May 26, 2014
A good crowd enjoyed Goomeri’s pumpkin-powered fun on Sunday, soaking up the sunshine as well as just about every pumpkin-themed event you could possibly imagine.
The 18th annual Goomeri Pumpkin Festival featured pumpkin bowls, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin pulling, pumpkin shotputting … and then there were the pumpkin teatowels, patchwork and pageant.
The eyes of Australia will also be on this year’s festival, with two separate TV crews – from “Totally Wild” and “The Living Room” – recording the fun.
Channel 10 celebrity chef Miguel Maestra joked with the crowd of competitors waiting to take part in the The Great Australian Pumpkin Roll before sending his own pumpkin down Policeman’s Hill to its doom.
A total of 557 pumpkins were sent rolling this year. Some ended up in the gutters, relatively unscathed, while others exploded spectacularly on their way down.
One pumpkin, marked A34, made its way sedately down the bitumen before deciding to stop, conveniently for roller Peter Clempson, from Maroochydore, in the $1000 Lucky Spot circle.
Live music also kept the crowd entertained, and local celebrity chef Jason Ford shared pumpkin recipes on stage, including pumpkin guacamole, pumpkin and banana hotcakes and his popular spicy pumpkin and peanut soup.
If you missed Jason’s stage performances, his recipes are available on his website
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Results:
Pumpkin Roll
Lucky Spot (A34) – Peter Clempson, Maroochydore
Juvenile (187 rollers)
1. Oliver Westbury, Gundiah
2. Chantel Wust, Bundaberg
Adult (370 rollers)
1. James Adamson, Gympie
2. Giddy Wrafter, Brisbane
Pumpkin Power Shot Put
Juvenile – Callum Shaw, Brisbane, 10.77
Men’s Open – Matt Sauer, Maryborough, 19.26
Women’s Open – Renae Bell, Kurwongbah, 10.58
Pumpkin Pull
1. Sean Moloney, Jason Tooley, Trent Osborne
2. David Eiser, Michael Larter, Steven Larter (the 2012 & 2013 champions)
Pumpkin Bowls
Chris Spicer
Giant Pumpkin Competition
Marie Kalkaus, Morayfield, 134kg
Decorated Pumpkin
Prep – Year 2
1. Lilly Corliss, Caloundra
2. Jasmine Corliss, Caloundra
3. Hannah Dascombe, Goomeri
Years 3-5
1. Ruby Cavanagh, Goomeri
2. Maddison Richards, Goomeri
3. Jacinta Rockemer, Goomeri
Years 6-7
1. Jordan Reeves
2. Keana Reeves
3. Breanna Reeves
Open
Sonya Perks
Pumpkin Patch Work
1. Sheila Corps
2. Dawn Reardon
Decorated Teatowel
1. Sheila Corps
2. Dawn Reardon
Whipcracking
9-12 years
1. Jorja Curran
2. Louisa Frahm
3. Steph Arrell
13-15 years
1. Olivia Frahm
2. Jordan Reeve
Pumpkin Pageant
Junior
1. Ruby Cavanagh, Goomeri
2. Hannah Court, Goomeri
Adult
1. Sally Brooks
2. Jeanette Cart, Goomeri
Register Attendance
Margie Carsburg, Cornubia
Sportsground Camping Prize
Vicki Williams
