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Fall_2008

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Yes!

Pumpkins really can fly

County holds first 'Punkin' Chunkin'

By Becky Long
 
Progress photo by Becky Long -- Micheal Murphy and Keith Leyton using the “Gnarly Flingers” machine get ready to launch their pumpkin which got distance, but not enough to win.
Clay County got a taste of its first “Punkin’ Chunkin’” event held in the field below Riverwalk Saturday afternoon. A good-sized crowd lined the hill to watch five competitors, using a variety of contraptions from a complex catapult to a high-powered, giant sling-shot exercise their skills in sending pumpkins soaring the longest distance.

The event was organized by Bob LeKites, a veteran chunker from who moved to Clay County from Delaware. Using the “Hayesville Hammer” catapult, the LeKite team gave up after a few attempts in which the pumpkin lodged, but fell directly on LeKite’s van, leaving no mark able distance, but a slight imprint in his vehicle.

Even the now infamous “Joe the Plumber,” showed up along with Jim Jackson and Tighe White as part of the “White” men’s team. The professional contractors got off to a slow start, but began to get the hang of it after three or four attempts, gaining some yardage.

Tusquittee was represented with a towering catapult captained by Judy Phillips Greenstone and her son, Jeb Greenstone along with Jonathan Canup. The team was called “Cutworm’s Specialties,” and the machine was Trebachet also known as the “Big T.T.”

Not to be out-done “Gnarly Fingers,” brought in a giant hand-built machine and team members wore hard-hats (just in case). The machine was called the Gnarly "Flinger."

With all the professional adult-made machines, it would be a team of teens who emerged as winners. Using a giant sling-shot crafted from a forked tree, a riding lawn mower and an ax to set off the launch, the G-Menites Team Guidry took home the prize — bragging rights.

They had a resounding win with a 259 ft. toss. Captain Turner Guidry and  and the  G-Menites were composed of Alex Cothren, Cody & Jessie Neumann, Slayton Nichols, Cale Maddos, Kalen Phillips, Grant Gibson, Connor Davis, Caroline Kelley, Cody Smith and Danika Anderson.

All in all, everybody had a great time and as one observer noted, “It’s great to do something just for fun, it takes your mind off these difficult times.”

LeKite said the event not only met, but went beyond his expectations.

“We will absolutely do another one next year —  the date’s set for Nov. 14,” LeKite said. “We expect more entries next year — we’ll have official pumpkins to throw, that will be weighed.”

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