A love of two iconic Scottish delicacies, a strong constitution and an ability to eat at speed will make for the perfect competitor as an unusual new competition takes place this month.
The World Tunnock’s Teacake Eating Championship will challenge participants to guzzle as many of the marshmallow-filled treats as possible within four minutes – washed down with a can of Irn Bru.
It will take place as part of a two-day festival celebrating Brechin’s links to the legendary US motorcycle marque, Harley-Davidson.
The competition is the latest wacky crowd-puller dreamed up for the Angus town, after high-speed cartie-racing through the town and the country’s longest street water slide.
Organisers are preparing to take delivery of a mountain of the famous teacakes for world title contenders to pack away.
Tunnock’s will be supplying a whopping 5,000 teacakes for the challenge – and have given an additional 300 to feed the Harley-Davidson in the City Festival volunteers.
The world championship will involve teams of two – an unwrapper of the distinctive red and silver foil and an eater whose task is to try and finish off more of the treats than any other.
The sweet-toothed contenders will then have a further 60 seconds to wash the world bid down with a can of Irn Bru.
If there is a tie, the biscuit battle will be extended for an additional two minutes.
Dean Walker of the festival organising committee said: “We are delighted to have Tunnock’s on board for this year’s festival – another coup and another global brand joining us here in Brechin.”
The festival group is hoping for huge interest in the additional challenge, with heats being held on Saturday July 14 ahead of the final showdown in Brechin’s River Street on Sunday 15.
“There is no entry fee, all you need to do is send an entry email to teacake@hditc.co.uk, with full details available on our Facebook page,” said Mr Walker.
Participants must, however, be 18 or over.
Harley-Davidson in the City Festival organisers have extended the annual event to create a full two-day programme this year, with the main focus on the July 14 ride-out which is expected to see some 500 bikers roar through Brechin and around Angus in a spectacular convoy.
Brechin is linked to the famous motorcycle brand by Netherton Cottage near the town, the house from which Sandy and Margaret Davidson emigrated across the Atlantic in the mid-19 thcentury, before their grandsons went on to found the firm.
Restored by enthusiasts a number of years ago, the cottage at the roadside between Brechin and Forfar is now a place of pilgrimage for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts from across the globe.