Bradley primed for pumpkin paddling record
1 min read

A 352KG pumpkin grown on the banks of Lake Boort has been carved out ready to take to the Murray River this Easter.
Bradley Haw hopes to break the world record for pumpkin paddling with the planned 67km voyage from Torrumbarry Weir to Barham.
The current record of 63.04km was set by Steve Kueny last October when he took to the Missouri River in the United States in a 544kg pumpkin.
Bradley’s giant vegetable was grown on father Paul’s property.
“The pumpkin is about 50kg lighter than I had wanted but the first batch of giant pumpkin seeds did not take,” Bradley said.
“We put in a second lot after sourcing seeds from a Melbourne supplier and the pumpkin chosen is the largest of half a dozen now taking on giant proportions.
“The skin is strong ... inside there’s really only water.”
Bradley said the world record attempt would either “last 10 metres or 100km”.
Travelling in the safety of a boat as Bradley negotiates the Murray will be his work colleague and friend Fred Assi. “I’ll be there to keep Bradley on course,” Fred said.
World-record holder Steve took almost 11 hours to paddle the 63km.
He paddled the wakes of eight barge passings, passed three sand dredges, and had one startling crunchy drag and bounce off submerged rocks near shore.
Bradley said he had never been  a great sportsman but the lure of “having a crack at a world record” and paddling a pumpkin was sufficient incentive.
“Just like the pumpkin was a late starter for germination, I guess I’m a bit of a latecomer to sport,” he said. “With Fred’s help and luck, a record can be set.”
 


Top Stories
To read the full story, subscribe to Loddon Herald.
Click here to view our subscription options.
0e68e24da6271ff427454468316e7141