Warm and humid this years NEOC was just as hotly contested. With the regional winners each vying for the title of NZ's top operator.

This year Riki Lum of Clements Contractors from Kiripaka in Whangarei took both the NEOC and One-Day Job titles. An awesome effort considering that the NEOC rewards fine control and excavator ability and the One-Day Job a technical challenge to plan, prepare and execute a mock job from start to finish, including pricing, H & S and quantifying.

The 'Good Bastard' award went to Jason Toomer-Reti of ICB Retaining and Construction from Auckland showing a lot of heart in both the competition and out in about in the CCNZ zone.

Jim Beamsley of Central Demolition from Palmerston North took second place with Judges commenting on an out-standing and smooth technique.

Josh Keane of Southroads Limited from Otago took third place with a solid all-around performance across the challenges.

Attach2 Gear

Making it's second competition appearance was the new All in One bucket. We talked to some of the competitors about their experience using it on the 5 Tonne machine. Feedback was positive with comments on it's excellent grab capabilities and familiar feel.

There was plenty of A2 gear at this year's competition, with each used for different events and skill tests.

A stalwart of the regional and the national excavator competitions the A2 Multi Grab Bucket was in heavy use across the varied competition events. Picking up and moving logs, painting '130' on the excavator canvas, pouring a cup of tea, flattening trenches and piles with its flat bottom.

Ideal for bulking out large trenches in soft dirt the A2 Elite Tilt Bucket was used for the digging and trenching activities requiring a V trench with a flat bottom. With a double radius curve and tapered sides cutting the ground couldn't of been cleaner and faster.

Even the A2Lock Ram Tilt Quick Coupler saw some unique use during the competition, with operators required to lift Humes Pipes onto the back of Hirepool truck using its lifting points. Then picking up the A2 wide bucket to fill it.

Attach2 is a proud sponsor of the CCNZ National and Regional Excavator Operator Competitions. Find out more about the Attachments in use at this year's competition:

All in One Bucket
Multi Grab Bucket Mk3 #TheRealThing
Elite Tilt Bucket
A2Lock Twin Ram Tilt Coupler 
Wide Bucket