Farrell’s Ice Cream Eating Challenge Championship is Sunday

61193-FarrellsChallenge2012-thumb-250x365-61192.png

This Sunday (July 15) is National Ice Cream Day.

It also happens to be the big Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Ice Cream Eating Challenge Championship Event and family festival at the Brea Farrell’s.

I know what you’re thinking…Brea is in Orange Country, not the Inland Empire.

True, but there are several Inland Empire folks among the 64 qualifiers competing.

In the men’s challenge, we have John Protic from Rancho Cucamonga and Anthony Liercke from Riverside.

The top qualifier for the women’s category, Sharon Jacobs, is from Colton. Also competing are Sonia Rodriguez from San Bernardino, Mary Jo Callegos from Corona and Nicole Urban from Hemet.

In the kid’s category, we’ve got Reace and Corey Arrietta from San Bernardino, Isaiah Johnson from Fontana and Andrew Sperry from Colton.

The top qualifier for the professional category, Damon Wells, is from Riverside. Also competing are Victorville’s Naader “Freak8r” Reda and Kevin Ross from Temecula.

The third annual competition is going to be quite an event, with Birch Street in downtown Brea being closed to traffic for a street fair with rides, games, music, raffles and more.

Net proceeds from this event, including the qualifying ice cream, raffle tickets and carnival ride sales will benefit CHOC Chilldren’s and Make-A-Wish.

The event begins at 11 a.m., with the first ice cream eating contest beginning at 11:30 a.m. and new contests every hour after that.

Winners in each category will receive a year of free Farrell’s ice cream, a trophy and bragging rights. In addition, for those in the professional category, there is a $500 cash prize.

For more information, including a complete list of competitors and raffle items, click here.

Update: Some of the I.E. folks listed above were winners in their categories! Congrats to Isaiah Johnson who downed a Junior Pig Trough (six small scoops) in 48 seconds for first place, and Reace Arrietta, who did the same in just under a minute for third place in the kids category. Anthony Liercke placed second in the men’s category, gulping down a Pig’s Trough (six scoops) in a hair under 2 minutes. Mary Jo Gallegos gobbled up a Pig’s Trough in 2 minutes, 36 seconds for third place in the women’s category. Competitive eaters Damon Wells and Naader Reda each wolfed down a Zoo — 30 scoops of ice cream, about 5 pounds — in 6 minutes, 2 seconds and 7 minutes, 17 seconds, respectively, for first and second place in the professional category.