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Giants measure up in close-fought contest

March 09, 2006

ToddZucch.thumb.JPGAfter an incident-filled weigh-in yesterday, the judges pronounced a 124.5 kg pumpkin the winner of its class in the third annual University of New England Veggie Growing Competition.

Dr John Stanley, producer of the giant pumpkin, said the secret of his success was “lots of composted sheep manure, lots of water, and continual pruning of other pumpkins from the vine”. “It’s the biggest pumpkin I’ve ever grown,” said Dr Stanley, winner of the competition for the third successive year.

The pumpkins in second and third place weighed in at 114 and 77.4 kg.

The lawn adjacent to UNE’s Agronomy Building was the scene of the weigh-in and award ceremony, with a spectacular display of entries (including several that were ruled to be fraudulent) in the giant pumpkin, zucchini, and sunflower classes.

UNE’s School of Health was a keen competitor, and the judges agreed that the School’s entries were the “healthiest looking” pumpkins and zucchinis on display. Angie Smith, one of the Health team, referred to “intravenous feeding” and “intensive care” as components of the School’s veggie-growing regime, and “pumpkin soup” as its outcome. Ann Moir-Bussy, also from Health, remarked on the level of “nursing care” and “medical technology” that had been lavished on the entries.

Pumpkin and sunflower entries by one competitor, after arousing the judges’ suspicions, were declared “non-veggie” and disqualified. The competitor responded with an impassioned plea – supported by photographs – for the supremacy of a pumpkin that he said he had grown in a secret location (following attempts at sabotage by his rivals) and that, because of its “enormous size”, he had been unable to transport to the weigh-in. It was all part of the fun.

Todd Naylor (UNE Printery) produced the heaviest zucchini (5.3 kg), and Mark and Tieneke Trotter (Agronomy) won both sunflower classes: “largest head” (42 cm diameter) and “tallest” (3.3 metres).

Dr Stanley (Rural Science) said the competition was “just for fun”, and that he would like to see it expand to the Armidale community (maybe next year). Many of the entries will find their way to the Armidale Show this weekend.

The photograph displayed here is of Todd Naylor with his prize-winning zucchini.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at March 9, 2006 03:02 PM