Country boy Tom Hewson chomped his way to victory on the final day of competition to be crowned "Fresher of the Year" for the Otago University Students Association Orientation Week festivities, yesterday.
Mr Hewson (18), a first-year resident at Studholme Hall enrolled to study for a double degree in law and physical education, won the freshers competition by a mere mouthful in the final event of the week-long contest of elimination.
The Lake Hawea teenager chewed up his competition in the grand finale burger-eating contest, narrowly eating out his three fellow finalists to claim victory and the coveted fresher of the year title.
The jubilant freshman leapt into the air with a fist pump for good measure when he swallowed his last mouthful of iced-tea soaked burger to secure his win by a marginal morsel from Jordan Maclachlan, of Wellington, and Pagan Tawhai, of Taupo.
Mr Hewson said he felt "absolutely amazing" after winning the final of the week-long elimination contest.
"I went through at the bottom of each round the whole way through. This final was all about redemption," Mr Hewson said.
Earlier, a group of six contestants had taken part in a fitness challenge, before being whittled to five to abseil down the seven-storeyed chemistry department building in the university campus grounds.
Nicole Radburnd, of Christchurch, joined the three boys to make the final four for the burger-eating contest.
Mr Hewson said "small bites" and a liberal dousing of his burger with iced tea was the key to his eating victory.
"The more you chew, the hungrier you are, I say."
He said there was only one way to celebrate his victory, Mr Hewson said.
"I'll have to start studying now, I guess."