Local Jaco du Plessis took home the grand prize of R17 500 at the annual Giant Pumpkin Festival held in Heidelberg. The winning pumpkin weighed a whopping 601.8kg, leaving many in awe at the Vyeboom Christelike Privaatskool, where the festival was hosted.
Du Plessis’ pumpkin set a record for the festival, towering over last year’s winner whose pumpkin weighed 532.4kg.
Unfortunately, its weight fell just short of the national record which currently stands at 613kg.
The lucky winner from Vyeboom, Villiersdrop said his success was due to persistence as he had already competed twice before.
“It was third time lucky! This is the furthest I have come in this competition,” du Plessis told Landbouweekblad.
Others who competed alongside du Plessis were no easy competition, coming in second and third place Piet Lotz. His wife, Elizna Lotz placed for their 510.6kg and 460.8kg pumpkins respectively.
Du Plessis was nonetheless surprised to have won despite the sheer size of his hand grown beauty. “I knew this year that my pumpkin was one of the three biggest, but I was still surprised when it was the biggest,” he said.
Pictures: Vyeboom Christelike Privaatskool Facebook