After a week of being waterbombed, dining on roadkill, singing karaoke and abseiling off university buildings, the 2011 University of Otago fresher competition came down to a battle of the sexes and the strongest stomach.
Standing between finalists Georgina Norrie and Nic Christie (both 18) and an impressive prize pack at the Otago Museum Reserve yesterday were three huge Velvet Burger "Squawk Dawg" hamburgers.
"I've never seen anyone do three before," a watching Velvet Burger manager Henry Barker said admiringly.
Both finalists adopted a stoic, grim-faced technique as they battled through the burgers, washed down with Lipton ice tea.
After about 10 gut-wrenching minutes it was Mr Christie who emerged triumphant.
"I just tried to concentrate on chewing and swallowing," he said.
"The second one was definitely the hardest."
"The first one was easy, but it got harder and harder after that," Ms Norrie said.
Her effort in swallowing two and a half burgers did not go completely unrewarded, as Mr Christie generously gave her several of the prizes.
But, both said it would be a while before they ate hamburgers again.
A dozen students started out in the Orientation Week competition.
Mr Christie won a prize pack which included an iPod Touch, a Highlanders double season pass and an adventure weekend in Queenstown, with accommodation, car hire and bungy and rafting trips, OUSA events co-ordinator Dan Hendra said.
