Davie's delicate digger deeds could win top prize

Gore man Justin Davie is about to take on 12 other regional winners in the National Excavator Operator Competition this week.

Mr Davie is the Southland champion vying for the title of New Zealand's number one multi-skilled operator at the competition being held at the Field Days in Feilding.

The event is organised by the New Zealand Contractors' Federation.

In the past contestants have found themselves using the massive excavators to pop champagne corks, pour cups of tea, slam dunk a basketball and put an egg in an eggcup.

Mr Davie, 20, is studying for a Bachelor of Agriculture at Lincoln University and works for SAS Construction during his holidays. He had operated excavator machinery since he was "a boy" but it was his first time at the national finals.

Mr Davie was expecting a "full-on" couple of days of competition and said the nerves were kicking in.

"There's going to be lots of tedious tasks," he forecast.

The competition starts today and ends tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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