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Saddle up for the Case Rodeo European final 2013

Sun 29 Sep 2013

Saddle up for the Case Rodeo European final 2013

The 2013 Rodeo started at our very own Plantworx exhibition here in the UK in May, where more than 60 operators took the challenge. A team of four operators, who achieved the best times at the Plantworx event, will represent the UK at the European final close to the French capital. The team members are, James Binks of J Binks & Sons, Lee Graham of Graham’s Ground Solutions, Karl Owen of KSO Groundwork’s, and Ashley Goddard of A P Goddard Ltd. Throughout August, the Case Rodeo operator challenge rolled into Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, with over 100 operators taking part and testing their skills at the three set challenges. As one might expect, competition was fierce, with a place in the European final at stake. In each of the three contests, organised by Case distributor Intrac, competitors tackled three individual tests of skill and machine control. The first involved the use of a Case skid steer to transport balls through a rough terrain slalom course without dropping them. In the second test the operators took the controls of a backhoe loader to lift and position a barrel within a confined designated area, while the third challenge involved placing golf balls in varying diameter tubes, using a 20-tonne crawler excavator. First place in the Lithuanian round went to operator Arvydas Ruksta, with Saulius Tumosa and Kestutis Gailius as runners-up. At the Latvian round, Artis Sunins lifted the prize for first place, while Janis Vaitkus and Juris Steps captured second and third places. In Estonia the top spot went to Arvi Kaljula, with Sander Vardja in second and Siim Samarin in third. Here’s a taste of the action from the same event two years ago, which gives us an idea of what the contestants will be up against this time around. The Grand Final takes place over the weekend of 18th – 20th October at the Case Customer Centre near Paris.
European heats are still on-going, with the second German heat taking place this very weekend, as such the final line up is not yet complete. Let’s hope for a fair contest and nice victory from our UK guys would be a massive bonus!      

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