From left, winning team members James Nunn, Mike Warren and Damon Brooks. Photo: Jon Patton, Overton's/Gander Mountain

Pitt Community College and Overton's Inc collaborated with Greenville Utilities Commission and the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce in holding the area's first forklift rodeo competition on 20 September in Greenville.

Entrants from eight North Carolina firms represented Roberts Co of Winterville, Overton's of Greenville, Metallix Inc of Greenville, Mestek Inc of Farmville, Attends Healthcare Products Inc of Greenville, Resource Manufacturing of Kinston, Ann's House of Nuts of Robersonville and DSM Pharmaceuticals of Greenville.

The forklift rodeo emphasised safety, says Jerry Jones, industrial training instructor and co-ordinator with the business and industry services program of the college in Winterville.

The Greenville branch of Dougherty Equipment Co supplied three LP-powered 5,000 lb. (2,250 kg) sitdown forklifts for the competition at the facility of watersports dealer Overton's.

Three drivers won the company award for Ann's House of Nuts. Mike Warren, James Nunn and Damon Brooks each received a USD50 gift card from Overton's and, according to Jones, bragging rights to the custom-designed permanent forklift trophy on which the company name will be placed.

Warren also won the pallet-and-basketball course competition. Thaddius Baker from Mestek was second. A driver had to pick up a pallet containing a bucket with a basketball placed on top and drive the course forward and then backward with the best time and minimum violations.

Corey Coltrain of Metallix and Mike Matthews of Attends were first and second, respectively, on the circular-tack-with-tennis-ball course. A driver had to pick up a pallet containing a cone with a tennis ball placed on top and drive the course forward and then backward with the best time and minimum violations.

Derick McQueen of Metallix won on the basketball-and-goal course, and Derrick Forbes of Attends was second. A driver had to pick up a basketball with forks, drive the course, get the ball to fall through the goal and then return the forklift with the best time and minimum violations.

Judges included Derek Hunter, Chris Holloman and Scott Shirley of Pitt Community College; William Tyson and Mike Carmon of the Greenville Utilities Commission; James Suggs of Nacco Material Handling Inc; and Craig Krugg of Dougherty.

The utilities commission provided safety equipment, activity coordination and judges/staff support. The chamber publicised the event, coordinated activities and provided staff support. Nacco, which manufactures Yale and Hyster forklifts in Greenville, provided safety equipment, coordinated activities and arranged for judges and staff support.