2025 Results!!

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 you got 20 points!!

And some kind words from our judges:

Wow so talented. I loved the graveyard as well. They are all so talented and unique.

Pumpkin A

- Hit a spot for my interest in all space related matters and with Lemons closest approach just around halloween the theme is spot on.

- Comet Lemmon taught me a thing or two! I missed this celestial phenomenon but am glad that I got to see the pumpkin tribute!

- Very creative concept, love the constellations!

- Creative, current, a masterpiece but lacking doom.

Pumpkin B

- Absolutely hit the spooky nocturnal theme.

- The bone detail is excellent in this ‘Cemetery’ pumpkin but I will say that the scale seems a bit off, come on you don’t have some micro carving tools to make tiny little skeletons?!

- Amazing detail, we especially love the bones

- So perfect! 3rd place!

Pumpkin C

- Who has not been looking at a pair of shining eyes in the night belonging to a kitty.

- I think I need night vision to see this Kitty!? Very endearing eyes and a cute little face, excellent symmetry.

- Very cute, love the spooky photo

- Awwww I love psycho kittens! 1st place!

Pumpkin D

- Dam a good pumpkin of a dam good dam builder.

- The beaver is an unusual choice for a nocturnal animal and I feel is trying to play to any Canadian judges love of nature’s engineer. I’m unclear why this beaver has spikes on its back and I would like to see that branch in the teeth like a real beaver. But I will admit, it’s a nice carving, excellent tail!

- The beaver is adorable and love the Canadian content!

- Only original interpretation of the nocturnal theme! Best title! Creative character! Only one who thought outside the Halloween box

- With those kind of puns you're destined for a career with the CBC!

Pumpkin E

- Mr. fox is sure a nocturnal creature creating nightmares among the chickens.

- Is it a mink, is it a racoon? I’m not sure, but it is cute, it looks hungry, and that it would be an unwelcome visitor to any coop. Good reverse cutting to make it pop!

- I'm scared to be a chicken! Love the detailed carving!

- So where's the dead chicken then?

Pumpkin F

- Mr. racoon is yet another nocturnal creature, which might create nightmares for garbage can owners. By the way, I like the creative way of using the pumpkin.

- Raccoon. Really? I was thinking it looked more like Yoda. Carving pumpkin good they did.

- Love the 3D effect and the cool eyeballs!

- Looks like an eWok or Yoda. #1 for any start wars themed contest

Pumpkin G

- if I don't speed up my voting it will first be sent, when we approach the witching hours.

- The witching hour should just be a carving of a crying baby, so I think this one loses points for being mis-named. That aside, this one is fun, well carved and has a great collection of Halloween themed things.

- Love all the details!

- Excellent, but all good pumpkins should have some level of full penetration

Pumpkin H

- I don't know if it can be more nocturnal than a werewolf howling with the full moon in the background.

- What is this werewolf transforming into I wonder? Perhaps a pumpkin eating monster?? Nice detail on the paw/hand and would have been hard with such a thick pumpkin.

- Very realistic!

- This speaks to me so deeply. Its scary and nocturnal.   More so than any Picasso, Monet, or bob Ross.

Second place!

Pumpkin I

- Jack-o'-lantern is absolutely king of the night.

- I would have liked to have seen the ‘night king’ doing some dancing or something, seems like he should be a party animal! Crown comes through well and some excellent well-spaced eyes, nose and mouth.

- Love the crown and the teeth and the boo!

- I know a good dentist. Call me.