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Nova Scotia·Audio

Shelburne's 1st place pumpkin paddler grew up watching racers in Windsor

Ryan Foley of Shelburne, N.S., took home gourd gold on Saturday in the 350-metre race, held for the first time on the South Shore. 

Ryan Foley paddles past competition to take home bragging rights

CBC News ·
A man sits inside a giant pumpkin and paddles it through the water.
Ryan Foley won the inaugural pumpkin regatta race in Shelburne on Saturday, beating out four other competitors. (Robin Smith Photography)

Ryan Foley had one goal in mind as he waded into the water for Saturday's pumpkin regatta in Shelburne, N.S.

He just wanted to stay afloat for a couple of minutes.

Instead, the pumpkin paddler took home gourd gold in the 350-metre race, held for the first time on the South Shore. 

Foley, who lives in Shelburne, grew up watching pumpkin racers in Windsor before the beloved tradition was cancelled in that community earlier this year due to a lack of water in Lake Pisiquid.

Five pumpkin racers dressed in wetsuits stand side-by-side at the edge of the water.
Foley says the racers are close friends. (Robin Smith Photography)

Foley paddled past four other competitors to take home bragging rights.

"It was certainly a lot of fun," he told CBC Radio's Maritime Noon. "All five of us are pretty close friends and we were kind of laughing as we were paddling together."

Listen to the full interview with Ryan Foley here:

With files from CBC Radio's Maritime Noon

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