Winning ways

John Thompson, Linde driver training manager, said: "Over the past eight months we held a series of competitions challenging 350 competitors to find the elite 18 to compete against each other for the national championship. The Operator Challenge tests the operator’s practical driving skill to the limit, each competitor completed four difficult practical challenges to exceptionally high standards.

Andrew Rawson of Boots UK was the overall winner with Kris Scarborough, from Wilko’s coming second and Jake Walmsley from Victrex in third place.

Steve Redman, aftersales director of Linde Jewsbury’s said: "The calibre of competitors gets better every year and is a great testament to the event which is ultimately to promote best practice and encourage enhanced levels of personal safety and handling efficiency.”

All three winners will go on to compete as a team at the International Forklift Cup in Aschaffenburg, Germany in September which will be the tenth anniversary for the event. On this occasion the drivers will also have the opportunity to qualify for the first World Singles Championship.