Forklift riders on form at Sandown Park
April 1st 2008 The riders waited in excited
anticipation, their mounts
poised for action at
Sandown Park. However, on
this occasion, the
competition involved
forklifts rather than horses,
as it was the Southern
regional heat of the
Combilift Driver of the Year
event, held at Western
Business Exhibitions' Health
& Safety 08 Show.
Top drivers from Combilift
users including Travis
Perkins, International
Decorative Surfaces, Alsford
Timber, Timbmet and
Lawsons Timber came
together to compete for the
prestigious award. The
going was good, over a
testing course designed by
training provider Mentor.
Each driver completed a
run of 20min, and points
could be gained by
demonstrating smooth
operation, using the
features of the Combilift to
best effect. These included
working in much narrower
widths than would typically
be experienced in the
workplace, sideloader
operation, and carrying out
a very tricky block stacking
maneouvre. Mentor
Instructor Mike Stevens was
adjudicating, and in keeping
with the theme of the
exhibition, deducted points
for unsafe operation.
The winner, by a short
head, was Roy Cleaver of
Alsford Timber. He received
his trophy from Combilift's
Paul Hopkinson, and will go
forward to the final in
Ireland later in the year. More articles from Combilift Limited: | 
