JCB Operator Challenge: Heats 4, 5 & 6
The JCB Operator Challenge 2026 arrived on home turf this week, delivering three action-packed days of precision, skill and competition at Kevin Quarry in Staffordshire, bringing together some of the UK’s most talented machine operators.
Hosted across three consecutive events—TC Harrison JCB, Gunn JCB and Dennison JCB—the challenge witnessed many operators expertise, innovation and control within the construction industry.
Each event brought its own competitive edge, building momentum across the week. Here’s your complete round-up of the event highlights, standout performances, and top operators.
TCH JCB Operator Challenge Highlights
The competition kicked off with TC Harrison JCB, setting a high standard for the days that followed.
Operators tackled the technical tasks, demonstrating impressive control and consistency. The level of competition was fierce, with several standout performances throughout the day.
Well done to Tom Balls, William Telford and Matthew Dimmack for securing their place in the 2026 finals!
Heat 4: Top 10 Leaderboard
| Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Tom Balls | 01:24 |
| William Telford | 02:01 |
| Matthew Dimmack | 02:11 |
| Jack Lycett | 02:19 |
| Alan Bunning | 02:35 |
| Ben Dimmack | 02:36 |
| Richard Corner | 02:44 |
| Michael Bond | 03:15 |
| Tom Dewhurst | 03:18 |
| Tim Watson | 03:31 |
Gunn JCB Operator Challenge Highlights
Next up, Gunn JCB brought another wave of skilled operators ready to take on the quarry’s demanding challenges.
This heat saw particularly strong performances in precision handling and time-based tasks, with competitors pushing both the machines and themselves to the limit.
Congratulations to James Herring, Bryn James and Chris Thorn for going through to the finals from the Gunn JCB heat!
Heat 5: Leaderboard
| Name | Time |
|---|---|
| James Herring | 01:29 |
| Bryn James | 02:25 |
| Chris Thorn | 03:07 |
Dennison JCB Operator Challenge Highlights
Closing out the series, Dennison JCB delivered a final day of intense competition, with operators aiming to secure their place among the top performers of the 2026 challenge.
Energy remained high throughout, with exceptional demonstrations of technical skill and machine mastery.
Hats off to Stephen Millar and Declan Clarke all from Northern Ireland for going through to the Operator Challenge finals!
Heat 6: Leaderboard
| Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Stephen Millar | 02:11 |
| Declan Clarke | 02:14 |
The talent on display reinforces the ongoing need for highly skilled operators within the construction and heavy equipment industry.
There's still time to sign up to take part, with a trip to New York up for grabs, as well as the title of JCB's Excavator Operator of the Year 2026. More details on how to register, prizes and the competition terms and conditions can be found here - JCB Operator Challenge 2026.
Congratulations to all competitors—and especially to our top performers across TC Harrison JCB, Gunn JCB and Dennison JCB.
JCB Operator Challenge 2026
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