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A farmer has christened his crop sprayer "Tokyo" to commemorate his daughter's gold medal winning performance at this year's Olympic games.
The self-propelled sprayer was delivered to the family farm in Wrotham Road, Meopham earlier this month.
Its arrival came within an hour of daughter Kate French's victory in the modern pentathlon event.
Taking it as a sign, dad Fred French, who owns the 1,850-acre arable Shipley Hills Farm, decided to mark the occasion by naming his new Fendt Rogator 665 sprayer "Tokyo" after the host city in which Kate triumphed.
A name plate was added to the Fendt sprayer which was supplied by RW Crawford Agricultural Machinery Ltd and is the fourth Rogator to be operated by agricultural contractors, M & M F French.
“Due to Covid-19 restrictions we couldn’t be in Japan to support Kate, so we watched at home,” Fred explained.
“The sprayer arrived within an hour of Kate’s win.
"It’s the most important machine on our farm and a significant investment, so it seemed appropriate to name it ‘Tokyo’, after the Olympics host city on such a momentous day.”
The 30-year-old, from Meopham, dominated the last of five events featuring fencing, freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running.
“I was very lucky,” explained Kate. “Growing up on the farm meant I spent a lot of time outside.
"We had horses, and I was always horse riding and running around the fields.
"I live in Bath now with my husband Leo as the training base is there, but love coming back to the farm.”
Asked about having the sprayer named to commemorate her win, Kate said that she was pleased when her dad told her his idea.
"We had horses, and I was always horse riding and running around the fields..."
“It’s typical of him to do something like that - I like the name plate, he will have to keep that sprayer now," the Olympian added.
"I enjoy riding the horses and running when I am back on the farm, but in future I will want to drive the Rogator too!”
Delighted to help, Carl Goff, Fendt brand specialist from Crawford's Ashford depot, said that he was excited to be asked to add the name plate and Olympic rings.
He said: “We get on very well with Fred and he is a good customer, so we were delighted when he asked us to help him celebrate Kate’s gold medal win in this way."
