America’s reigning hot dog-eating champion has earned his eighth consecutive world title in New York, but took a moment before inhaling 61 dogs to propose to his girlfriend – who said yes.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, 30, completed the feat in 10 minutes, but devoured fewer of the cooked sausages in buns than last year, when he ate 69 in a world-record setting performance at the annual competition.

“I could never find my rhythm,” the 93-kilogram Chestnut said after this year’s contest.

But Chestnut made sure the day was memorable, dropping to one knee before live television and a crowd of some 30,000 spectators to propose to his girlfriend Neslie Ricasa, also a competitive eater.

Defending women’s champion Sonya Thomas was dethroned by newcomer 28-year-old Miki Sudo, who inhaled 34 hot dogs.

Thomas, 46, set the women’s world record in 2012, when she ate 45 hot dogs.

A total of 17 men and 13 women vied for this year’s title in the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at the Brooklyn seaside resort of Coney Island, where the goal is to eat as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes.

Anyone who vomits is disqualified.

The hot-dog eating contest dates back to 1916, when the champion devoured 13 dogs in 10 minutes.