Once the rice settles there can be only sushi champion; and many losers

REPORTER Louise Starkey went to war with a rice eating monster by the name of Harding-Davis in Niji Sushi Bar’s Sushi Challenge. She limped a broken woman. Her Starkey, in her own words, talks about life, rice and competitive eating death.

THERE IS nothing better than grabbing a bite to eat after a long day at the office.

However, when the serving comes out at four times the amount of what you would usually eat, your heart beats a little faster — out of fear.

That feeling was exactly what I felt course through my veins when I realised I made a terrible mistake of thinking I could conquer the 2018 Niji Sushi Bar’s Sushi Challenge 8 contest in Kingsford on March 19.

I was one of 25 contestants to take part in the challenge — attempting to eat 50 pieces of sushi and one wasabi rice ball — within 10 minutes.

Winner Isaac Harding-Davis with an empty plate, a gut full of rice and fish and stuff and a heart full of pride knowing that he can eat food really quickly. Pictures: John Appleyard

However, as I sat there, hunched over my plate, one minute and 50 seconds in, I realised any thoughts of glory were over.

Not only was I already feeling full on the fourth piece, but my competition was Isaac Harding-Davis — a competitive eater, notorious for his speed and drive to claim first place.

In that time, the 21-year-old demolished the 51 piece serving, just eight seconds behind his best score of one minute 42 seconds last year.

News Local reporter Louise Starkey is a winner in life (sure she is), just not in competitive eating. She looks glamorous here but not with a gob full of food.

Harding-Davis said while sushi, particularly Niji’s sushi, was his “favourite food in the world”, he had already conquered other eating challenges globally — from burgers to pies, pizza and hotdogs.

“I’ve always been a big eater and ended up trying out a challenge once, and found out I was quite good at it,” he said.

“I think it all comes down to mentality and mind frame.

“I wanted to drink as much water with the sushi and not chew it as much, and just set a constant rhythm to try and smash them out.”

It’s an attractive business. Mr Harding-Davis, with second place getter, Jesse Freeman, and third place getter Scott Gorden. Starkey was scoffing elsewhere.

Just to be fair, a very unflattering photo of Starkey.

Niji’s owner Raji Khanal said he hoped to expand the competition for next year — which started in 2013 — to cater up to 50 people.

“There’s a lot of interest, so we’re looking to do the competition in a hall to cater for more people,” he said.

“It’ll still be in Kingsford.”

THE WINNER IN HIS OWN WORDS