You’ll get a chance to test your backhoe skills at the NOWRA National Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe, to be held at the 31st Annual Pumper & Cleaner Expo, March 2-5 in Louisville.
Last year it was a “big time in Derby Town” for the annual Roe-D-Hoe. There was hootin’ and hollerin’ throughout the hall when contestants (76 on Thursday and 85 on Friday) competed to be among the top five to return on Saturday morning for the finals and a chance to win the (unofficial) title of World’s Best Backhoe Operator.
Competition was brisk both days — sharp operators demonstrated several creative approaches at the three events: basketball, bowling and golf. The course was set up by “Mr. Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe,” Mick Heibert of IHI Compact Excavator Sales. He has experience in North and South America setting up challenging tasks for operators who brag about being the best at their trade.
The Roe-D-Hoe kicked off Thursday morning as operators looked over the equipment and sized up their chances to take home the grand prize of $1,000. They soon found out that maintaining grade in an excavation might be a little different from shooting hoops, picking up a spare, and chipping one into the cup with a backhoe.
We had a collection of professional backhoe operators from Canada to Barbados watching, talking and privately figuring out: Do I try and scoop all three basketballs at once or just go for two, and then sweep the last one for a respectable time? Or: Would it be better to pick up two bowling pins with that short dowel on the end of the bucket, or just quickly swing and stab them one at a time? And: What about keeping that golf ball from looking like a moth orbiting a porch light?
Operators used several techniques to stay on the Top 10 board. It was not uncommon to see a Top 10 contestant drop by to check the board, only to find he had slipped off, requiring another trip through the events with a change in technique, more concentration or both. On Saturday morning, the Top 10 board had been reduced to five:
• Kent House from Indiana
• Chris Hartman from Kentucky
• Vincent Sullivan from Texas
• Mike Smallwood from Ohio
• Cory Hoover from Pennsylvania.
All had their eyes on the cash. You could tell there had been some late-night planning and strategizing. The five finalists were allowed one trip through the events for practice, and then came the real thing. The crowd was treated to a superb exhibit of skill.
In the end, Hoover took home the grand prize with a record time of 1 minute, 50 seconds. Second place went to Smallwood and third to Sullivan. Each of the top three finishers took home a belt buckle to show the folks back home that they really were the cream of the crop.
Jet Inc. donated the $1,000 for the grand prize, IHI contributed the machines, and many volunteers took time from the show to work the event. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the 2011 NOWRA National Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe.
Tom Fritts is vice president of NOWRA.
