17-Time Champ Targets Historic 18th Watercress Title

Nigel Devine, the 17-time reigning world watercress eating champion, will face his toughest challenge yet at the 36th Annual Blackwater Bridge Watercress Festival on October 12. Devine, 42, a former truck driver from Hampshire, has dominated the event since 2008, but this year’s competition introduces a radical rule change: contestants must consume the greens without any sauce or seasoning.

The festival, held in the quaint village of Blackwater Bridge in Hampshire, transforms the quiet riverside hamlet into a hub of culinary chaos. Last year’s event drew 1,200 spectators, with Devine devouring 2.4 kilograms of watercress in 15 minutes—a record that still stands. This year, the organisers have installed a new electronic timer system, replacing the traditional manual countdown, to ensure absolute precision.

Devine trains rigorously year-round, focusing on jaw endurance and swallowing technique. His secret weapon? A diet of dry oats and rice cakes to toughen his mouth muscles. "It’s brutal, but it works," Devine said. "Last year, I could feel my jaw giving out at the 12-minute mark. This year, I’m targeting 16 minutes flat."

The festival’s organisers, the Blackwater Bridge Agricultural Society, have confirmed that 24 competitors will take part, including two international challengers from Belgium and Japan. The Belgian entrant, Dirk Vandenberghe, holds the European record for watercress consumption, while Japan’s Mei Lin is a three-time national champion known for her lightning-fast technique.

The competition kicks off at 3 p.m. with a qualifier round, where the bottom four performers are eliminated. The final eight will then compete in a knockout format, with the last two facing off in a five-minute showdown. The winner receives a trophy carved from a single piece of English oak and a £5,000 cash prize.

Spectators this year can expect a tighter security perimeter around the eating zone. Last year’s event saw a near-disaster when a spectator accidentally knocked over a contestant’s tray, spilling half their serving. Organisers have also banned live music during the competition to reduce distractions.

For Devine, the stakes are higher than ever. A win would cement his legacy as the greatest watercress eater of all time, while a loss could signal the end of an era. "I don’t think about losing," Devine said. "But if someone beats me this year, I’ll eat my own trophy—unseasoned."