Belinda Pisasale, Michael Pisasale and Linda Rumble with their prize winning pumpkins.
A 69 kilogram pumpkin belonging to Michael Pisasale was the winner of Saturday’s Charlie Carp Pumpkin competition.
Normally part of the Deniliquin Show schedule, organisers planned a separate showing this year after the event was cancelled amid COVID-19 concerns at the time.
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It was hosted in the yard of long-time major sponsor Charlie Carp on Saleyards Rd, Deniliquin.
There were 15 entrants in the adult division, and 11 in the junior division.
A first, second and third placing was announced in each.
Mr Pisasale’s prize winner just bested an entry from his own wife, Belinda, who presented a 57kg pumpkin for the competition.
Third went to fellow long-time entrant Linda Rumble, with a 38kg specimen.
First prize was 20L of Charlie Carp fertiliser and $200, second was 10L of Charlie Carp and $100, and third was 5L of Charlie Carp and $50.
The Pisasale luck continued in the junior section with Ruby Pisasale first, Lucy Pisasale sharing second with Catie Michael, and Lucy also placing third.
Mr Pisasale credited his family’s success to ‘‘good seed, fresh ground, and passion’’.
‘‘It’s the third year we’ve taken part in the competition and we’ve placed every year,’’ he said.
‘‘I always make sure to keep the seeds from the biggest pumpkin, which will hopefully improve the genetics.’’
The family’s thoroughbred pumpkins were planted mid-October.
And they grew so many, they had to bring their entries in on a truck — not a ute like everyone else.
Mr Pisasale also provided an extra pumpkin for the event’s ‘guess the weight’ competition, after steward John Russell’s intended showstopper exploded a week earlier.
The guess the weight pumpkin was 54.3kg, which was the exact weight Joy Cecil guessed to win.
The Deni Show giant pumpkin competition record stands at 105kg, from a 2016 entry from fellow competition steward Ken Allitt in 2016.
Ruby Pisasale and Catie Michael with the winning and runner-up prize pumpkin.
