ONLY one person had the stomach to complete a food-eating challenge that raised more than £1,000 for a Basingstoke hospice.

The gigantic breakfast defeated our very own reporter Chris Gregory but it was no match for van driver Conrad North.

The 34-year-old polished off the calorie-busting meal in just 21 minutes and 40 seconds, at Charlie’s Cafe, in Roentegen Road, Daneshill – with more than eight minutes left on the clock.

The challenge was the brainchild of cafe owners Jackie Terry and Christine Tuffs, to raise money for St Michael’s Hospice.

The challenge was to finish the super-sized fry up, which included six sausages, six fried eggs, three black puddings, bread, chips and beans, in just 30 minutes.

Mr North was the only person out of 50 people who entered to finish his plate. The father-of-four, of Bourdillon Gardens, Popley, said: “It was difficult because I was one of the first people to do it – I didn’t have any time to work towards.

“The only tactic I had was to get the bread in with everything else, rather than leave it to the end. It was a case of getting my head down and getting it done.

“Sixteen minutes in I looked at the clock and thought, ‘I’m not going to stop, I’m going to carry on’.”

Mr North, who said he does not normally eat breakfast, got a place on the cafe’s wall of fame and a trophy. He donated his £20 entrance fee to the hospice, which he could have taken back having completed the challenge.

The day raised £1,042 for the hospice in Aldermaston Road. Mrs Terry said: “It was a really good day and the atmosphere was fantastic.

“I am glad that somebody was able to finish it, but I’m also glad that people found it challenging. Out of all of the competitors I’m glad Conrad won because he was a really nice man.”

Helena Maskell, senior fundraising manager at St Michael’s Hospice, added: “We are delighted Jackie, Chris and all the team at Charlie’s Cafe chose to support the hospice in such an original way, it certainly got local people talking.

“Well done to all the entrants who took part and to Conrad for achieving the amazing feat of beating the Big Breakfast Challenge in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.”

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