The final event of the National Forklift Championships was held in Brisbane recently with the competition witnessing some of the best forklift operators in business.

The course design for the final round saw a very challenging layout to test the best of skills in forklift operation. The 13 male and four female finalists had to navigate multiple tasks including shooting a basketball through a hoop.

Australian Warehousing Association President Bill Henman explained that the core focus of the competition was on safe and efficient operations while complying with national standards.

The National Forklift Championships drew competitors from many industries and companies of all sizes, including several female participants. This year’s novelty event of shooting a basketball through a hoop was won by female defending champion, Puna Ririnui from Green’s Biscuits. Puna won on time, as the scores were tied three ways with IGA Supermarkets’ Jayde Graham and Swire Cold Storage operator, Marcelo Fagali.

The main event winner of the male division was Andrew Knowles, Personalised Freight Management while the female division winner was Jayde Graham, IGA Supermarkets.

National Forklift Championships organisers thanked Nationwide/Hyundai Forklifts, Loscam, AIMM Industrial Training, Signet, Cascade and Construction Training Centre for their support.