With three decades of experience in construction, including running his own business for 13 years Nick Market, 52, has always believed he’s one of the best equipment operators in the Windsor area.
With three decades of experience in construction, including running his own business for 13 years Nick Market, 52, has always believed he’s one of the best equipment operators in the Windsor area. Now that claim can be expanded to include the entire continent.
An equipment operator and superintendent for Sherway Contracting, he beat out four other finalists with a score of 340.37 (seconds) to win the title of Case Rodeo Series North American champion at the manufacturer’s recent rodeo competition in Las Vegas Nevada.
Held to commemorate Case Construction Equipment’s 50th anniversary, the two-day competition was the culmination of an eight-month rodeo tour across North America in 2007 involving 75 dealerships. At each rodeo series event, local construction equipment operators competed in three skill-testing events for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.
Winner of the Case rodeo event at Kucera Farm Supply in Alvinston, Ont., Market was one of an initial 77 contestants — 10 of them Canadian — who qualified.
Held at the Las Vegas Country Club, the competition was divided into two segments. On the first day, the competitors had to perform two very skilled operations that were judged on accuracy and time.
One of those contests was the “Trench Box” where the objective was to tip four volleyballs with the teeth of the backhoe bucket by passing through a course of props. Just one of the requirements included lowering the bucket under the balls to reach the closest designated ball. The operators were assessed penalties for missteps such as knocking off the props while performing the tests.
By the end of the day, the 77 contestants had been narrowed down to five finalists. Not only did he not receive any penalties, Market had an overall time performance of 275 seconds, placing second behind the top performer.
“He beat me by 24 seconds. It was very, very competitive,” he says.
But the competition and the pressure became even more intense on the second day of the competition, which was held at night inside the country club in front of 2,500 people.
“You had to have nerves of steel,” says Market, recalling the scrutiny of those spectators as he picked up a small Tupperware-style container with hook off a pylon and dropped it into a very small and narrowed defined drop area. All this had to be done without disturbing two PCV pipes tethering the pylon.
Market says he drew support from the fact his girlfriend and coworkers were sitting in the stands giving him support and encouragement. “But I had to really stay focused on what I was doing.”
For his efforts Market won the grand prize, a 50th Anniversary limited edition Case Super M Series 2 loader/backhoe, valued at nearly $120,000. Now Case has to prepare the paper work for the machine to enter Canada.
“They didn’t expect a Canadian to win,” Market says.
“Nick is a superb loader/backhoe operator — the best of the best in North America,” says Jim Hughes, brand marketing manager, Case Construction Equipment and manager of the rodeo series.
“Even under the pressure of some stiff competition and hundreds of spectators watching him, Nick never wavered. That’s the sign of a true champion.”
In addition to marketing Case’s 50th anniversary, the rodeo series was a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, netting $140,000, says Hughes.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed