Good gourd! Minnesota teacher clinches pumpkin weigh-off with 2,471-lb winner

Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher, retained his title, though he fell short of the world record he set last year

A Minnesota horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion on Monday of an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in northern California, where his massive gourds have won the top prize four years in a row.

Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, beat his closest competitor by 6lbs (2.7kg) to clinch the victory at the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.