Hawke's Bay excavators dig up success at national competition

Steve Galbraith was going for his third national top excavator operator title but had to settle for third. Photo / Duncan Brown

Napier earthmoving contractor Steve Galbraith's pursuit of a hat-trick of consecutive national titles may not have eventuated but he still made the top three at the National Excavator Operator Competition held over the weekend.

Mr Galbraith, who runs his own company, Galbraith Earthmovers, had won the national title in 2016 and 2017 but was edged out this year by overall winner Troy Calteaux of Otago and runner-up Jim Beamsley of Palmerston North, and had to settle for the award as the country's third top excavator operator.

But one of his former workmate colleagues, Dan Mephan of Gair Contracting, tasted top success in the "One-Day Job" category after proving to be the best at scoping, designing and constructing a loading ramp in under an hour.

Normally that kind of project would take a day.

Mr Mephan was competing for just his second time and has worked for Gair Contracting for six years, specialising in forestry and civil earthworks.

Prior to his two overall wins, Mr Galbraith had achieved two third placings at the nationals and he has competed at the Hawke's Bay regional competitions more than a dozen times.

The national competition was staged as part of the Central Districts Field Days held in Fielding.

Big crowds turned out as the two Hawke's Bay earthmoving experts, along with nine other competitors, had to impress the judges not only with highly advanced excavator operation techniques but also with their knowledge of health and safety precautions and planning.

The were assessed during the four-part competition on skills as diverse as using a 13-tonne excavator to peel a watermelon to first-aid skills and teaching a toddler how to operate a 1.7 tonne digger.

Competition manager Tricia Logan said Mr Galbraith and Mr Mephan were "outstanding operators" as the field was particularly strong this year and it turned out to be a tight finish.

"All the competitors had demonstrated a very high level of skill, knowledge and excellence and are at the very top of their game," Ms Logan said.

The national competition is staged to raise the profile of a growing industry which is embracing new technology.