Portsmouth foodies tackle Pie and Vinyl's mammoth pie eating competition

Pie and Vinyl in Castle Road, Southsea, held the competition yesterday evening in aid of rough sleepers in the city.

Heroic entrants were tasked with eating five pies as quickly as possible

The winner, John Beckett, 60 from Fareham, was rewarded with a free pie at the restaurant every week for the next year.

Entry cost £10, which included a donated pie to someone who is homeless in Portsmouth.

John said: ‘It feels great to have won – I haven’t really won much in my life so this is a brilliant achievement for me.

‘It shows I’m good at something at least.’

Pie and Vinyl itself first opened its doors in 2012, with separate sections for vinyl record enthusiasts and diners.

Foodies tucked into their choice of either steak and ale pies or a vegan alternative.

When John, who works for Fareham Borough Council, emerged victorious, it had taken him just nine minutes to polish off the pies.

He said: ‘I didn’t really have a secret.

‘I eat a lot anyway because I’ve got a big metabolism, so I can just keep on going.

‘It’s the pastry of the pies that gets you though; you just have to keep munching and not stop, no matter what.’

Coming a close second, finishing two minutes behind John, was 25-year-old project professional Matt Beacham, from Southsea.

He said: ‘To be honest I was swallowing chunks of food way before it felt right to do so.

‘I’m already feeling pretty bad because it was so fast; I’m going to be feeling it for the next few days, that’s for certain.

‘I’ll be back next year for a rematch with John though.’

Further down the pecking order was Gary Cawte, a 50-year-old motor mechanic from Southsea.

He said: ‘I had two pies left in the end, but I feel incredibly full.

‘I hit a wall at the end though; I’m gonna take the pies home and finish the challenge over the weekend.’