Hot dog eating competition

Seven hungry contestants.

Three minutes.

And, the chance to be crowned “Bonita’s Top Dog” as part of the Independence Day celebrations at Riverside Park on Saturday, July 1.

The contest ended a day of festivities including a parade on Old 41, relay races and a giant water slide for kids.

Kevin Alleynne, 14, rode down the street in a fire truck in the early hours of the morning but stayed the whole day waiting for the main event — all the hot dogs he could eat for free.

“I think I have a chance to win,” he said before the competition.

As the judges set up the clock and put two hot dogs buns on the table, Alleynne didn’t even look at the competition.

He stayed focused on the trophie and the cheers from his friends in the crowd that lined the main stage.

“You have three minutes to eat as many hot dogs as you can and you get this trophie,” said Tim Spires, the master of ceremonies.

In his hands, Spires held a trophie with two plastic hot dogs on each side and a blank name plate.

Alleynne knew the trophy would soon bare his name.

“One! Two! Three! Go!” yelled Spires and the competition was on.

Sixteen-year-old Josh Denisen, of Bonita Springs would be Alleynne’s only real threat.

The other kids were younger and some were just too slow.

In a little over a minute, Alleynne ate two dogs.

Denisen took his hot dog out of the bun and started chomping. Swallowing the whole thing in no time as he eyed the competition — Alleynne just three contestants away.

Alleynne ate one more dog.

The other kids, ages 7 through 14, struggled to get their hot dogs down and guzzled water.

Alleynne hit dog No. 4 with a feverish pace. He poured water on the hot dog and bun to make it go down.
The crown cheered.

“Go Kevin! Eat man! Eat!” screamed Alleynne’s supporters from the crowd.

Even Mayor Jay Arend could feel the excitement on the stage.

“Wow!” he said as he stood by amazed at Alleynne’s ability to eat so quickly.

Alleynne finished number five but the time was against him.

“Ten! Nine! Eight!” the crowd roared.

Alleynne tried for number six but only got a quarter of the way in and the time ended.

He raised his arms in the air out of excitement and to make room for the first quarter of hot dog number six.

“That was incredible. The pressure,” said Arend looking at the boy who ate five and a quarter dogs in total.

Alleynne took a minute before he stood up to claim his prize. The competitor was full and looked glad it was over.

“I did it just for fun. It feels good to win,” he said adding that he knew he could do it.

He had competed in a cookie eating contest at St. Leo’s Church and won.

“They tried hard but couldn’t keep up,” said Alleynne carrying a smaller trophie he could take home.

The larger trophy would sit at City Hall with his name on it.

“I’ll be back next year to defend my title,” he said.