Mark Morley from Greymouth-based MBD Contracting has been crowned the winner of the first-ever Cat Global Operator Challenge (GOC) event held in New Zealand.
The event was held at this year’s Wheels at Wanaka, an all-vehicle, all-machinery history-in-motion vintage fair – including steam engines, tractors and farming heritage, cars, motor-bikes, trucks, earthmovers and heavy machinery.
The preliminary round saw 23 operators compete in three challenges using three different Cat machines – a 325 excavator, a 962M wheel loader and a 255 compact track loader.
The best-scoring six progressed to the final, which saw the competition rise to another level. After a nail-biting finish, Mark emerged victorious, pipping second-placed Allister Dransfield of Dransfield Contracting Ltd, with Jamie Ashby of C & R Developments finishing third.
“It’s still all sinking in,” Mark said. “I was really stoked with myself and the performance I put forward on both days of the competition but didn’t really know it was going to be enough.
“I was surprised and shocked when they called out my name as the winner.”
Mark expressed gratitude to his employers, Darren and Ben, for nominating him to compete, and thanked Terra Cat for organising the event.
He also acknowledged the high calibre of his fellow competitors, commending them for making the challenge a truly rewarding experience.
Mark now has the opportunity to compete in the next stage of competition, set to take place in Japan this October. If he is among the top three in that event, he will move on to compete in the global finals at CONEXPO in San Diego next year.