Pancake Eating Contest

Congratulations to Bill Tillotson of Lisle, NY!

The new Pancake Eating Champion, Bill Tillotson from Lisle, New York ate 26 pancakes for Marathon's United Methodist Church. He is seen here (on left) with Dale Weed, CEO of New Hope Mills and his young son.

Everyone is a Winner!

Pancake Eaters Take Home Sweet Profits!

When the newly crowned Maple Festival Queen drops the sap bucket with a "bang", that bang begins the 15th Annual Pancake Eating Contest. Be at the Marathon High School Auditorium to catch the action of pancake eaters forking down pancakes smothered in fresh golden syrup, Saturday morning at 9am.

Eaters will be downing pancakes for their not-for-profit organizations. Each organization has been soliciting pledges per pancake since learning they have a place at the Maple Festival Pancake Eating Table. The Festival even makes a pledge of $2 a pancake to each of the organizations represented at the table. A grand total of $9,011 was earned by last year's eaters.

What is the record for pancakes eaten during the 15 minute contest? The number is 35, held by Joe LaRue who will be traveling to the Festival this year, from Kentucky. He will be on stage pouring drinks for the eaters and encouraging them to eat just one more.

Organizations represented this year are:

• Returning 2010 Champion Lauren Hirschberg (who ate 18 pancakes last year) will be eating for Marathon Olympians Relay for Life Team
• Crossroads Center for Children of Schenectady - Shawn Palmer of Oxford, CT
• Restoration Christian Church of Cortland - Brian Gilbert of Whitney Point, NY
• Marathon Methodist Church - Bill Tillotson of Lisle, NY
• MCS Class of 2012 - Evan Holl of Marathon, NY
• Virgil United Methodist Church - Lincoln Barber
• Girl Scout Troop 631 of Marathon - David Merihew
• Wendy's Walk for Kids of Cortland - Roger Morehouse
• First Presbyterian Church of Marathon - La'Zhay Reinford
• Mission Trips of St. Stephen's & St. Patrick's Church - Hunter White