MORE than 150 people were in attendance to watch unwanted post-Halloween pumpkins to be flung out of a trebuchet as part of an annual event.
The Final Fling, organised by Fizzgigs – Ellesmere's Community Arts Group – brought people of all ages ready to have their pumpkins flung as far as possible, with some coming from as far as Lancashire and Derbyshire.
The trebuchet, the brainchild of member Peter Cartlidge, has been used each year since 2019 and for chairman Ian Andrew, the afternoon was proof of a brilliant community event,
He said: "Ellesmere lad Edward Reincke came with a homemade medieval shield to protect himself from flying pumpkins.
"Fifty-two pumpkins of an astonishing range of weights and sizes were flung in the afternoon with 500 kilos of ballast was in the trebuchet bucket which was pulled into position for every fling.
"The stalwarts manning the machine for more than 90 minutes had been in training all year.
"It was a serious matter as well as fun. Visitors (especially children) named their pumpkins and each throw was recorded with quirky names included ‘Go Go Ghostly’, ‘Flying Frank’ and ‘Splatty Sam’.
Some were very imaginatively crafted, like Darcy Coombe’s ‘Witchface’ which had several embellishments, including a cat and a broomstick.
"A new record was achieved by one called Derek at an impressive 85 metres, exceeding last year’s distance of 76 metres.
"A variety of targets had been set up; none were hit, though the field judge responsible for measuring each fling sometimes had to be quick on his toes to avoid being hit by the missiles.
"Small, dense ones went the longest – some of the heaviest just went up in the air and straight down again, or even backwards e.g. an impressively large and soft one called Marshmallow Man
‘We think it’s a fabulous way to give a pumpkin a fitting end by having a glorious final fling from our trebuchet."
Not all pumpkins got thrown with several children had become very attached to their pumpkins. At the last minute they pleaded for their gourds to be taken home again.
All pumpkin flesh and unflung jack-o-lanterns were collected from the field and taken for composting.
Details of all Fizzgigs activities can be found at www.fizzgigs.co.uk
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