Teams and individuals from KTH Parts Industries Inc of St Paris, Ohio ruled in competitive portions of the 2010 US Open Forklift Rodeo & Safety Expo in Springfield.

KTH develops, manufactures and delivers automotive components globally to world-class vehicle makers.

Eric Zumbrin with KTH repeated as overall rodeo champion and masters' division winner at the 16th annual US Open. KTH's Larry Lawrence was second, and Phil Owings with Keystone Foods/M&M Restaurant Supply in Springfield was third.

The events took place on 29-30 October.

Heath Elliott with KTH won in the championship division. Brent Bush with KTH was second, and Darren Rucker with KTH was third.

Points and places for the KTH-exclusive top entrants were Team A of Zumbrin and Lawrence with 535.31 points in first, Team B of Elliott and Rucker with 599.08 points in second and again Team B with 692.95 points in third place. Thirty-two teams and a total of 66 forklift operators participated.

Rodeo organisers presented the Clyde Parson team spirit award to the Dole Food Co Inc fresh vegetables operation in Springfield.

"Thanks to all for your participation," honorary chairman Randy Kapp and rodeo facilitator Richard Higgins said in a statement. "We hope you had a good time (and) learned more about operating powered industrial trucks safely and efficiently."

Among event sponsors, the Springfield/Clark County Safety Council, the industry portal Forkliftaction.com and materials handling equipment dealership KMH Systems Inc ranked at the Gold Nugget-level.