Story of the Week: Summer Season Ends with a Bang

Some ate only crackers or light meals to keep themselves hungry. Others exercised, including Hampton Union Staff Writer Nick Reid, who ran a zombie-themed 5K race just hours before the competition.

Not many eaters enter a competition featuring a food they've never even eaten before. That's exactly what James Burgess did, though.

En route to winning the Seafood Fest contest and eating the most lobster rolls in its four-year history.

Burgess, 42, of Thompson, Conn., knocked off defending champion Sao Young on Sept. 7 by eating 14 lobster rolls in 10 minutes — the only 14 lobster rolls he's eaten in his life.

“[What was in the rolls] was a little more than I expected, but I made out all right, I think,” Burgess said with a smile. “It was rough toward the end, but I did it. I made it through.”

Young, of Lowell, Mass., finished in second place with 13 rolls. He and Burgess were neck-and-neck through much of the competition, which sponsor Tom McGuirk of McGuirk’s Ocean View said had one of the largest and most enthusiastic Seashell Stage crowds he’s ever seen.

Burgess, now a lobster roll fan, also ate 14 hot dogs during his victory in the competition qualifier at McGuirk’s earlier this summer.

"That was rough, too," said Burgess, who won $600, a wrestling-style championship belt, and an automatic bid in next year's lobster roll competition for Saturday's first-place finish.

Young took home $250, while Craig Hooper, 23, of Malden, Mass., and Tim Downing, 31, of Medford, Mass., tied for third place after eating 11 rolls.

Video from the competition is included above. The winners of the annual Seafood Festival awards are detailed here.