Firefighters clam up

Former chief from Baldwin Chris Neville ate 91 clams total to secure third place overall.

Theresa Press/Herald

Bob McKenna, left, and Chris Neville worked their way through plates of clams to make a good showing for the Baldwin Fire Department in the first Clam Eating Contest at Peter’s Clam Bar in Island Park last Sunday.

Theresa Press/Herald

Firemen from several South Shore fire departments participated in the first Clam Eating Contest at Peter’s Clam bar in Island Park.

Theresa Press/Herald

Jim Sarro dug into the pile of eight-dozen clams, representing Island Park Fire Department.

Theresa Press/Herald

World Champion competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi ate 96 clams in two minutes to kick off Peter’s Clam Bar first Clam Eating Contest. Local fire departments participated to raise funds for Superstorm Sandy relief.

Theresa Press/Herald

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Peter’s Clam Bar in Island Park hosted a clam-eating contest last Sunday to benefit Long Island firehouses that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

A total of 14 contestants from Baldwin, Island Park, Oceanside, Point Lookout-Lido, Long Beach and North Merrick fire department competed in the first part of the contest. Nearly 2,000 clams were eaten by all. 

Richie Santoro of the Long Beach Fire Department took first place and earned $2,500 for his department. Bob Holtkamp, also of the Long Beach Fire Department, came in second and earned $1000. Ex-chief Chris Neville of the Baldwin Fire Department came in third and won a $500 donation from Peter’s owner, Butch Yamali. Checks were made payable to the winners respective fire departments 

  Santoro packed away eight-dozen in the first four-minute round, and then almost five dozen in the championship round for a total of approximately 150 clams.

The judges were County Executive Ed Mangano, Jill Nicolini, and Ed “Cookie” Jarvis, a “professional” eater. Takeru Kobayashi, who is a competitive eating champion and six time Nathan’s hot dog eating champ, advised the contestants.