The winners of the qualifying event for the “World Cup” of competitive hot dog eating have been announced.

A dozen competitors, many from the UK, battled it out at Seal Bay Resort’s White Horse Complex in Selsey to see who could eat the most hot dogs in ten minutes.

It was the first time the event was held in the UK.

Called Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, its name pays homage to Nathan’s Famous, the host of the event, as well as a chain of fast-food restaurants specialising in hot dogs.

Max Stanford claimed victory in the men’s category for the first qualifier round, wolfing down 34 hot dogs and buns, with Radim Dvoracek second, having eaten 21.5 hot dogs and buns.

The winners were announced on social media by Major League Eating, which  ensures that safety standards are in place at each event.

There was a tie for the next spot, with Ronnie Hartman and John Dawes both making the podium.

In the women’s category, Rhea Jarvis managed to secure first place by eating four hot dogs and buns.

Major League Eating president Richard Shea, 54, said Mr Stanford was an “eater of note” and predicted that he might be “the odds-on favourite for the Brits in this but I’ve never seen him eat hot dogs so you never know”.

Some of Mr Stanford’s previous achievements include eating 141 Oreos in five minutes, 23 McPlant burgers in less than an hour and 50 cream eggs in 24 minutes.

Mr Shea said a hot dog eating competition has occurred every July 4 in Coney Island since 1916, the year the first Nathan’s Famous restaurant was opened.

The qualifiers will go through to the next round for the world championship men’s and women’s contests to take place in Coney Island, New York, on July 4, 2024.

The Argus: Joey Chestnut, left, and Miki Sudo are the current record holderJoey Chestnut, left, and Miki Sudo are the current record holder (Image: PA)

Joey Chestnut, from Westfield, Indiana, currently holds the world record of 76 hot dogs and buns eaten in ten minutes and earned his 16th title in July.

Miki Sudo, from Port Richey, Florida, is the nine-time female champion, with an all-time best of 48.5 hot dogs and buns eaten in ten minutes.