Martin Smith, 38, of Strathdee Properties in Craigellachie, has been crowned the Scottish champion of the 2024 Plant Operators Challenge after emerging victorious from the national competition at the weekend.
The CITB-sponsored event took place on July 27 at Errol Airfield in Perthshire, where 44 plant operators from across the country undertook eight challenges designed to test their skills.
The eight challenges include the Backhoe Challenge, sponsored by JCB; Telehandler Challenge, sponsored by Scot JCB; Selector Grab Challenge on an 8t crawler excavator, sponsored by Field and Forest Machinery; Trench Challenge on a 13t Crawler Excavator, sponsored by Blackwood Plant Hire; Lifting Challenge in a 20t crawler excavator challenge, sponsored by SANY; Scot JCB sponsored 20t Crawler Excavator Classification Challenge; Attachment Challenge on a 14t Excavator sponsored by Geith and Morris Leslie and finally the Mystery Wildcard Challenge which turned out to be on a Manitou Compact Track Loader.
Martin Smith won £5,000 as well as a number of exclusive prizes from sponsors including Highland Industrial Supplies and Milwaukee.
Martin Smith finished first in the individual Trenching and Loadall challenges and placed first overall.
On being crowned Scottish Champion of the Plant Operator Challenge 2024, Martin Smith said: “It’s amazing to win, especially as I came late to the plant industry. When I first left school I worked as welder manufacturer, but growing up in Speyside I was never far from plant machinery used in agriculture and had always been drawn to agriculture.When I started working for Strathdee Properties in 2011, it offered me the perfect balance because the company is involved in farming and property development, so before long I was behind the dumpers on a bulldozer and haven’t looked back since!
“I really enjoyed taking part in the Scottish Plant Operators Challenge, it was a great day. The challenges weren’t easy, but I’m pleased with how I handled it and just delighted to have won.”
Thomasz Orkiszewski of Mouse Valley Training Ltd and CPCS and NPORS trainer and tester, was one of the judges for the Scotland Plant Operator Challenge. Speaking of Martin, Thomas added: “Martin is a worthy winner. He excelled in the Trenching and Loadall challenges and kept his cool and held his nerve to finish on top. Congratulations Martin!”
In second place was John Stewart, who received £2,500. In third place was Scott Hamilton from Hamilton Plant Hire who received £1,000.
The winners of each of the eight challenges were as follows:
- Tower of Hanoi: William Telford
- Trench Breaking: Martin Smith
- Backhoe: Lewis Cameron
- On the hook: Adam Howarth
- Make the note: James Penman
- Mani-challenge: William Telford
- Balls Up: Blair Largue
- Full load: Martin Smith
Each challenge winner receives a £250 cash prize and exclusive products from challenge sponsors.
Speaking about the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge 2024, promoter Callum Mackintosh added: “What a weekend! This was the second edition of the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge, and the event went above and beyond. We were honored to have the Premier and MSP for Perthshire North, John Swinney, open the event.We have had visitors of all ages and from all over the country.
“Many thanks to Morris Leslie who once again enabled us to run the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge alongside the Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend, a firm favorite with plant enthusiasts and local people alike. Congratulations to Martin Smith, a worthy winner who I hope will inspire others, especially the younger generation, to consider a career in the plant. Congratulations to all the operators who took part and thanks to all our sponsors, helpers and friends because without your support, this event would not occur.”
Thanks to the generosity of visitors to the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge and the Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend, £3,800 was raised at the doorstep of TASH4Ukraine, a charity based at Errol Airfield that works closely with volunteers and charities in Poland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. to provide practical and targeted help to Ukrainians after the Russian invasion.
