Our News is Written in Stone™
Monday, July 21, 2008
By Craig Peterscraig.peters@shj.com
To celebrate National Ice Cream Day (today), Bruster's Real Ice Cream shop at Hillcrest held an ice cream eating contest, top. Between contests for younger children and the older kids, it also held an icy T-shirt contest, above.
Ashanti James practiced speed eating for nearly three days. Kenny Ruble said his regimen of Slurpees paved his victory path. Both got one day's head start on today's celebration of National Ice Cream Day, as Ashanti and Kenny won ice cream eating contests held Saturday afternoon at the Hillcrest Bruster's Real Ice Cream shop at 100 Peachshed Road.
Matthew Graham, general manager of the shop, said everyone did well, but some showed expert technique during the second annual event.
"We had two that really knew what they were doing," Graham said. "They had some coaching on how to consume."
Ashanti, 8, of Spartanburg, ate 9 ounces of vanilla ice cream in the allotted two minutes to win the 5-8 age bracket against 10 other competitors. She received a beach bag of aquatic toys. But that wasn't all.
"I got a brain freeze," said Ashanti, whose 6-year-old brother, Alexander, also participated and helped her practice during family speed-eating contests.
Kenny, 14, of Sarasota, Fla., who was in town visiting his dad, Gary, vanquished 23 ounces of the frozen treat without pain in two minutes. Kenny said he long ago defeated brain freezes because of frozen drinks sold at 7-11 convenience stores in Florida.
Kenny said all he ate before the contest was a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. His victory will give him a chance to rock out with an i-Pod Shuffle, which was awarded to the winner of the 9-14 age group.
Kenny also won the frozen T-shirt contest, in which contestants must unroll a T-shirt that has been rolled up, dipped in water and frozen, and be the first to put on the frosty shirt. Graham said he got the idea for that contest from another Bruster's owner and said it provides a good distraction while employees clean up after the first age group and prepare for the second.
Employees from the three Bruster's stores in Spartanburg County helped judge the event. All three are owned by Graham's parents, Jim and Linda.
Participants received Bruster's T-shirts and ice cream scoops to dip future treats.
In 1984, President Reagan designated July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day, encouraging Americans to partake in "appropriate ceremonies and activities."
Matthew Graham said Bruster's will oblige by continuing to hold the event
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