An Oregon man won the annual pumpkin weigh-off here, presenting a gigantic gourd that came it at 1,5

(8 Oct 2007) Clean version at 10:45:06 HEADLINE: Good grief! It's the great pumpkin CAPTION: An Oregon man won the annual pumpkin weigh-off here, presenting a gigantic gourd that came it at 1,524 pounds. (Oct. 8) [Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] NB. This is a voiceover transcript, not a full shotlist: locator - Half Moon Bay, CA) IT CAME DOWN TO A BATTLE BETWEEN THE VETERAN AND THE ROOKIE AT THIS YEAR'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF. Joel Holland, Puyallup, Washington, says: "We've actually won the last three years in a row and six times overall." Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill, Oregon, says: "I have no experience to draw from and these guys are holding their hands very close so the poker faces are out today." Haven Daley, Associated Press, says: "On their best days these pumpkins can grow more than 30 pounds a day." Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill, Oregon, says: "It's not about your skills so much when it comes to this level, it's about what the weather deals you." THE WEATHER WAS KIND TO THE CHAMP. HIS GIANT GOURD WEIGHED IN AT ALMOST 14 HUNDRED POUNDS. BUT THERE WOULD BE NO FOUR-PEAT AS THE ROOKIE DETHRONED THE CHAMP WHILE SMASHING THE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD BY NEARLY 300 POUNDS. (nats - "1524!" Cheering) THE WINNER GETS SIX DOLLARS A POUND...THAT'S MORE THAN NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE PLANS ON TAKING HIS PRIZE PUMPKIN BACK TO OREGON TO DISPLAY IN HIS HOMETOWN. THE RUNNER-UP HAS OTHER IDEAS. Joel Holland, Puyallup, Washington, says: "This will make about one thousand pumpkin pies." HAVEN DALEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...