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Arts & Entertainment

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Weigh-Off Winner Named Grower of the Year

Leonardo Urena bestowed honor by Great Pumpkin Commonwealth for growing three pumpkins in 2011 which totaled 4,948 lbs.

By with his 1,704-lb. Atlantic Giant at Monday's pumpkin weigh-off in Half Moon Bay — and winning the contest to boot — it was hard to imagine how Napa's Leonardo Urena could top those twin achievements.

He did.

Earlier this month, Urena entered two separate pumpkins into weigh-offs. In Elk Grove on Oct. 1, he won first place for a 1,685-pounder, while on Saturday in Morgan Hill, he came in second place with a 1,560-lb. pumpkin.

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Along with the 1,705-lb. pumpkin entered into Half Moon Bay's weigh-off, the total weight of all pumpkins entered by Urena this season was 4,949 lbs., earning him the title of "Grower of the Year" by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth is an organization that sets regulations and standards for giant pumpkin weigh-offs around the world.

The total weight of pumpkins grown by Urena in one year was a record for the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.

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Urena, a 43-year-old landscaper at a Napa winery, took home $11,224 from Half Moon Bay on Monday: $10,224 for a $6 per pound payout for his winning pumpkin, and $1,000 for breaking the California state record for heaviest pumpkin.

"I couldn't believe it," Urena said. "For six years, I just tried and tried. 2011 is my lucky year."

Brant and Eleanor Bordsen of Marysville were awarded $2,000 for finishing in second place with a 1,693-lb. pumpkin.

Napa resident Tim Mathison's 1,554 lbs. earned him $1,500. Another Napa resident, John Hawkley, won $1,000 for weighing in a pumpkin in fourth place (1,548 lbs).

The rest of the finishing field — from 5th place to 10th place — won $500 each. So did Portola Valley's Eric Carlson, winner of the "Most Beautiful Pumpkin" award, along with Half Moon Bay's Farmer John Muller for the Coastside's heaviest pumpkin award.

Urena's winning pumpkin, along with the entries that finished in second through fifth place, will be on display at this weekend's .

As is customary for the winner, Urena's 1,704-lb. pumpkin will be featured as the centerpiece of the festival's on Saturday.

To see photos, a list of all growers and their final standings among all competitors at the weigh-off reported on Half Moon Bay Patch, click and for two separate galleries.                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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