Martin Smith, 38, of Strathdee Properties in Craigellachie has been crowned Scottish Plant Operator Challenge Champion 2024, after emerging victorious at the national competition over the weekend.

The event, sponsored by the CITB, took place at the Errol Airfield in Perthshire, where 44 plant operators undertook eight challenges designed to put their skills to the test. The eight challenges included (deep breath) the Backhoe Loader Challenge, sponsored by JCB; the Telehandler Challenge, sponsored by Scot JCB; the Selector Grab Challenge on an 8t Tracked Excavator, sponsored by Field and Forest Machinery; Trenching challenge on a 13t Tracked Excavator, sponsored by Blackwood Plant Hire; Lifting Challenge on a 20t Tracked Excavator Challenge, sponsored by SANY; Grading Challenge on a 20t Tracked Excavator, sponsored by Scot JCB; Attachment Challenge on a 14t Excavator sponsored by Geith and Morris Leslie and the Mystery Wildcard Challenge, which turned out to be on a compact tracked loader from Manitou.

Martin Smith won £5,000 as well as an array of exclusive rewards from sponsors including Highland Industrial Supplies and Milwaukee.

“It feels amazing to win, especially because I came into the plant industry late," he explained. "When I first left school, I worked as a welder fabricator but growing up in Speyside, I was never far from plant machinery used in farming and I’d always been drawn to farming.

"When I started working for Strathdee Properties in 2011, it offered me the perfect balance because the company is involved in farming and property development, so before long I was behind the leavers on an excavator and I haven’t looked back since!"

Finishing in second place was John Stewart, receiving £2,500, while third place went to Scott Hamilton from Hamilton Plant Hire who took home £1,000.

Speaking about the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge 2024, promoter Callum Mackintosh added: “What a weekend! This was the second edition of the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge, and the event is going from strength to strength. We were honoured to have First Minister and MSP for Perthshire North, John Swinney, open the event. We welcomed visitors of all ages and from all over the country.

“A big thank you to Morris Leslie who once again allowed us to run the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge alongside the Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend, a firm favourite with plant enthusiasts and local people. Congratulations to Martin Smith, a worthy winner who I hope will inspire other people, especially the younger generation, to consider a career in plant. Well done to all the operators who took part and thank you to all our sponsors, helpers and friends because without their support, this event would not happen.”

Thanks to the generosity of visitors to the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge and  Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend, £3,800 was raised for TASH4Ukraine, a charity based at Errol Airfield which works closely with volunteers and charities in Poland, Ukraine and the UK to provide practical, targeted aid to Ukrainians following the Russian invasion.