Barbara Klaus and Margaretta Heigl from Austria found themselves on the podium in the conventional and reversible plow competitions respectively after all the dust settled at the World Plowing Championships at Olds College in Olds, Alberta Saturday afternoon capping a successful two day competition.
Klaus took the gold in the conventional category, while Heigl finished second in the reversible plow division.
John Whelan from the Republic of Ireland took home the gold in the reversible plow.
Thomas Cochrane from Northern Ireland finished 3rd in the reversible, while Fabien Landre of France and Eamon Tracey of the Republic of Ireland rounded out the champions in the conventional category.
The two day event saw 58 competitors from 29 countries turn soil on both stubble and grassland.
After finishing his grassland plot, Brian Fried from Bright, Ontario told Rural Roots Canada he had enjoyed this event over previous ones he had attended because it was on his home soil, he had been able to use his own tractor and plow and the hosts had been tremendous.
“The hospitality here has been fantastic, good quality food, the stay has been good and the friendship with all of the other countries has been good,” says Fried.
Fried, who has been plowing since he was 10-years-old (Making him a 45-year veteran plowman), is a 3rd generation plowman following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and that tradition will carry on as both his son and daughter have already taken up the sport.
Fried says the soil here is a little stickier than what he is used to in Ontario and adds Alberta has a beautiful country side and soil to plow.
Many people taking in the event stopped to ask Fried questions after he finished up, he was more than thankful for the support and the questions, taking time to answer all of them.
“Thank-you to all the Canadian people who have supported me on this adventure, that sure helps.”
Barry Timbers from Sunderland, ON also represented Canada at the World Plowing Championships.
