A total of 44 competitors are set to compete in eight challenges at Errol Airfield on the 27th July in a bid to be crowned Scottish Plant Operator Challenge Champion of 2024.

Organised by Morris Leslie, James Currie and Callum Mackintosh, the anticipation is building ahead of the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge, now in its second year. The competition, thanks to Morris Leslie, will take place alongside the Vintage Plant Working Weekend at Errol Airfield, a long-established fixture in the diary for plant enthusiasts across Scotland.

The competition was won by Gordon Durno of Currie Contractors in Moray last year and has attracted more entrants this year following the successful qualifier held at ScotPlant in April where 100 operators took to the sticks of the Kobelco SK75 for the 'On the Hook' challenge.

The 44 entrants to the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge represent a diverse plant industry with a mix of self-employed, as well as operators working for established businesses in the plant industry.

Each competitor has a challenge they are looking forward to and one they are dreading.

Steven Sutherland from GBSS Civil Engineering will be competing again this year. He said: "Funnily enough the challenge that caught me out last year is the one that I do most often - the grade challenge! I will just approach each challenge in the same way. I reckon Scott Hamilton is one to watch. I'd like to say thank you to the organisers for putting this event on, it's a really good day out, gives us the chance to meet up and have a go on new machines."

William Frame, a self-employed plant operator, added: "I finished fifth overall last year so we'll see what happens this year. I think Scott Hamilton is the one to beat. I reckon the backhoe loader challenge might prove the biggest challenge but we'll have to wait and see, I'm trying to work out what the 'mystery wildcard' could be! It's a great day out, I'll take my family with me and I think my partner might even be doing some face painting for kids on the day. I'm looking forward to it."

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There is a lot of mutual respect amongst the operators competing this year. Scott Hamilton of Hamilton Plant Hire commented: "I reckon William Frame is the one to watch. I really enjoyed the competition last year. It had a good selection of challenges and a good scoring system which took into account all of the challenges and gave a good representation of a top operator who can perform any task put in front of them. I'd certainly like to win it this year, I will keep my fingers crossed!"

• Judges

The qualifier at ScotPlant in April gave visitors from all over the British Isles the chance to enter. In order to ensure impartiality and a continued high standard of judging, the organisers have drafted in father and son duo, Chris and Dale Blake from Mervyn Lambert Plant Training in East Anglia. Chris was until recently the Plant Curriculum Manager at the National Construction College (NCC) in Norfolk, he has decades of practical experience on the levers of a variety of machines as well as being a trainer, assessor and consultant to many industry working groups. Dale has also been a trainer and assessor for several years at the NCC following an operating career for Mervyn Lambert. In addition, Dale has a background of involvement with Scottish plant operators having travelled the length and breadth of the country completing SVQ assessments on learners who have attended the apprenticeship programme at Bircham Newton. They have just developed the new plant training centre at Mervyn Lambert Plant Ltd from scratch with CPCS test status just awarded.

Speaking about the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge, Chris said: "Having judged myself last year it's great to be involved once more in such a family friendly spectacle with Dale. It is clear to see what a resounding success last year was with the vast interest once more from operators and manufacturers this year. I know Morris, James and Callum have looked to further enhance from the 2023 show, good luck with that as the 2023 event was fantastic!

"We cannot wait to arrive and both view and judge this year's competitors, we know the standard will be extremely high again."

• Competition format

The competition will feature eight simultaneous challenges and all participants will be required to compete in every challenge. The primary objective is to identify the most versatile and proficient operator, mirroring the demands and expectations of employers within the Scottish plant industry. This strategic approach ensures that every operator, regardless of their level of experience, is presented with an equal opportunity to showcase their capabilities on a level playing field. The challenges are intricately designed to emulate real-life scenarios, testing operators' adaptability, safety adherence, observations, technical prowess and industry experience.

• Prizes

This year's prize pot totals £17,500, which includes some amazing tools from Milwaukee courtesy of Highland Industrial Supplies, to recognise the talents of the participants at SPOC24:

• Overall winner and Scottish Plant Operator Challenge Champion 2024 will receive £5,000 as well as an array of exclusive rewards from sponsors.

• 2nd place operator will receive £2,500.

• 3rd place operator will receive £1,000.

• Individual challenge winners will receive a cash prize of £250 and exclusive merchandise from the challenge sponsors.