Thousands of people lined the waterfronts to cheer on racers competing with painted pumpkins in the waters for a chance to score some cash at the 10th annual regatta in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Pumpkin carving takes on new meaning when confronted with the conquest of gutting out giant pumpkins to race in — some as large as 500 pounds.

Undaunted by the quirky quest, Anthony Cook, the nephew of last year’s champion, Leo Swinamer, decorated his pumpkin as a soccer ball.

Leo Swinamer was forced out of this year’s race because his pumpkin sank during tests.

“This one’s for Uncle Leo!” Anthony yelled to the crowds as he hit the waters, leading the way to win the paddlers pumpkin competition with a time of 10:56.

Chip “Pumpkin Head” Peterson placed 2nd with a time of 11:24, and John Allan, racing in a Batman themed pumpkin, finished 3rd with a time of 12:26.

Dani Rippey finished 1st place in the motorized pumpkin race.

Cook said he’ll be back to defend his title next year if he can get his hands on a good pumpkin.

“You need a pumpkin that cuts through the water good — that’s the key.” he said.

Leo Swinamer of New Ross, Nova Scotia has dominated previous competitions, winning 6 out of the 10 races held, winning his most recent race at the age of 73.

Regatta committee spokesperson VanEssa Roberts said she will contact the Guinness World Records to have them attend next year.

“Our event is not only the first pumpkin regatta ever held in the world, but it is also the largest.” she said.

The Windsor Pumpkin Regatta annual water race is held every year in October. The course is a half-mile from start to finish, featuring brightly colored giant pumpkins as the sole means of flotation.

There are 3 classes — motor, experimental and paddling — the latter being best known and most popular in terms of entries.

Founded in 1999 by Danny Dill — son of Howard Dill, breeder of the Atlantic Giant pumpkin — the race’s popularity continues to grow, with 10,000 spectators and 50 entries in the 2008 race.

The race gained a degree of notability in 2005 when Martha Stewart announced her intention to participate. While her pastel-colored pumpkin did appear in the race, she was unable participate as permission to enter Canada was delayed after her release from incarceration in the ImClone affair.

But Windsor was not the first to feature a giant pumpkin as a waterborne craft — that distinction goes to Wayne Hackney of Winchester, New Hampshire, who paddled in a pumpkin he grew in 1996. The regatta has inspired several other pumpkin regattas, including one at the University of Wisconsin-Madison held since 2005, and on Lake Champlain in Colchester, Vermont.