Tiverton plowman to represent Canada at worlds in Latvia
After winning the Canadian plowing championship at Rivers, Manitoba in May, 2022,
Tom Evans (right) of Tiverton, has been busy preparing to represent Canada at the 2023 World Plowing Championship, set for Oct. 13-14 in Kuldiga, Latvia.
This is the first time in the World Plowing Organization’s 70-year history that the championship will take place in Latvia, a small country on the Baltic Sea.
Evans will be competing in the reversible-plowing category for the third time, having previously competed in Kenya (2017) and the United States (2019). Joining him, is teammate Brian Davenport of Owen Sound who will be competing in the conventional-plowing category. Davenport represented Canada for the first time in Ireland (2022).
For this year's 68th World Plowing Contest, 28 countries with 48 competitors are organizing equipment to be sent to Latvia for competition in October. Evans and a volunteer support team will be travelling in advance to adjust to local conditions leading up to the competition. A world champion in each category will be awarded after the two days of competition based on the top score accumulated over those two days.
“There is a large amount of preparation required to compete at this level,” says Evans. “It is not as simple as loading your equipment on a trailer and arriving at the site. This is my third time representing Canada at the World Plowing Championships. I know that I need lots of practice and to pack a range of parts to be prepared to master the soil conditions there.
“To have the best chance to represent Canada, Brian and I are sending our tractors, plows, and spare parts by sea container via Montreal to Riga, Latvia, and by truck inland to the host site at Kuldiga.
“The opportunity to represent Canada started at the Bruce County Plowing Match, followed by the 2019 International Plowing Match (the Ontario championship), and finally winning the 2022 Canadian Plowing Championship.”
Competitors representing Canada finance their own participation. So, a fund-raising event has been organized to support Evans in his quest for the world championship. Donations are welcome.
The fund-raiser will be held Saturday, May 13, at the Underwood Community Centre. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner begins at 6 p.m. Admission is by donation.
There will be a silent auction, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and a live auction later in the evening.
To RSVP:
- Check in as “Going” on Facebook Event Page
- Facebook message Evans directly
- Text or call Evans at 519-901-1076.
- E-mail: tommyrollover@gmail.com
To donate auction items, contact Evans at
tommyrollover@gmail.com.
Canada has a unique relationship with the World Plowing Championship. This country was the first to host the ‘Worlds’ in 1953 at Cobourg, Ontario. It was part of the International Plowing Match hosted there, and 14 countries travelled to Canada from Europe to participate.
Since then, a competition has been held every year except for 1966, 2020 and 2021. Currently, 28 countries attend these contests from around the world.
This event started as a post-Second World War peace initiative where farmers from around the world could gather and participate in a friendly competition. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the first event and will be the 68th world contest.
Each participating country enters two competitors, usually one in each of the two categories. Those being defined by the type of plow used: reversible or conventional. Each country also sends one or more coaches and a judge.
It is a two-day competition where grain stubble is plowed on Day 1 and grassland on Day 2. Plots of one-half acre in size are plowed to set criteria, with a time limit. The judges work in teams of three to score the competitor’s work. Overall world champions are declared in both categories.
For the participants, it is an honour to represent their country. Of even greater reward, are the lasting friendships formed among the nations.
For more information, check the following associated links:
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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