General News
9 April, 2024
The inside story: How Bradley overcame challenges to claim record
THE world pumpkin paddling record has been claimed by Boort’s Bradley Haw. Three days on the Murray River over Easter saw Bradley steer his hollowed-out 352kg pumpkin from Torrumburry Weir to Thule Creek, near Ultima. The 67km trip eclipsed the...
THE world pumpkin paddling record has been claimed by Boort’s Bradley Haw.
Three days on the Murray River over Easter saw Bradley steer his hollowed-out 352kg pumpkin from Torrumburry Weir to Thule Creek, near Ultima.
The 67km trip eclipsed the current record set in the United States last October by almost 4km.
Bradley and his support crew headed by Fred Assi are now preparing paperwork to lodge with the Guiness Book of Records to have the feat officially recognised.
“The river level was low and I was hitting logs in the river. When we arrived at the river and saw how low it was, the river was barely flowing, my heart sank but we were determined to make the attempt,” Bradley said.
“The first day was really tough going and I tipped over a few times, making modifications to the pumpkin and we travelled 13km on Good Friday.
“Things got better on the second day and with more modifications travelled 20km. I was cramping and still working out a way to comfortably sit in the giant pumpkin.”
Bradley said the answer to paddling comfort was found - a yoga ball. “We placed the ball in the pumpkin and that had me sitting higher. Cramping and body stiffness was much less on the third day and that meant going on for more than 30km and claiming the record.”
“The greatest challenge on the final day was overcoming the stink of the pumpkin. It was beginning to rot ... they can only last about three days,” Bradley said.
“The smell was quite nauseating, horrible in fact, at times but I was determined to push on.
“The modifications to the top of the pumpkin had made it much easier to paddle and if the river had have been flowing would have completed the journey sooner and would have made it to Barham easily.”
Bradley said Fred’s role in the world record attempt had been key.
“We grew the giant pumpkins together at my father’s property and he was with me the whole time for the river paddle,” he said.
“From the moment we put the pumpkin in the water on Friday morning, beside in the support boat and guiding me through river hazards and sharing the elation of exceeding the previous record,
“Fred was amazing. It was a partnership and hopefully the 67km journey will get official recognition.”
Bradley, the mastermind behind signs on the Treemendous Tree between Boort and Durham Ox, said he had been spurred to try for the world record because of the quirky use of a pumpkin.