Tiverton plowman has experience of a lifetime at worlds, brings home silver medal
By: Liz Dadson
January 15, 2018
Tom Evans had the experience of a lifetime when he travelled to Kenya in December, for the international plowing competition, and brought home a silver medal in grassland plowing.
The 41-year-old Tiverton plowman won the national reversible-plowing championship in 2016, making him eligible for the world finals in 2017.
Evans actually spent almost a month in Kenya, East Africa. He and his team left Nov. 17 for Toronto, and then flew to Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, the next day. For the first five days, they stayed in Njaro where the university was.
Their containers arrived, carrying his plow and supplies, and he rented a tractor for the competition.
“We went to a Massey Ferguson dealership in Nakura and got the tractor,” said Evans. “By Wednesday, (Nov. 22), I was ready for the early plowing practice.”
The new tractor was different than his own back home, so he was glad of the extra time to get used to it.
The first day was grassland practice.
“Their agricultural methods are quite antiquated,” said Evans. “When the combine's been through, the stubble left behind is still about a foot tall. And the balers were not picking up everything so we weren't working with a clean field. It wasn't the best for a plowing competition.”
Friday (Nov. 24), the official program began and the competitors were welcomed and introduced. The next day, they travelled to Bogoria to meet with politicians and other groups.
'It was a hot, long day,” said Evans. “It was more work than competing in the field. But we got to see the equator, and that was great.”
Sunday night (Nov. 26), the draw was held for official positions for the week of practice on stubble and grassland plots, from Monday to Thursday, leading up to the competition.
Thursday night, they drew for competition plots. That night, Evans tried to sleep even though he was nervous about the two days of plowing.
“It's a long day because it takes 30-40 minutes to get from the hotel to the site and then another 50 minutes to reach the field by tractor,” he said. “i wasn't feeling 100 per cent the first day which was the stubble plowing. The plots were uneven and varied which made it difficult to plow. I did everything right but ended up in 13th place.”
The Kenyan president was watching the competition and during the official ceremony Friday night, he shook all the competitors' hands, said Evans. Then came the plot draw for the day of grassland plowing.
“I was exhausted that night,” Evans said. “The sun and the heat take a lot out of you.”
Saturday, Evans felt much better and was more confident as he began the grassland plowing portion of the competition.
“My opening went really well,” he said. “It was perfectly straight – that was a great start. The ground was so dry, it was hard to keep it straight. The finish was difficult; I did the best I could on the final two passes. They were all perfectly lined up and straight.”
Once the plowing was done, the competitors went back to the hotel to clean up and change, and then to a banquet and the closing ceremony.
“I was exhausted and trying not to fall asleep,” said Evans. “After dinner, all the competitors were called to the front. First-timers received a certificate and a plowing pin."
As the medals were presented for stubble plowing, and then grassland plowing, Evans didn't even hear his name at first when the grassland silver-medallist was announced. All he heard was his team screaming and then he saw everyone clapping for him.
“I was shocked,” he said. “I went up to the front. I knew I had done a good job, but it was so thrilling to win the first medal for Canada in 40 years.”
Overall, Evans placed eighth. Gene Gruber of the United States won for conventional plowing, and John Whelan of Ireland won for reversible plowing.
Sunday (Dec. 3), Evans and his team had to pack up their equipment in the containers to send back to Canada. They also had to return his tractor to the dealership. Then they went back to Nakuru and had KFC. “Finger-licking good never tasted so good,” said Evans.
Following the competition, Evans enjoyed a three-day safari, travelling to Lake Navaisha, and the Masai Mara Rescue. He saw an elephant orphanage, had the chance to pet giraffes, and saw leopards, lions, zebras, buffalo, and hyenas.
On the final day in Kenya, he went to a Carnivore Restaurant where he tried crocodile and ostrich, noting they were both very good.
He returned home Friday (Dec. 8).
As he reflected on the trip, Evans said it was the experience of a lifetime.
“I will never forget the happiness of the Kenyan people, especially the children of Ngongeri Village when I passed them on my way to the field each day,” he said. “Also, the many friendships formed with people from around the world. At the celebration after the banquet, we all formed a bond that will last the rest of our lives.
“What a thrill it was for me to meet some of my heroes: John Hill, Bernhard Altmann, Yves Thievon - all world champions! I was ecstatic to join my good friend, Kevin Albrecht (of the United States), on the stage with John Whelan (of Ireland) at the medal ceremony! To think that Kevin and I received medals for our work, is surreal.”
Evans emphasized that plowing is a team sport at that level. From fixing things, to getting fuel and food, and unpacking/packing the container.
“One person couldn't handle that by himself,” he said. “We needed a team to get us there, but we also needed a team to help us when we got there.
“I am so thankful for my team, Brian Davenport, Keith and Carol Davenport, Daryl Hostrawser, Jay Lennox, Katie Davenport, Carrie Sue, Justine Lennox and Emily Morrison. A big thank you to the members of Team U.S.A. who helped us get our plows to Kenya. It was great to work together as team. You made this trip possible for us - Roger Neate, Joel Wagner and Hailey Gruber.
“Thanks also to the community that supported me at home! The past year has been one of great blessing to me. You deserve a medal for the support that you gave me. It was an honour to represent you on the world stage. Thank you for getting me there!”
Evans hopes to continue competing and plans to make it to the worlds again. Next year, the world championships are in Germany, and in 2019, they are in the United States.
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