A colossal pumpkin weighing 349.2kg ensured an easy win for Johan du Plessis, from Worcester, who competed against 17 other pumpkin growers for the 2011 Shoprite Checkers Giant Pumpkin Champion crown.

The Giant Pumpkin Competition was held at the Fairbridge Mall in Brackenfell on 5 March. Johan, who also won the competition in 2009 with a 295kg giant pumpkin, was elated to walk away with the championship title and prize money of R10 000 all over again.

The second prize of R5000 was awarded to Chrisjan Gunter from Heidelberg for his
290kg pumpkin, while a 270.8kg pumpkin positioned Pieter Smit from Langebaan in third place with a cash prize of R2000.