Portugal's first forklift rodeo

Organisers of the inaugural Portuguese forklift rodeo are attempting to send their winning team to compete in the USA Open and have invited their US counterparts to send a team to their 2010 championships.

According to USA Open committee members, Forkliftaction.com's coverage of the Ohio event inspired the launch event in Portugal.

Portuguese organiser António Oliveira of Inovergo describes the event as "a huge success".

The event was won by a team from beverage company Sumol/Compal, trained by Oliveira's company.

The competition attracted 53 competitors from nine companies, organised into 24 teams of two.

"Everything went smoothly, on time, no crisis, everybody happy and smiling," says Oliveira.

The rodeo consisted of four tasks: a Basket Slalom, a Four Square, a Circle and the Hot Shot.

Oliveira says he is now looking for funding to get the winning team over to the US to compete in next year's Ohio event.

Meanwhile, event founder Dick Higgins is assisting Matt McQuillan at Atlantic Lift in Baltimore, Maryland in conjunction with the Chesapeake Region Safety Council to organise a similar rodeo in a few months' time.

"Dick is also planning to travel to Baltimore to see how they go and assist, and is preparing to study both Portugal and Baltimore Rodeos to learn more about running an international event," says McQuillan.