Smashing pumpkin retains world title for teacher

Travis Gienger, centre, celebrates after his pumpkin weighed in at 2,471lb (Jeff Chiu/AP)

A horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion 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 6lb (2.7kg) to clinch the victory at the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.