World Pumpkin Carving Championship

 Sorry for being so late this year. If anyone can still find the time to carve the theme is Day of the Dead!

WOW - this is the closest race I remember and I have been doing this for a long time. The judges have really spread their votes so maybe we have a minority winner??! Very fitting for the current political climate...  We have four cavers on the podium and only two points between first and third - what a nail biter!  Thanks to all the carvers and judges for making this another memorable year!! #1 - by Laurie Ashworth With 28 points, a real Canadian sweetheart with the best name for sure! Funny none of the Danish judges picked this one... Great job Mom!!  #2 - by Mark Taylor and Leanne Ashworth-Nielsen With 27 points, a two way tie between two carvers who have been here before.. and Mark, for what it's worth I would have voted yours first!!   #3 - by Melanie Taylor Another one of the usual suspects - great carving!! And an honourable mention to Pumpkin E - Janice you really upped your game this year and even though people couldn't quite agree which animal you had carved...

 Hello, hello!!  So the intro is going to be short this year. Earlier this week someone rear-ended Bjørn and totaled our car... Everyone is fine but we have been scrambling this week to figure out which car we should buy to replace it and how to make all our logistics work while being down one car... Anyway, let's get to the interesting part and see all the amazing pumpkin creations from this year! Mine was ready with 2 hours to spare so not quite a nocturnal creation.. 😆 Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and enjoy the carvings!! Pumpkin A: Comet Lemmon. Oct 14 to Nov 3 Pumpkin B: Cemetery Pumpkin C: Night vision kitty Pumpkin D: Dam I am good at night Pumpkin E: Chicken's nightmare Pumpkin F: Racoon Pumpkin G: The witching hour Pumpkin H: Werewolf transforming at night Pumpkin I: The night king

Hey pumpkin people,  You know the drill - dust off your carving tools, and rev up your creativity! This year's theme is Nocturnal .  In case I'm able to recruit some new carvers this year, a re-cap of the rules:       - one pumpkin per entry       - use any tools you like (no injuries please!)       - you can get inspiration from other people's carvings but something about what you submit has to be         original       - no props other than toothpicks       - one picture per entry       - please send a name or title with your picture       - email your pictures to leanne.ashworth@gmail.com or janice.ashworth@gmail.com before midnight      Oct 31 (in your timezone)   And most importantly - Have Fun!!  From everyone's favourite co-ordinators,  Leanne + Janice

Well, the judges really liked what they saw this year. You should all give yourselves a pat on the back! But in this vote there were more than two choices and they certainly took advantage of them all! Glad I don't have to set up a government with these results :)  I don't think I have seen a year where the votes are so spread out before. We have a clear winner but A LOT of ties as we move down the ranks. Each judge gets to give 3 votes (1st (10 pts), 2nd (7 pts), 3rd (5pts)) so there were 21 votes in all. The winner got 4, one pumpkin got 3, four others got 2 votes each and another 5 pumpkins got 1 vote each. Ok, enough stats (they will make my Dad happy :)) Congrats to First place (32 pts) Pumpkin O: Carried Away by the one and only  Mark Taylor Second place (17 pts) Pumpkin K: You are tasty Tweetie Pie! Burp... by Laurie Ashworth Pumpkin R: Prowling Wolf by Mel Taylor Third place (15 pts) Pumpkin G: Pumpkin Predator by new-comer Jess Hansen Fourth place (12 pts) Pumpkin C: ...

Hello carvers and judges!  Some more beautiful looking pumpkins this year. Hope none of these creatures came knocking on your door for halloween... I learned a lesson this year - when buying pumpkins always give them a shake first. When I cut the top off mine it was half full of water/liquified pumpkin guts. Gross. Thankfully you couldn't see from the outside that I had gotten hold of a swamp pumpkin but it sure didn't smell the best when I was carving it..  Enough of my chatter. Scroll down for what you really came for :)  Pumpkin A: En isbjørn som har fanget en fisk.    Pumpkin B: en Løve med blodig tænder og en stor manke. Pumpkin C: Trick or mouse. Pumpkin D: The Eagle and The Rabbit. Pumpkin E: Axolotl. Pumpkin F: Pumpkin-eating-pumpkin-eating-pumpkin. Pumpkin G: Pumpkin Predator. Pumpkin H: Dog pumpkin. Pumpkin I: Owl. Pumpkin J: Tiger. Pumpkin K: You are tasty Tweetie Pie! Burp... Pumpkin L (left): King of the jungle Pumpkin M (right): Star Pumpkin P...