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Onion eating contest revived at medieval festival

Matty EdwardsWest of England
News imageNewent Celebrates A woman wearing a white headscarf and green dress next to a tall man with a black t-shirt and long black hair are both holding partially eaten onionsNewent Celebrates
Jade Basby and Ryan Daubney took home this year's onion chomping crowns

A famous onion eating competition has returned to mark the 800-year history of a market town.

Thousands of people were in Newent in the Forest of Dean on Saturday for the eye-watering competition along with medieval reenactments, full-armoured combat and live music.

Andy Offord from the organising committee said: "Newent is known for its onions, always has, always will be."

Ryan Daubney won the men's category by eating a 7oz (198g) onion in one minute and five seconds, while Jade Basby took home the ladies' crown by munching a 5oz (141g) specimen in one minute 24 seconds.

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The modern iteration of the Newent Onion Fayre ran from 1996 until the Covid pandemic, and has since been rebranded as part of a series of events called Newent Celebrates.

Offord said musket fire was used as the starting gun for the onion eating contest.

"We get people wearing glasses, goggles, even pegs on their noses," he said.

"Ryan's time was just over a minute, so that's proper competition time," he added.

The Guiness World Record in this discipline stands at 29.56 seconds, which is held by Yusuke Yamaguchi from Japan.

"I'm not a fast onion eater, I'm a casual eater, so I never win, I just enjoy the taste - we're a bit nuts in Newent," Offord said.

News imageTerry Darrington Two men in medieval costumes both look at an onion in their hands.Terry Darrington
Twelve men took part in the onion eating contest

Jade Basby, from Warminster, Wiltshire, who became the women's champion, said: "I've never done anything like that in my life."

"We thought why not, let's do it for a laugh, but we got a bit nervous when we realised it was on the stage in front of people."

News imageTerry Darrington Four women dressed in medieval costumes stood in a line are eating onions.Terry Darrington
Jade Basby, second from the left, beat five other women to take the title in one minute 24 seconds

She was part of a historical reenactment group who focus on 14th Century medieval life, from weapons and crafts to herbs and foraging.

"I love eating raw onions at home anyway," she said, adding that she chose to eat the core first to get the strongest part out of the way.

She declared her intention to defend her title next year and get some practice in.

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