MEDIA RELEASE
28th October 2013
GROWERS READY WITH SECRET FORMULAS
TO BEAT THE MURRAY RIVER GIANT PUMPKIN
COMPETITION RECORD
FREE GIANT PUMPKIN SEEDS NOW ON OFFER!!!!
Giant pumpkin growers are eager to beat the Murray Giant Pumpkin Competition record of 394kg to
take home the giant prize of a trip to the United States proudly donated by MGA Insurance Brokers.
This amazing weight was awarded to Dale Oliver at the 2011 giant pumpkin competition in Cadell
and organisers believe 2014 will be the year to break this record with current outstanding planting
conditions available.
Mannum grower Peter Hogben said , “He will be working hard to make sure his giant pumpkins
reach this record weight with regular fertilizer and a lot of tender loving care to make his way to the
USA”.
“I have one little trick up my sleeve but that’s for me to know and hopefully will help me win the trip
to the States”.
“Some growers just throw the seeds in and hope for the best with not much care at all and others
really try to push them along and many have undisclosed secret formulas”, said Cadell Tourist and
Community Association Chairman, Danny McGurgan”.
“Other growers just throw some carp or sheep remains in the ground and voila!!!!, they have taken
first prize such as previous winner Sandy Kernich”.
The current world record was awarded to Tim and Susan Mathison in Napa, California weighing in at
an amazing 2032 pounds (922kg). This humungous pumpkin was grown in their backyard and took
105 days to grow.
Now on display in the ‘Haunted Pumpkin Garden’ at the New York Botanical Garden just in time for
the USA’s Halloween celebrations.
Americans love their giant pumpkins and the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth who are the governing
body for 100 official weigh off sites around the world including Cadell in South Australia present an
array of giant pumpkins from across America for this exhibition including artistic giant pumpkin
sculptures featuring unearthly creatures and unique creations.
“ I believe the United Kingdom have just broken another world record with a 100m paddle across
the Portsmouth dock in just two minutes in a giant pumpkin weighing 600 pounds so we cannot
wait to see what Cadell pulls out of the hat or should I just say pumpkin in 2014”, said General
Manager of MGA Insurance Brokers, Paul George.
“We may see people paddling down the Murray in giant pumpkins or follow this Portsmouth fanatic
who plans to travel from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight in a motorized giant pumpkin fitted with an
outboard motor”.
“We hope to see many more backyard growers take on the challenge of winning this great prize and
being part of this unique event”, said Mayor Dave Burgess of the Mid Murray Council.
“If the world record can be broken from growing at home, then I am sure we can not only beat
Cadell’s record but also taken on the Americans”.
“There are so many minor categories, even a novelty section so many chances for the whole family
to get involved and start growing”.
Giant gourds, giant tomatoes or just any overgrown vegetables have the chance to take a prize at
the Cadell Harvest Festival on Easter Saturday at the Cadell . FREE giant pumpkin seeds are now
available at outlets along the river or visit www.cadell.org.au for details on how you can obtain your
seeds to start growing now!
Grab your free seeds and have your chance to break the Murray River Giant Pumpkin Competition
record and win a trip to the home of giant pumpkins, the United States proudly donated by MGA
Insurance Brokers.
The Murray River Giant Pumpkin Competition now in its fifth year will be held at the annual Cadell
Harvest Festival at the Cadell Oval near Morgan on Easter Saturday with fun for the whole family
and some not so giant Easter Eggs too!!!!
For further information visit www.cadell.org.au or contact Kevin Myers on 0428518994.
For further media information or interviews, contact Deb Alexander, Tourism Manager, Mid Murray
Council on 0414857738 or [email protected]
Free seed outlets are as follows:
River News, Waikerie
Radio 5RM, Berri
Serenity Nursery, Murray Bridge
Murray Valley Standard, Murray Bridge
Radio 5MU/Power FM Murray Bridge
Mannum Newsagency, Mannum
Rushton Roses, Renmark
Earth Works Garden Centre, Berri
Beech Hardware, Barmera
Think Water, Waikerie
Cadell Hardware, Cadell
Highway Servo Caltex, Morgan