Good gourd! Minnesota teacher clinches pumpkin weigh-off with 2,471-lb winner

Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher, retained his title, though he fell short of the world record he set last year

A Minnesota horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion on Monday of an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in northern California, where his massive gourds have won the top prize four years in a row.

Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, beat his closest competitor by 6lbs (2.7kgs) to clinch the victory at the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.

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Maverick the 2,560lb pumpkin triumphs in ‘Super Bowl’ of gourd fests

Rhinoceros-size Minnesota native wins big in California and will compete once more before being retired to stud

Growers from across the country descended on the California coast carrying with them some of the world’s most gargantuan pumpkins.

The giant pumpkin weigh-off, held annually ahead of Half Moon Bay’s pumpkin festival just south of San Francisco, is considered by competitors to be a Super Bowl of sorts in the unique sport, and the behemoths entered this year – some weighing as much as an average rhinoceros – did not disappoint.

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