Own gear helps champ plough through
A champion ploughman has been ‘‘overwhelmed’’ by support from the South Canterbury community, which has rallied to help get him to the world championships in Kenya.
In three weeks, ploughing stalwart Bob Mehrtens will set off to Kenya to compete in his ninth world championships, and for the first time plans to not only take his plough but also his own tractor – which comes with a shipping cost of about $20,000.
The South Canterbury community was first called upon to help support Mehrtens in September. He said he has been ‘‘quite overwhelmed’’ by the community support in the short space of a few months.
‘‘I’m really over the moon, I don’t know who they are [the people who have donated], I know some of them, but it’s just been great, it’s been really good,’’ Mehrtens said.
‘‘It’s really opened my eyes.’’ Mehrtens did not wish to ask for help himself but, having already funded his own way to eight world championships, one of his longtime friends decided to take matters into his own hands.
To help his friend out, H & J Bruce Transport owner Hamish Bruce and Mehrtens’ son-in-law Bevan Halliwell launched fundraising campaign.
‘‘We are well on track to get to the $20,000 mark,’’ Bruce said.
The total amount of money raised was yet to be counted, with donations coming in from a Givealittle page and personal donations to the families.
‘‘Everyone has been really generous, it’s been quite surprising,’’ Bruce said.
Many small businesses had come to the party. Some people had even donated tractor parts, and Mehrtens had New Zealand representative signage for his tractor, Bruce said.
The tractor and plough arrived in Kenya last Thursday, and while the he had not practised without them he was ready for the upcoming challenge, Mehrtens said.
He had heard the soil was ‘‘some of the best in the world’’.
‘‘It’s going to be a big challenge, the heat could be a challenge . . . but it will be good, I’ll make it good anyway.’’
Next year he is expecting to compete in his 10th world championship in Germany – which will also come with a large shipping cost of $20,000.
Any excess money raised from this year’s campaign would go towards funding next year’s trip, Halliwell said.
As of yesterday the Givealittle page had raised nearly $6000.