British Grandfather Smashes World Pumpkin Record for Third Time

Ian Paton, a 65-year-old grandfather from Lymington, Hampshire, has once again broken the world record for the heaviest pumpkin. The colossal gourd tipped the scales at 2,856.8 pounds (1295.8kg) at the Wargrave Nursery Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off in Berkshire.

Paton dedicated up to six hours daily for two months to cultivate the prize-winning pumpkin. He noted that the immense weight of the gourd was so significant that "all the warning lights came on like a Christmas tree" when he lifted it with a telehandler, indicating it was essentially overweight.

This latest triumph marks the third time Paton has grown the heaviest pumpkin globally. He has now cultivated the top three heaviest pumpkins ever recorded. His success comes in the first year after his long-standing partnership with his brother, Stuart, concluded. Together, the brothers had previously grown five of the ten heaviest pumpkins in history, securing three world championships and ten European championships.

Paton expressed his satisfaction with achieving this record independently, stating, "It's good to have achieved it without my brother because it was an immense amount of work." He elaborated that much of the effort involves burying the vines to encourage more root growth, which is key to achieving such massive sizes.

He noted that the pumpkin grows approximately a foot and a half in every direction daily, contributing to its immense size, which he compared to that of a female hippopotamus.

Paton's granddaughters, five-year-old Etta and seven-year-old Martha Syrett, were reportedly amazed by his success. He shared his victory with them via a WhatsApp call immediately after winning.

"It feels especially good knowing the Americans haven't got it," Paton remarked, referencing his friends in the United States who also participate in competitive pumpkin growing. He described the sport as very friendly and collaborative.