A pumpkin weighing 1,431.5kg (3,156 lbs) has been confirmed as the new world record holder, just a week after the previous mark was set by two British twin brothers.
Ron Wallace, 60, grew the mammoth squash, which was weighed at the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off in Rhode Island, US, on Saturday. Officials from Guinness World Records confirmed the record on Monday.
British brothers' record stood for a week
The previous record was set on October 3 by Ian and Stuart Paton from Lymington, Hampshire, whose pumpkin weighed 1,296kg (2,857 lbs). They were the first Brits to hold the title in its recorded history.
Wallace's pumpkin weighed nearly 200kg more than the brothers' gourd. The giant squash weighs the same as a small car or three concert grand pianos, and could make more than 3,000 pumpkin pies.
Third world title for Wallace
Wallace, who has been growing giant gourds for 35 years, won £2,650 ($3,500) at his local contest. He said other competitions had offered more prize money, some totalling around £53,000 ($70,000), but he wanted to win in his hometown.
Describing the moment the pumpkin was weighed, the Rhode Island grower said: "I was just ecstatic, the place just exploded." He credited the pumpkin-growing community, adding: "The only way you create a 3,000-pound pumpkin is a community working together."
Previous records and future plans
This is Wallace's third world title. He first broke the record in 2006 with a 681.3kg (1,502 lbs) squash, and again in 2012 with a 911.27kg (2,009 lbs) pumpkin.
Head judge Matthew DeBacco said: "It is astonishing to see what nature can produce under the helping hands of an expert horticulturist."
Wallace said he is considering taking next year off, stating: "I'm contemplating taking next year off to finish some projects around my farm. It will be a busy off season with seminars and requests and that takes a lot of time away from getting ready for the next season. We will see."
