Only Dave Chan could view a 1,676 lb. pumpkin as insufficiently gigantic.

It was more than enough to win the B.C. Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Aldergrove含羞草研究社檚 Krause Berry Farm on Saturday, Oct. 8, and while Chan, the defending champion and B.C. record holder, was happy with the win, he said he含羞草研究社檇 been aiming to better his previous mark of 1,911 pounds (the largest ever seen in B.C.) by breaking 2,000.

含羞草研究社淓arlier on this year, we had some pretty poor weather and I think that含羞草研究社檚 where I lost the poundage,含羞草研究社� the Richmond resident told the Langley Advance Times following his win, his wife, Janet Love, at his side.

What is his secret for producing record-breaking pumpkins?

含羞草研究社淢y secret is elbow grease, sweat, time, more time, and patience from your wife,含羞草研究社� Chan replied, smiling.

Chan said he may still have a shot at breaking the 2,000 mark.

含羞草研究社淲e still have a chance at home,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 another pumpkin, that含羞草研究社檚 going to be weighted next week.含羞草研究社�

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Chan first became interested in the art of growing very big pumpkins about 40 years ago, when he saw a man who含羞草研究社檇 grown a giant pumpkin on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

The man mentioned that the seed for his winner had come from a Canadian, a man in Nova Scotia named Howard Dill.

Chan took a chance and sent a letter addressed to 含羞草研究社淗oward Dill, Nova Scotia.含羞草研究社�

One week later, a letter from Dill arrived with seeds.

Dill, , has been called the 含羞草研究社減umpkin King含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社淔ather of all pumpkins.含羞草研究社�

Trevor Halliday and his wife Joanne, from Maple Ridge had the second- and third-place pumpkins, weighing in at over 2800 pounds combined.

Trevor said his pumpkin was a late starter, planted after Joanne含羞草研究社檚.

含羞草研究社淲e called this the dark horse, because we figured it would catch up,含羞草研究社� Trevor recalled.

It was Joanne含羞草研究社檚 first competition.

Event organizer Jeff Pelletier was encouraged by the number of novices taking part.

Among the the 13 entrants, there were 含羞草研究社渁 lot of first-time growers含羞草研究社� Pelletier noted. 含羞草研究社淲e had four, who [all] broke 1,000 lbs.含羞草研究社�

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More pictures from the day can be viewed online at the .