News
- Brad Fallow will represent Southland in a top national excavator competition this March.
- Three women are finalists for the first time in the event’s 31-year history.
- The event will include career-focused experiences for those exploring civil construction.
Invercargill’s Brad Fallow is set to take on the nation’s best excavator operators this week at the Civil Contractors New Zealand CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition.
The competition’s grand finale, following 12 regional events, will be held at Manfeild Park in Feilding on 14-15 March. This showdown will take place during the Central Districts Field Days, where contestants will battle head-to-head for the title of New Zealand’s best excavator operator.
The annual competition is well-known for its entertaining challenges. Finalists will showcase their skills in tasks such as slam dunking a basketball, pouring a cup of tea with precision, and digging accurate trenches. Health and safety awareness and strategic job planning are also key judging criteria.
Fallow, who works for SouthRoads on projects like bridge building and drainage, is confident heading into his second national final.
“Last year I got a taste of the finals so I’m looking forward to getting back there. Hopefully I won’t be a nervous wreck like I was my first time around,” he said.
Fallow claimed victory in the truck-loading segment in 2024 and secured his spot in this year’s finals after topping Southland’s regional competition in January.
Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard expects this year’s event to be particularly exciting.
“It’s going to be massive, with an exciting mix of challenges the crowds know and love, as well as never-seen-before tests of precision to keep operators on their toes,” he said.
A notable highlight this year is the participation of three female finalists – Georgia Lyford from Canterbury Westland, Lydia Hill from Nelson Marlborough, and Tanya Claxton from Hawke’s Bay East Coast.
“It’s amazing to think our competition has not had a female finalist before. To have three women amongst the 12 regional winners this year is a proud moment and really shows the changing face of the industry,” Pollard added.
Pollard also emphasised the serious side of the event, explaining that New Zealand faces significant infrastructure challenges.
“We’ve got some big infrastructure challenges in New Zealand, whether it’s aging water pipes, or demand for new transport and energy infrastructure. The industry needs more skilled excavator operators and dedicated individuals to fill a range of important roles so this competition is about inspiring people to consider civil construction,” he said.
An EPIC Careers Hub will run alongside the competition during the Central Districts Field Days, offering visitors hands-on experiences in excavator operation, truck driving, and traffic control. The hub will also include a VR excavator experience, giving people an interactive way to explore career opportunities in civil construction.
The competition’s Platinum Sponsor, CablePrice, has been a dedicated supporter of the event and the industry for many years. CablePrice also supplies the advanced Hitachi excavators that contestants will use in the competition.