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Case Construction Equipment’s famous Rodeo operator challenge has attracted the finest machine operators in competitions across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia throughout August. More than 100 competitors took part in the challenge and tried their hand at the three competitions, with over 300 visitors attending the Case Rodeo events in the Estonian capital of Tallinn on August 23, Riga in Latvia on August 27 and in Klaipeda, Lithuania on August 30.
Winners Progress To European Stage
In each of the three contests, organised by Case distributor Intrac, competitors tackled three individual tests of skill and machine control. The first involved the use of a Case skid steer to transport balls through a rough terrain slalom course without dropping them. In the second test the operators took the controls of a tractor backhoe loader to lift and position a barrel within a confined designated area, while the third challenge involved placing golf balls in varying diameter tubes, using a 20-tonne crawler excavator.
* First place in the Lithuanian round went to operator Arvydas Ruksta, with Saulius Tumosa and Kestutis Gailius as runners-up.
* At the Latvian round, Artis Sunins lifted the prize for first place, while Janis Vaitkus and Juris Steps captured second and third places.
* In Estonia the top spot went to Arvi Kaljula, with Sander Vardja in second and Siim Samarin in third.
Exciting Day For All
As well as the Rodeo competition, Intrac provided packed days of entertainment and challenge for the many visitors to the three Rodeo days. Activities included horse riding, shooting, line dancing, off-road vehicles and Harley-Davidson riding, as well as the chance to see a wide range of Case equipment in action.
Robert Wrona, Baltic states sales manager: “Case Rodeo is becoming more and more popular even though we have started only last year with this event in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; significantly increased number of competing operators and visitors is definitely proofing this”. It is really a pleasure to shake hands with winners as the enthusiasm to be the best on Case equipment was really coming out of their faces!”
European Challenge Continues To Grow
The 2013 Rodeo started at the Plantworx exhibition in the UK in May, where more than 60 operators took the challenge. A team of four operators, including James Binks, Lee Graham, Karl Owen and Ashley Goddard will represent the UK at the European round.
In June the Rodeo moved to France, for two rounds in Angers, and then on to Germany for the first round at Erlangen. A second German round followed at the end of August in Walldorf, where more than 250 visitors enjoyed a Rodeo welcome from Case. A strong entry of 32 competitors saw Ekkehardt Graf lift the trophy for the event.
Upcoming events include:
* September 20 in Lodz, Poland with Intrac Polska
* September 27-29 in Erfurt, Germany with EBB
All of the winning European teams will head to the Case Customer Centre near Paris for what promises to be the toughest challenge of all, the European Rodeo Final, on October 18-20.
Source: Case Construction