9 November 2011

WEL Networks takes out top spots

WEL Networks came out on top when a strong line-up of teams and competitors from all over New Zealand battled for honours in this year's line mechanic and cable jointer competitions at the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation's (ESITO's) Annual Connection held in Hamilton last week.

WEL's line mechanic team - Andrew King, Thomas Hemara, Niall Gavin and Albert Rodrigues - eased out Northpower and a combined South Island team in the line mechanic competition.

Team member Albert Rodrigues won the Ross Archer Memorial Line Mechanic Safety Award for the trainee with the best individual marks in the line mechanic competition while Jon Lowe, also of WEL Networks, won the cable jointer competition.

Preventing a clean sweep by WEL, the Outstanding Leader award was won by Stephen Macer of Counties Power.

Competitors were set a range of tasks that tested their work practices and safety standards. For the line mechanic teams this included installing a power pole and electrical hardware, carrying out a pole top rescue, operating a crane, managing an equipotential zone, delivering first aid and taking an electrical theory test.

"Our guys looked well-oiled right from the first event," team manager Hamish Thomson said. "But the competition was as fierce as ever and there was a very high standard of professionalism so you never know what the final results will be."

"Doing so well in both competitions was definitely a huge achievement for our guys."

The ESITO Line Mechanic Competition was supported by premier sponsor TransNet and major sponsors Electropar, TEX Onsite, TEN Group, Busck and Safeworx.

The cable jointer competition ran thanks to premier sponsor TE Connectivity and major sponsors TransNet and General Cable.

Full competition results follow.

Line Mechanic Competition

Winners: Andrew King, Thomas Hemara, Niall Gavin, Albert Rodrigues and team manager Hamish Thomson (WEL Networks)

First runners-up: Richard Ashby, Brett Pou, Ari Welsh, Chance Campbell and team manager John Dixon (Northpower)

Second runners-up: Mike Quirke, Tem Wilson, Sam Collins, Paul Innes and team manager Philip Peter (South Island Line Team)
Outstanding Leader: Stephen Macer (Counties Power)
Ross Archer Memorial Line Mechanic Safety Award: Albert Rodrigues (WEL Networks)

Cable Jointer Competition

Winner: Jon Lowe (WEL Networks)
First runner-up: Ilaitia Drodrolagi (Northpower)
Second runner-up: Lance Cowlishaw (Independent Line Services)

ENDS

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