Bloke paddles mate’s giant pumpkin down NSW river in suspected world first

An Australian larrikin has sailed the Australia’s largest pumpkin down a local river – and he suspects, perhaps obviously, that he’s the first ever to do so.

A canoe club commodore has sailed the largest pumpkin grown in Australia down a local river in what is likely a world first.

The massive 407kg gourd, named “Tormund” after a character from Game of Thrones, was grown by Adam Farquharson’s friend Mark Peacock, who intended to use it for stock feed.

The massive award-winning 407kg gourd was grown by Adam Farquharson’s friend Mark Peacock. Picture: Facebook/ John Stanfield

Adam Farquharson. Picture: Facebook/ John Stanfield

Mr Farquharson, Tumut Canoe Club commodore, inspired by the idea of some lighthearted fun, saw an opportunity for an unconventional adventure when Peacock mentioned the pumpkin’s fate.

Sporting a sailor hat and pipe, he navigated the hollowed-out pumpkin, dubbed ‘Cinderella’, down the Tumut River in New South Wales’ Riverina region, much to the amusement of bystanders.

“Barry Humphries said that he’s a big fan of the unnecessary, and I am too. I’m a big one for shenanigans,” he told ABC Riverena.

While initially surprised by Farquharson’s antics, Mr Peacock acknowledged that it was characteristic of his friend’s sense of humour.

“He’s really hilarious. But he’s random, occasionally,” he said.

“I intentionally grew this as a family project and then started doing Facebook updates every week.”

The commodore saw an opportunity for fun and navigated Mr Peacock’s hollowed-out pumpkin down Tumut River. Picture: Facebook

The pumpkin eventually fulfilled its purpose of providing feed for cattle, and the commodore considered preserving it as a national curiosity. Picture: Facebook

The pumpkin had garnered attention in the local community, with Peacock regularly updating its growth on Facebook.

For Mr Farquharson, the voyage was simply about enjoying himself and bringing a smile to others.

Farquharson joked about potential future exploits but remained grounded about his brief moment of fame as “Popeye the Pumpkin Man.”

“I think the worldwide fame will wear off pretty soon. I won’t end up like Taylor Swift. I’ll just get back to life as normal,” he said.

As for the Royal Easter Show-awarded pumpkin, it would fulfil its original purpose of providing feed for cattle.

Reflecting on the unusual journey, Mr Farquharson humorously considered preserving the pumpkin as a national curiosity – placing it on a pedestal among Australian sporting royalty.

“It was a sad moment. I did jokingly say to my wife that I should petition the prime minister to have it preserved and put next to Phar Lap’s heart at the National Museum,” he told the ABC.

“She thought I was an idiot.”

Originally published as Bloke paddles mate’s giant pumpkin down NSW river in suspected world first