Pumpkin Chunk’n Contest is Smashing Success at Five Seasons Burr Ridge

The First Annual Pumpkin Chunk’n Contest was a smashing success Saturday, Oct. 26th at Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge.

That positive outcome is due in part to no pumpkins getting smashed to smithereens in the day’s finale, the pumpkin-tossing competition. In all, 42 children from 2 to 14 years old braved the late-afternoon chill and wind to compete for pumpkin-hurling glory.

Testing their skill and strength in four age brackets, they threw pumpkins 335 feet, or roughly the length of a football field.

Before the unorthodox competition, Five Seasons Fitness Director Erik Knowles hurled a pumpkin to test its resiliency. It shattered, prompting Knowles to create a one-toss limit for contestants.

As it turns out, none of the youngsters’ throws replicated Knowles’ result. Of course, nobody is nearly as strong as Knowles, whose background includes pulling a semi-truck while doing a crab crawl in strongman competition.

One positive consequence of the limited pumpkin damage is that 61 pumpkins survived and will be donated by Dr. Michael Dupont, a Five Seasons member, to pediatric patients at Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital. The doctor’s effort to bring cheer to patients is an annual tradition dating back nearly 20 years.

“What a great way to wrap up the day,” said Bob Diamond, Five Seasons’ Chief Club Officer. “These pumpkins created a lot of fun here, and it’s nice to know they will be used to bring joy to others enduring some difficult times.”

Other Halloween-themed activities included a pumpkin carving contest and a costume contest. First place winners were Whitney Hinsdale (2- to 5-year-old group) and Gabriella Hinsdale (6- to 9-year-olds) in pumpkin carving, and Hope Bassau (2- to 5-year-olds), Olivia Widrig (6- to 9-year-olds) and Denise Fisher (10- to 13-year-olds) taking first place in the costume contest.

All activities at the club, 6901 S. Madison, were free of charge, and open to club members as well as members of the public. Capping the day was the pumpkin-tossing contest on the outdoor sand volleyball court, with Diamond joined by Tennis Director Tim Troiano and Group Exercise Director Ballu Singh in providing encouragement along with precise measuring services.

The most crowded field was the 6- to 9-year-old group, with 21 children racking up 144 feet, 10 inches in throws—for an average of nearly 7 feet. The top three finishers were Francy Schmelka (17 feet, 3 inches), Tyler Garcia (16 feet, 9 inches) and Madison Radtke (15 feet, 5 inches).

In the 2- to 5-year-old class, 13 children heaved pumpkins 66 feet, or about 5 feet apiece. Tom “Mac” Law was tops at 10 feet, 6 inches, followed by Aiden Urquizo (6 feet, 10 inches) and Mikey Bassil (6 feet, 1 inch).

Of the six vying in the 10- to 13-year-old division, Zach Baron’s 23 feet, 3 inches outdistanced Natalija Lakic (20 feet, 5 inches) and Denise Fisher (20 feet, 3 inches). That age group threw a combined 90 feet, 8 inches, or 15 feet on average. In the 14-year-old and up group, Ally Timko, with a 19-foot throw, bested Tanner Booth’s 15 feet.

For each age group and competition, the top three finishers were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals specially designed for the occasion.

Five Seasons is online at www.facebook.com/FiveSeasonsBurrRidge. For more information, call 630-570-5200.