Hamilton man Zahnn Hedges was announced as Waikato’s best excavator operator at a prize-giving in Hamilton last night, earning him a place in the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition grand final in Feilding next year.

He competed in a gruelling duel of diggers at the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regional Excavator Operator Competition during Fieldays a fortnight ago, but it wasn’t until last night that the points were tallied and the winner revealed.

The competition saw operators dig deep to complete extreme tests of precision and excavator expertise, including crowd-pleasing challenges such as dunking a basketball and opening a beer using no more than a deft touch and the smooth operation of their Hitachi machines.

The Connell Contractors earthworks supervisor and foreman said he was “rapt” to have taken top spot after finishing third in three of his past four attempts at the regional competition.

“I honed in a bit more this year and tried really hard not to rush some of the tasks I might have in the past – it’s all about being fine on the levers.”

Hedges’ victory over the 21 other Waikato operators at the event was determined after comprehensive scoring across the range of precision-operating tasks and a health and safety test.

Mason Schroder, from Fulton Hogan, took second place, while Rob Heycock from Collins and Sons rounded out the podium in third. 

Hedge’s company Connell Contractors had twice the reason to celebrate, with Hedges and colleague Javahn Kennedy combining to win the team competition at the event.

Competition lead judge James Lux said the skill on display this year was “next level”, with the “young guns” nipping at the heels of the more seasoned operators and giving them a run for their money. 

Lux said as well as allowing operators to showcase their skills, the regional competition at Fieldays aimed to inspire the public to learn more about the civil construction industry and consider excavator operating as a career option. 

The prize-giving ceremony last night was held at Speights Ale House and brought together the operators who competed in the regional competition, alongside colleagues, supporters and sponsors from the Waikato civil-construction scene. 

Hedges will join winners from 12 other regional competitions across New Zealand at Central Districts Field Days next year for the national finals, in a quest to secure the ultimate accolade as New Zealand's supreme excavator operator.

Zahnn Hedges (centre) receiving his first-place prize from CCNZ Waikato Branch Chair Adam Plimmer and Humes representative Daniel Wright.