World Pumpkin Carving Championship

So the moment Twelve of us have all been anxiously awaiting... the winner of the 2009 World Pumpkin Carving Championship is Leanne Ashworth with her pumpkin #11 titled "Cat on Toast"! yey. good for her. i'm so happy for her. it was an honour just to participate. Seriously, if someone who doesn't live on another continent could win next year it would save me a lot of money in shipping costs?! Anyone? And I didn't let her win just because it's her birthday, I swear. I counted and then triple checked the votes and any way I looked at it I lost and she won, I mean we lost and she won (sorry, sometimes I forget it's not just me that lost). If you are worried about the integrity of our judging panel, then know we only enlist the best! For two years in a row now my Mom has picked the winner as her #1 vote, and each year it has been the difference between my first and second place finishes, so sleep easy folks, there is no nepotism in our competition! Thanks Mom!...

Well this particular entrant met most of the criteria however he is not really a pumpkin, his name is just Pumpkin, and he is a cat. So entering as himself is Pumpkin the cat, isn't he cute? Thank you Mel and Mark for sending pumpkins photo on his behalf, despite what Microsoft Windows 7 says, cats still haven't quite figured it out.

Here is what you have all been waiting for, the 2009 WPCC entries! I don't think having such a narrow theme has made this year's crop of carvings any less diverse! Kudos to all the "CAT" carvers this year!! Pumpkin #1 Pumpkin #2 Pumpkin #3 Pumpkin #4 Pumpkin #5 Pumpkin #6 Pumpkin #7 Pumpkin #8 Pumpkin #9 Pumpkin #10 Pumpkin #11 Pumpkin #12

Here is a story of dedication to the art form, the competition, the challenge of carving an orange vegetable. We can all learn a think or two I think. These two competitors are not only escorting the WPCC trophy across the country but they made a stop in what can only be described as unusual destination for the explicit reason of pumpkin carving - Regina, Saskatchewan. Not only did they only have a penknife and spork to carve the pumpkin (see http://lightmyfireusa.com/spork.html), but they lit it with a MEC camping candle. Most impressive is the location. I'm not entirely certain where the pumpkin was carved but my best guess is a coffee shop, a very kind and gernerous coffee shop. I like your style Julie and Marten, you get an honorable mention in my books!