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Belgium

1. Ghaye Jos 917 lbs (Belgium)
2. Van Rompaey Jan 879 lbs (Belgium)
3. Van Rompaey Jan 779 lbs (Belgium)
4. Mol Jaap 718 lbs (Netherlands)
5. Van Rompaey Jan 682 lbs (Belgium)
6. Dijck A.W.V 649 lbs (Netherlands)
7. Poels 531 lbs (Netherlands)
8. Broeckhoven F. 511 lbs (Belgium)
9. Puttemans Marcel498 lbs (Belgium)
10. Broeckhoven F. 498 lbs

Squash:
1. Boonen Paul 432 lbs
2. Depré 312 lbs
3. Depré 264 lbs

This was an official weigh-off organisated by The BPC (Belgian Pumpkin Confederation)

Greetings, Jan Van Rompaey.

10/13/2004 2:45:50 PM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

Following the american rules, one grower is allowed to enter only one pumpkins by competition. You have made very good results this year but I think it is sad for the others that you take 3 places in the top ten.
I suggest to adopt the same rules than the others competitions for Duisburg.

Could you give me some information about an internet site of the GPC?

Thanks.

Sophie

10/14/2004 6:32:34 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Sophie,

Every contest has its own rules. If there is no rule that only one pumpkin can be entered per person why should a grower with several fruits not enter them? Others are free to do the same. This is not only practiced in Belgium, our weighoff in Germany does the same.
In 2000 and 2001 every grower only entered one fruit although there is no rule.
In 2002 I had two fruit that I took to the weighoff, 658 and 518lbs. I only officially entered the bigger one for competition (it eventually won the weighoff) and out of respect to the other growers only showed off the second one. The 518lbs pumpkin would have taken 4th place.
Then in 2003 I showed up with only one fruit again but some other growers entered two or more pumpkins.
So, this year I figured I would bring two fruit as well to avoid any disadvantage. Other growers did the same again...
Also, our weighoff in Germany doesn't care much wether the fruit is sound or not. I guess they say a pumpkin is a pumpkin - with or without a split. This year several fruit that had splits were officially weighed there. Knowing that I can completely understand growers who will bring such fruits next year. They would be mad if they didn't do it I guess! We also have no color rule here, etc.
If the generally accepted rules (US/Canada) are not followed by all participants I think every grower should make the best out of the rules of the weighoff they participate at.

Martin

10/14/2004 9:34:41 AM

Long Island,New York

Usually you can enter more than one but only accept one cash/prize....G

10/14/2004 1:52:59 PM

Belgium

I asked the organisators if i could enter with several pumkins and they exepted gladly!! So, why not?? If you count the efforts that i maked this year of growing 4 plants you no how mutch work this is!
Rot or splits are not exepted in Duisburg.

Jan

10/14/2004 2:22:27 PM

Belgium

sophie,
the BPC has no internet site, unbelieveble don't you think?

Jan

10/14/2004 2:24:21 PM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

I know it's a very hard labour. I had 8 plants at the beginning of the season, and I had 4 pumpkins between 186 and 208 kg. Next year I will have only four plant, 8 was too much work (with my son, my house, my job and my husband...).
I think you are right.
I didn't know there was no "big" (money) price in Duisburg. Don't you have more sponsors?
Sorry to hear about the (no) site. I'm very surprised because we are one of the european country where growing pumpkins is popular. But we don't have a festival like Ludwigscastle in Germany.
I don't know if you are one of the organisators? Do you know if someone has the possibility to make increase the organisation.
Wouldn't it possible to join the Pumpkin festival from Tourinnes Saint Lambert (I know there was another city this year but I don't remember the name) with the official belgian weighoff? I know the organisateur would like to change the date. It could be a good association, don't you think?
Just my two cents, but I'm sure it would be a very nice event, a lot of people would come and see BIG pumpkins and it could be a good promotion for this sport.

10/15/2004 3:10:33 AM

Belgium

I live an hour drive away from Duisburg, so i'm not in the organisation. I can give you the phone number of the president of the Duisburg-guys if you want. At Duisburg i met the guys from Kasterlee (Eurpean winners 2003; 447 kg)and asked them why they are not organising the European weigh-off in Kasterlee. They told me that this was asked several times but the guys from Duisburg will not let it go, so the weigh-off stays in Duisburg! Oktober 31 there is an not official weigh-off in Kasterlee with big (money) prizes. Along with this the hole village is turned down to one big pumkin-market, it is a must for any Belgian andoyher growers to be there!! The winner takes home € 250 with several other prizes. All pumpkins above 300 kg get some money! I'm on a holiday for that weekend so a few of our members are going with my big one, the other two i celled.

10/15/2004 2:47:50 PM