Challenge the Sabbs - Chilli Eating Showdown
On Tuesday afternoon, the Sabbatical Officers: Ally Cott, Kirsty Patterson and Tomo Roberts, accompanied by the Felix Sport Editor, Jovan Nedić, entered the ring for the first round of Challenge the Sabbs. The challenge was a test of courage, nerve, stupidity and bowel capacity: a chilli eating contest.
The four Sabbs would face-off against four members of Islamic Society who were foolish enough to think they were tough enough to beat the Union's finest. This took place over four rounds, not surprisingly.
Members of each team would go one-on-one with members of the other team. Four different types of chilli were provided for consumption, ranging from large green gut busters to the Chillies Of Death™ (pictured on the opposing page). The task for the contestants was to eat one chilli at the same time as the other person. If one of the fighters couldn't finish their chilli, they lost the round. Simple.
First up: Tomo Roberts versus Ammar Waraich. Leading from the front, Tomo hoped to rally the troops who were nervously spectating at this point.
The banter and stinky chat began as Tomo took the first bite, seemingly enjoying the spicy taste and pungent aroma of the first green chilli. Ammar was having none of it, clearly seeing through Tomo's arrogant smokescreen. The first chillies were consumed much to the pleasure of the small crowd of Islamic Society supporters that had gathered around the tables. Chillies two and three were gradually masticated and swallowed.
By now, the audience was gasping with horror as the smell of the little devils swept like a tsunami across the boards of Dalby Court. It was time for the fourth and final chilli. Both competitors were clearly feeling the burn and any earlier bravado had subsided. Tomo played the waiting game, but Ammar was wise to this as he took a bite out of a dreaded Chilli Of Death™. Enough was enough. Tomo conceded to which the crowd roared with delight. 1-0 to Islamic Society.
Next up, Felix Sport Editor Jov was toe-to-toe with Isnain Shah. The Sabbs were wounded and it was time for revenge. Both competitors were strong, easily gobbling down the first three chillies. The fairness of the contest was momentarily brought into question by the baying audience as it was discovered that Jov was eating chewing gum with his chillies. Nevertheless, the contestants arrived at the final chilli and nothing seemed to be able to stop them. The Chillies Of Death™ were consumed by both contestants and the round was declared a draw with neither person particularly keen on eating more fire.
This progress by the Sabbs' would be built upon in the next round by Ally "The Firebreather" Cott. Fearlessly, Ally gulped down the first chilli as his opponent Umar Patel was still picking off the stalk. Ally breezed through the following two rounds and by now the audience was gob smacked at his chilli eating prowess. Claims were made that his beard had something to do with this success, but these remain totally unfounded. Inevitably, and rather unfortunately for Umar, Ally easily swallowed the final chilli. Umar couldn't take the heat and with tears beginning to stream down his face, he gave in. 1-1.
It was going to come right down to the wire. Kirsty Patterson was up against Nicole Ahmed to decide who would win the first round of Challenge the Sabbs. The contestants took their seats and slowly began to munch on the first chillies. Strangely enough, the first chilli was actually hotter than the second, but both contestants managed it. However, during the second round Nicole set the pace, quickly biting through chunks of chilli going against the wishes of her watering eyes. Kirsty was clearly not enjoying the jalapenos from hell. A verbal battering was coming down upon her from her opponent and it all became too much. Kirsty conceded defeat and that was it; the Sabbs lost. Hands were shaken, Islamic Society was declared victorious winning 2-1 and much milk was drunk to settle the stomachs and prevent the chillies from rearing their ugly heads in digested form.
The two teams gathered together for a final photo, but the Sabbs were missing one team member in the form of Jov. Unfortunately, the Felix Sport Editor had had to dash to the nearest toilet to bring up the ice-cream which was originally intended as a cooling agent.
The afternoon was punishing on stomachs, with many suffering the consequences of their consumption way after the event had finished. Yet it was a fantastic opener to the Challenge the Sabbs season. The two teams were ultra-competitive, but the banter never slipped beyond cheeky digs.
This writer would like to thank Islamic Society for helping organise a fun, action packed event, for providing the chillies and necessary fire quenching ice cream and milk.
The next challenge will not result in Sabb defeat. Bring it on!
If you'd like to challenge the Sabbs, email Tom Roberts on felix@imperial.ac.uk. Let us know who you are, what you think you can beat us at, where you suggest the event will take place and how many Sabbatical Officers you'll need for the fight to go ahead. We look forward to receiving your challenges and any mild death threats you want to send our way.
