, ECI Builders of Conception Bay South. “I could have eaten more, but I ran out of time,” said Bridger. The contestants, which also included Sharon Hsu of Taiwan and Kay Kater of St. John’s and Diane and Dan Frankenna, were given two pounds each of the tasty rings prepared by the Station Diner and given five minutes to scarf them down. Bridger was a ring eating ringer, standing up for the last minute or so of the contest so that he could get more down the gullet. Bridger and Eddison walked away with Squidfest hats, trophies and as the Town of Holyrood’s recreation director Kyle Hawco put it, “ultimate bragging rights.” The cute factor was on high at the Holyrood Squidfest Sunday Fun Day and Market at Centennial Field July 20, which had a bevy of attractions for the young ones and lots of entertainment, including the Down Forward Band, for the more mature set. Harbour Main MHA Helen Conway Ottenheimer was invited to open the shop and thanked the Town of Holyrood and its recreation committee for staging such a successful summer festival this year. Here Chloe Bursey and Mom Natasha Taylor of CBS scoot closer to the stage to take in the goings-on. Nearby, Terry Clouston of Chapel’s Cove was quick to grab some pictures of his own of his granddaughter Amelia Chipman, 3, of CBS. Craig Westcott photos
