Croatian ploughmen have returned from the 58^th World Ploughing Contest and achieved the best results as yet!

In the 58^th World Ploughing Contest held in Sweden, Lindevad, in the southern province of Östergötland, Croatian ploughmen achieved the best result as yet – 19^th place, won by Mr. Tomislav Kuharić in the category reversible ploughs.

This year’s contest gathered 56 competitors, ploughmen from 29 countries around the world: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Serbia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and Wales. 34 countries are members of the World Ploughing Organization. In addition to the listed countries, Italy, Russia and Slovakia are members of the WPO. The Republic of Croatia became the 30^th member of this organization. The newest members to join the organization are Kosovo and Serbia. 

Two competitors from each country contested: one with the conventional plough, and the other with the reversible plough, with the exception of Hungary (only one competitor in the category conventional plough), Serbia (only one competitor in the category reversible plough) and Switzerland (both competitors in the category reversible plough). 27 competitors contested with the conventional plough, and 29 with the reversible plough.

Mr. Tomislav Kuharić from Vinipotok (Lobor municipality, Krapina-Zagorje County), the champion of the state ploughing contest 2010 held in Suhopolje (Virovitica-Podravina County) in the category reversible plough, and Mr. Radivoj Rekić from Naudovac (Suhopolje municipality, Virovitica-Podravina County), second-placed in the state ploughing contest 2010 in the category conventional plough represented the Republic of Croatia.

Mr. Siniša Hrgović, from Virovitica-Podravina County, from the Croatian Agricultural Chamber (CAC) coached the Croatian competitors. Team members were Mr. Ivica Prpić from CAC from Požega-Slavonia County, world contests judge, Mr. Luka Čuljak, MSc. from Krapina-Zagorje County, reserve judge in the world contest, and Mr. Tugomir Majdak from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, representative of the Republic of Croatia in the WPO Governing Board and WPO Vice-President.

The contest lasted for two days, stubble ploughing was held on the first day (Friday, 13 May) and grass ploughing on the second day (Saturday, 14 May). Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs, Mr. Eskil Erlandsson, opened the contest.

Our competitors were supported by a group of fans from Croatia, consisting of sponsors’ representatives, competitors-ploughmen in state contests, hosts to state ploughing contests in the Republic of Croatia and people participating in the organization of the 59^th World Ploughing Contest in the Republic of Croatia. Croatian representatives used this opportunity to acquire organization experience and present Croatia as the host to the 59^th World Ploughing Contest. 

Mr. Stjepan Mikolčić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, pointed out in his speech that organizing the World Ploughing Contest represents one of the most important agricultural projects in Croatia next year and that Croatia expects to host the largest number of participating countries. Competitors from as many as 34 countries already announced their participation to event organizers. This is the largest number of countries ever to compete in this contest, highly appreciated by (agriculturally) developed countries, such as Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Canada, Austria or Germany.  

In 2004, the Ministry of Agriculture initiated activities concerning the organization of the world contest. It was officially awarded to Croatia in 2007 in Lithuania, when Spain withdrew from the organization. In 2009, Public Tender for the organization of the World Ploughing Contest 2012 was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia, as well as in all daily newspapers. The tender was open for 30 days. Only two counties submitted their bids - Bjelovar-Bilogora County and Zadar County. The World Ploughing Organization defines the requirements to be met in order to acquire the right to become the host of the ploughing contest. In addition to the size and quality of the land for the contest, requirements concerning the distance of contest plots from the nearest airport and seaport need to be met, and accommodation for over 1 000 persons ensured etc. In line with the set requirements, Biograd na Moru was selected to be the host. A team of future organizers and hosts to the World Ploughing Contest thus went to Sweden. On 19 January 2010 the Agreement on Organizing the 59^th World Ploughing Contest was signed by the WPO and the Organisers: the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development and the Croatian Association for the Organization of the Ploughing Contest.

The Croatian delegation in Sweden was lead by Mr. Stjepan Mikolčić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Mr. Ivan Hodalić, Advisor to the Minister at MAFRD, Ms. Martina Velnić Župić, Secretary of the Croatian Agricultural Chamber and Mr. Ivan Katalinić, Ph.D., Director of the Croatian Agricultural Chamber and President of the Croatian Association for Organization of the Ploughing Contest (CAOPC). At the opening ceremony they were joined by Mr. Vladimir Matek, Croatian ambassador to Sweden, Mr. Tugomir Majdak, Vice-President of the World Ploughing Organization and numerous associates.

The city of Biograd na Moru was represented by Mr. Ivan Knez, the Mayor, Mr. Tonći Šangulin, President of the City Council, Mr. Ivo Eškinja, President of the Biograd na Moru Tourist Board, Mr. Miroslav Andrić, Advisor at the Croatian Agricultural Chamber, Mr. Krunoslav Pešić, CEO of “Bošana” utility company, Ms. Mirjana Škara, CEO of “Vrana Ltd.” and Mr. Zvonko Bubalo, president of the “Vrana Ltd.” Supervisory Board. The contest will, namely, take place on the plots cultivated by “Vrana Ltd.”. The site itself is very attractive due to the fact that it is located only five kilometres from the sea. The preparation of the plots for the contest is already underway. 

Croatia was promoted through an exhibition of the Croatian Agricultural Chamber entitled BeCroative, portraying its economy, innovation and achievements. During the distribution of advertising materials, souvenirs and brochures for the 59^th World Ploughing Contest, exceptional interest was seen not only for the contest itself, but for visiting Croatia – an agricultural and tourist country - as well.

Special attention to numerous Croats (approximately one hundred), easily recognized for their hats and T-shirts with the logo of the 59^th World Ploughing Contest, was attracted by the group of traditional singers from Zadar, “Lanterna”. The singers supported Croatian competitors from the middle of the contest plots singing traditional songs from Dalmatia. The group also performed during the presentation of the Republic of Croatia. Their performance delighted numerous friends of Croatia, but also managed to “warm up” the somewhat controlled “northerners”.

Mr. Tugomir Majdak, Vice-President of the World Ploughing Organization, accepted the flag of the World Ploughing Organization at the closing ceremony of the 58^th World Ploughing Contest, thus officially accepting the hosting of the 59^th World Ploughing Contest in Biograd na Moru 2012 on behalf of the Republic of Croatia. As emphasized by Mr. William Hood, the President of the World Ploughing Organization, this is an exceptional honour for a member as “new” as the Republic of Croatia. Croatia has been given the opportunity to promote the small, but beautiful country full of diversities, as an agricultural and tourist country, a country of amiable hosts and hard-working people next year.

Abiding by the strict rules of the World Ploughing Organization and trying to fulfil all of the prescribed elements, the competitors showed their truly masterly skill in ploughing. The tables below list the final results in both ploughing categories. Grass ploughing and stubble ploughing are scored separately, while overall ranking encompasses the results achieved in both contests in two days. The champion of this year’s contest is Mr. Christian Lanz (Austria) in the category conventional plough, and Mr. Andrew Mitchel (Scotland) in the category reversible plough. Croatia achieved its best result in the contest as yet – 19^th place for Mr. Tomislav Kuharić in the category reversible plough with the total of 292.0 points won. Detailed information on the results, as well as tractors and ploughs used by competitors can be found on the World Ploughing Organization web site at: http://www.worldploughing.org, and the information and news on the 59^th World Ploughing Contest on the new web site of CAOPC at: http://www.huono.hr.

Reversible plough