The penultimate qualifying heat for this year’s UK Operator Challenge final was held at Finning’s General Construction head-quarters in Desford, Leicestershire. As you’d expect, there was plenty of competition, all vying for the top 3 spots to enable them to come back and challenge for the title of best machine operator in the United Kingdom.

The contestants did not disappoint. All operators were asked to complete two challenges, both of which were designed to test operator’s skill and competence behind the controls of the machine, opposed to operator speed alone.

Judges were extremely strict on operators, handing out penalty points for operators who did not follow the rules and best practice procedures, helping to keep the standards extremely high throughout the event.

The challenges at this 5th qualifying heat included a jigsaw puzzle and a kerb grab mounted to a 5 tonne Mini Hydraulic Excavator and a series of challenges based around a Multi-Terrain Loader and a customised circuit.

The operators who managed to complete these challenges in the quickest time with no penalties of any sort were:

• 1st Simon Woodford
• 2nd Aaron Allen
• 3rd Nigel Pritchard

Many congratulations to these three operators who have booked their place in the UK final in September.

If you didn’t manage to get into the top three places in this heat, there is one more final qualifying heat at Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire on Saturday 23rd August where you have a final chance to make it to the final, and have the chance to ultimately become the best machine operator in Europe!

The SED show held at Rockingham Speedway in Corby, Northampton had an excellent attendance this year, and was held from May 13th to 15th. The show attracted a wide range of people associated with the construction plant hire industry, from operators to company directors, all eager to see and discuss every aspect of the machines on display.

Finning exhibited it’s range of compact construction equipment including Mini Excavators, Backhoe Loaders, Skid Steer Loaders and Telehandlers. The star attractions of the show were the new SMART20 hydraulic excavator and 930H wheel loader.

In addition to exhibiting machines, SED provided an excellent opportunity for a busy qualifier of the Operator Challenge. Over 150 operators participated, and the best scores from each day have been invited to the UK final in Desford in September. The top three from that event will represent the UK in the European final for the converted Operator Challenge crown.

Day 1 – 46 entrants

• 1st Tony Crockford 3m 03
• 2nd Colin Bootman 3m 28
• 3rd Ryan Bertram 3m 28

Day 2 – 76 entrants

• 1st Damien Boyle 1m 19.7
• 2nd Lee Graham 1m 23.1
• 3rd Ciaran Boyle 1m 29.34

Day 3 – 48 entrants

• 1st Gary Lambert 1m 16.3
• 2nd Nigel Hibbord 1m 30.65
• 3rd Austin Wilkinson 1m 30.8

At the first heat of the UK Operator Challenge competition, over 150 operators took part. Standards were extremely high with many of the competitors completing fault-free rounds.

Operators were asked to perform two very different tasks this year with an emphasis on skill and technique, rather than just a plain race to the finish. As, the Caterpillar operator challenge is really all about the promotion of best practice, encouraging people to be both safe and efficient and not to rush their work.

Judges were particularly hard on individuals that do not follow proper safety procedure, like putting their seatbelts on or safely mounting the machines.

This year’s challenges at Scotplant comprised of trying to lift and place small rubber rings over tall poles, against the clock, using a mini excavator bucket and knocking over blocks in the correct order using a backhoe bucket. It only took a small lapse in concentration to get it all wrong.

The qualifiers through to the UK Final in September were:

• David Allan
• Colin Devenney
• Andrew Elphinstone

Congratulations! See you at the UK Final and we hope to see you when the chequered flag drops in Malaga later this year.

Finning (UK) Ltd is set to make SED 2008 the ultimate challenge for visitors, with the launch of the UK heats for the Caterpillar European Operator Challenge. Over 300 people are expected to take part in this leg of the toughest challenge on earth, competing for a place in the European final in Malaga and the ultimate 2008 European Operator Challenge crown.

In addition to the operator challenge, Finning is set to challenge other manufacturers at the show with it’s most powerful line up of plant equipment yet, including a UK first showing for the brand new Caterpillar TH255 and TH414 telescopic handlers, the new 319D excavator and the impressive 930H wheel loader.

Visitors will also be able to see how Caterpillar has risen to the challenge of creating an industry leading mini-excavator range, that Finning will be offering with some show stopping deals. So for visitors at this years SED show, the biggest challenge to overcome will be the crowds on the Finning Caterpillar Stand.