An excavator competition in New Zealand put operators’ skills to the test, including delicately pouring a cup of tea
Eight operators from New Zealand’s Southland region competed in a recent Civil Contractors New Zealand regional excavator operator competition.
Hundreds of spectators were in attendance to see the operators tackle extreme excavator challenges that required precision skills.
Challenges included using an excavator’s bucket to slam dunk a basketball through a hoop, construct a pergola within a confined space, and delicately pour a cup of tea.
It also involved more routine tests of operator ability and knowledge, including a hazard-spotting assessment and health and safety quiz.
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Invercargill’s Brad Fallow was announced the winner, which was his third time taking out the title from four attempts at the Southland competition.
Fallow has now secured his spot in the national finals at the Central District Field Days in Feilding in March.
It will be his second appearance at the national finals, where he will represent Southland against 11 other winners from regional competitions.
“Last year I got a taste of the finals so I’m looking forward to getting back there,” he says.
“Hopefully I won’t be a nervous wreck like I was my first time around.”
CCNZ Southland Branch Chair Regan McRandle says the Southland competition, now in its third decade, is a great way to showcase the immense skill excavator operators possess to the public.
“The skills are a lot finer and more precise than most of the operators’ get credit for,” he says.
“Their commitment helps us showcase what our industry does and how vital and skilful excavator operators are.”