Murphys Creek Chilli Festival eating competition winner takes title in less than three minutes

A Sunshine Coast man came, saw and conquered one of the fiercest chillies in the world and claimed the title of Chilli Chomp champion at this year’s Murphys Creek Chilli Festival.

When staring down a combination of one of the world’s spiciest chillies, drowning in a sauce almost entirely made up of said chillies, there’s no time for self-doubt or hesitation.

Showing an unshakeable disposition and an iron stomach, Sunshine Coast man Daniel Rose demolished the competition, and the plate of chillies, to take out the Murphys Creek Chilli Festival Chilli Chomp competition in an impressive time of two minutes, 37 seconds.

Mr Rose said his strategy for the competition was simple: “don't think, don’t stop, just keep eating”.

“You’ve just got to keep powering through because the minute you think about it, you feel it,” Mr Rose said after his eyes stopped watering.

Mark Albert (left) of Childers Fine Foods congratulates Daniel Rose the winner of the Murphys Creek Chilli Carnival chilli chomp eating competition, Sunday, September 18, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A first timer to the Murphys Creek Chilli Festival, Mr Rose said he had travelled almost three hours to be a part of the day.

“I love chilli and love a good food festival, so I thought I’d come check it out,” he said.

Creator of the sauce that did all the damage, Childers Fine Foods owner Mark Albert said he and his wife had started out their business after they were unable to find a sauce they liked.

“We started off with a very mild (Carolina) reaper sauce, but people just wanted it hotter,” he said.

“Now we have a competition range which is beyond the extreme level. The chilli arena in Australia is growing all the time, it’s so small compared to America and the more people like Daniel get into it the more we can become a good business.”

Murphys Creek Chilli Festival organiser Jason O’Connor said this year’s event was even bigger than last year as vendors from across the country were able to attend.