West Caldwell (June 10, 2005) – The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, In Association With PNC Bank,  is adding a new component for this year’s annual event at Solberg Airport in Readington NJ and this one has some bite to it, especially for those who like to chow down. In conjunction with The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (AICE), the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is launching the first-ever “Original Toasted Italian Sub Eating Contest.”

Three qualifiers will be held at separate Quick Chek stores in New Jersey , with the top three finishers from each event earning a chance to compete for the $750 first prize at the championship event that will be held on Saturday, July 30 at the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ .

The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters is an affiliation of Independent Competitive Eaters and talented contributors who have organized for their mutual benefit. Known as AICE, the organization seeks to create opportunities for its individual Eaters to participate in competitive eating venues in order to promote events, products and charitable causes.

“Competitive eating has become enormously popular and we’re very pleased to be working with the AICE, which has become a leader in the competitive eating industry,” said Howard Freeman, Executive Producer of the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.  

“The AICE is very excited to be able to work with the Quick Chek New Jersey of Ballooning in developing this contest,” said Arnie “Chowhound” Chapman, Chairman of the AICE. “The championship final at the Festival, as well as the qualifying events, should be very competitive and entertaining.”

Picnic style rules apply to the Original Italian Hero Sub Eating Contest. All subs must be eaten without separating, dunking, mushing, mashing or deconstructing the delicious and beautiful Original Italian Toasted Sub.  

“Should an eater be observed violating picnic style rules he/she will be deemed in performance of a ‘picnic profanity’ and will be disqualified,” says Chapman.

“This is the perfect way for us to showcase the best toasted Italian subs in the world,” noted John Schaninger, V.P. of Sales and Merchandising for Quick Chek.

Original Italian Hero Sub Eating Contest Qualifier Dates & Locations

June 16 – Bridgewater ,

June 23 – Fairview ,

July 7 – Hazlet , 1170 Rte. 36 South, Hazlet (732) 739-1459

All events will start at 2 p.m.  Participants must be present 30 minutes prior to the start of competition.

Contest Rules

This will be a 10 minute contest. Entrants will be given three fully loaded 6” Italian subs (weighing ¾ pound apiece). Upon completion of each plate of three subs, and eater will be reloaded with another three subs. This event will be a Competitive Eating Extravaganza featuring some of ’s best competitive eaters along with a determined group of local eaters seeking to claim their share of the $1,300 in prize money and the title of “New Jersey Toasted Italian Sub Eating Champion.”

Entrance to the qualifying events is free.  Applications are available at www.CompetitiveEaters.com or by calling the AICE at 516-632-9794.

Prize Structure Qualifying Round Winners:

1^st - $100 gift certificate and opportunity to go to the finals

2^nd $50 gift certificate and opportunity to go to the finals

3^rd $25 gift certificate and the opportunity to go to the finals

Grand Prize Winners

1^st - $750 and a trophy

2^nd - $375 and a trophy

3^rd - $175 and a trophy

 Tickets for the 2005 Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning are now available for advance purchase at all Quick Chek Food Stores, providing festival-goers with discounts of up to 30 percent for the annual three-day event which kicks off on Friday, July 29 and continues through Sunday, July 31.

A portion of event proceeds from tickets purchased at Quick Chek Food Stores benefits the Children’s Miracle Network.

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, located at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ , is North America ’s largest summertime family-oriented celebration of the  magic of ballooning, featuring scores of rides and attractions for kids, parents and festival-goers of all ages.  Hot air balloon ascensions with up to 125 sport and special-shape balloons are scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., wind and weather permitting.