JCB Operator Challenge: Heat 3 (Greenshields JCB)

Greenshields Operator Challenge

The regional heats of the 2024 JCB UK Operator Challenge continued to gather pace in the South East of England last weekend, when Greenshields JCB hosted their event at Flynne Plant Training; an accredited plant training and testing centre based in Rochford, Essex.

Greenshields JCB took the opportunity to showcase a wide range of machines and hold a ‘Dig Day’, including live demonstrations with some of JCB’s newly launched excavators, including the 370X and 26C-1, and the new 4CX Dual Drive backhoe loader. Visitors were eager to put the much-anticipated machines to the test.

There was also the opportunity to meet JCB’s very own construction industry influencer, Georgina Williams (@the_happydigger), and operators had the chance to gain some career and training advice from Flynne’s experts.

The weekend undoubtedly attracted some crowds, with 23 competitors taking part in the Operator Challenge, alongside groups of spectators adding to the buzz. It was another strongly contested event with some very respectable times being set, including another sub-three-minute result being set by Declan Davis from Hunter Plant (02:57:00). 

“I really enjoyed the Greenshields Dig Day,” said Ollie. “It was an opportunity to get hands on with some of the new products JCB have recently launched, and I came away with lots to think about with regards to upgrading my existing fleet of machines. The operator challenge was far harder than it looked!”

It was an extremely close fight for second (Mike Suttle from Rand Brothers, 03:05:00) and third place (Ollie Gunns from Gunns Contractors Ltd, 03:06:00) with just one second in it.

All three will be going on to compete for the title of being crowned JCB Excavator Operator of the Year 2024 at the final in June.

Well done to all the operators who took part and thank you to everyone who came to support!

 
It was an opportunity to get hands on with some of the new products JCB have recently launched, and I came away with lots to think about with regards to upgrading my existing fleet of machines. The operator challenge was far harder than it looked!
Regional events are being held across the country throughout April and May. More details on how to register to take part, prizes, and the competition terms and conditions, can be found at www.jcb.com/en-gb/campaigns/operator-challenge

Top 10 Leaderboard

Position Name Time
 1 Declan Davis 02:57:00
 2 Mike Suttle  03:05:00
 3 Ollie Gunns 03:06:00
 4 Shaun Richmond 03:09:00
 5 Daniel Grantham 03:25:00
 6 Alex Hornsby 03:39:00
 7 Neil Granger 03:42:00
 8 Oliver Mansfield 03:43:00
 9 Ryan Bird 04:00:00
 10 Kieran Woods 04:10:00
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    Do you have what it takes?

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