FINNING UK & Ireland has named the three Operator Challenge 2019 finalists set to compete in European regional heats in Malaga.
The UK & Ireland heats were held recently at the Caterpillar demonstration and learning centre in Desford, Leicestershire. Competitors put their skills to the test over two days, with Liam Lambert and brothers Thomas and Maurice Murphy topping the leaderboard.
The event consisted of three different challenges using the Cat 259D, Cat 302 and Cat 320 GC.
The Cat 259D compact track loader skid steer challenge involved an obstacle course, with operators tasked with picking up a girder from a H-frame to place on a designated area. Once dropped, another lap of the obstacle course had to be completed before picking and placing the girder back onto the H-frame.
Cat 302 mini excavators faced a coned track to test manoeuvrability in tight spaces. T bars had to be lifted and moved to different stands before reversing back into the start line.
Finally, the Cat 320 GC with a grabber attachment, was surrounded by different sized tyres. Operators had to pick and place the tyres in descending size order into a pyramid before placing back into their respective starting points.
The three finalists now have the chance to compete against Europe’s best in Malaga, and the chance to compete in the World Finals, held at Conexpo-CON/AGG in Las Vegas in March 2020.
