Springborg's 'monster pumpkin a runt' | Offbeat | Weird News, Odd and Freaky Stories in Ipswich

Lawrence Springborg and Doug McDougall with the winning giant pumpkin at the Inglewood Show, at 304kg.

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THERE'S a barney brewing over just who can claim the record for producing Queensland's biggest pumpkin.

A farmer has come forward to dispute Deputy Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg's claim that he and his family hold the record for growing the biggest pumpkin.

Mr Springborg says his monster tipped the scales at 304kg at last weekend's Inglewood Show on Queensland's Darling Downs, beating the previous record of 300.5kg.

But Toowoomba horticulturist Clinton McGrath says the Springborg pumpkin is a runt compared to the 330.4kg whopper he says handed him the record six years ago.

"Mine was weighed in an official pumpkin weigh-off in Toowoomba," he told the ABC.

"They used official scales - I've got a plaque.

"I want the record set straight and now I have to take it serious next year - we might have a bit of competition."

But Mr Springborg says he's going by the record books in claiming the title.

"All I have ever indicated is that this a very large pumpkin," he told the ABC.

"The Queensland record is 300.5 [kilograms] - that is the official Queensland record, as I understand it.

"It is always possible that other people have grown bigger pumpkins out there."

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