ChilliFest was a great success, and was a tribute to the late 'Chilli Bob' Price.
Chilli-eaters, mermaids and plenty of good food and drink were all heating things up at the weekend.
The East Midlands Chilli, Beer and Artisan Festival, sponsored by CANNA, was held once again at ChilliBob’s farm in Rolleston from Friday to Sunday, and thousands of people from across the country, and even the world, came for the event.
This was the first ChilliFest without Chilli Bob, real name Bob Price, who died in April this year, and a minute’s silence was observed before the famous chilli-eating competition.
Tiggy Childe, 4 and Jessica Lloyd, 3 with Phil Lloyd and their balloon mice at ChilliFest. (13820813)
Neal Price, Bob’s son, is continuing with the festival in his father’s memory.
He said: “We’d like to thank everyone for coming to ChilliFest, it will be a nice tribute to Bob and I know he’s looking over us.
“We have had great support and it’s really nice to see so many people here, it’s been a difficult and emotional time.”
Twelve contestants signed up to take part in the chilli-eating contest, which started off with the brave souls given a jalapeño to eat, before moving on to a red Thai chilli, and then a Rajito and Scotch Bonnett.
The contestants dropped out one by one as the contest heated up, and as rounds five, six and seven saw the participants eat a whole Naga chilli, then a chocolate scorpion chilli and a Trinidad Moruga respectively.
Edda Toma, from Brehmen, Germany, was crowned the eventual winner, and she had travelled all the way for her home country to take part in the competition.
After winning the competition, she said: “I’m feeling a bit warm. That last chilli [the Trinidad Moruga] was horrible.
“I don’t normally like hot sauces, I much prefer eating fresh chillis.”
There was also a Churros eating competition for youngsters, which was won by 12-year-old Dylan Burnett after he ate a grand total of 12 churros in record time.
As well as countless stands with plenty of hot and spicy food products, there were also children’s entertainers, a large bar by Blue Monkey, a display by the Mermaid Cove with performances by mermaids and acrobats, hair braiding, face painting and more.
