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If you think picking up a raw egg with a digger bucket on the end of a 13.5 tonne Cat and placing it in a cup without breaking it is a tough call, then spare a thought for the competitors at the National Excavator Operator Competition finals. In March regional winners met at the Central Districts Field Day (held at Mansfield Park in Feilding) to compete over an intense two days for the National Excavator Operator of the year title. And it’s not just the competition that is a step up from the regional events for the finalist, the challenges and the judging also gets much tougher. Challenges this year included slam dunking a basket ball through a manhole-sized hole on top of a five metre concrete pipe, culvert digging, kerb crossings, laying a trench shoring system and a stint loading pine logs onto a trailer without going over weight.
Most points are earned operating the excavator through a range of tasks and the balance through theory and practical tests related to safe work practices, knowledge of regulations related to occupational safety and health, Land Transport regulations and industry hazards. All these tasks have to be achieved against the clock, putting competitors under immense pressure. On top of that, this year a fierce sun beat down on the Feilding Showgrounds and raised the temperature. “It was pretty tough out there,” says New Zealand Contractors’ Federation executive officer, Malcolm Abernethy and admitting that the scoring had been toughened up since last year. The NZCF has been running the two-day competition since 1995. “The object of the title is to advance the skills and knowledge of the contestants.” Some are seasoned competitors with decades of digging experience who return into the fray year after year, while others are younger, first timers who have demonstrated their skills as outsiders by taking out a regional title. A major part of the national excavator competition is the ‘one-day job’, sponsored by Contractor magazine. This involves contestants costing and quoting on a theoretical job on the first day of the competition. On the second day, they had to actually carry out the actual job using a five-tonne Cat digger and within the time they said they could.  
Now in its 13th year, the competition has grown from a straight forward, get it right or wrong event to a well-organised, well-greased affair, involving major sponsors, an army of judges and volunteers, and a gala dinner to announce the winners. As the National Excavator Operator Competition is held at the huge Central Districts Field Days, it is very much a public spectator event that includes friends, family and colleagues. And it is always good to see the competitors’ partners turn out to provide support. A special area is set up for the kids to have a go on a mini digger under the tuition of Alistair McIntyre, a.k.a. ‘Doug the Digger’, and the contestants, who have to help out as one of their many tasks. As in previous years, the smooth tongued Neil Ritchie provided a tireless and informative commentary that kept everyone well-informed on what was happening with each event, and he has become an important ambassador between the industry and the public. If you think you have the digger skills to represent the industry at this level, then all the contestants told us the same thing – ‘Enter at your regional elevel and give it ago. It’s not just about winning, but pushing yourself that little further and picking up a few new skills and mates on the way’. 
Contractor Vol.32 No.3 April 2008 |
