JCB Operator Challenge: Heat 7
The final regional heat of the JCB Operator Challenge 2026 took place with ECI JCB and Watling JCB in Staffordshire over the weekend, where contestants competed for their final chance of success before the final on July 14th.
Running alongside the main event, Watling JCB’s Family Day added to the atmosphere, giving loved ones a chance to get involved and experience the action firsthand, creating a memorable experience for all.
Discover below the event highlights, exceptional performances and leading operators from this weekend.
Making the journey from Ireland and back in a single day, ECI JCB got the competition underway, setting an impressive benchmark for everything that followed.
Congratulations to Cyril Reilly, Thomas Kilkenny and Aaron Farrell from Ireland, for securing their place in the 2026 finals!
ECI JCB Leaderboard
| Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Cyril Reilly | 01:42 |
| Thomas Kilkenny | 01:46 |
| Aaron Farrell | 01:52 |
| Martin Farrell | 02:59 |
| Martin Fahey | 04:07 |
Watling JCB hosted another wave of experienced operators, fully prepared to take on the challenge and cheered on by their families.
Well done to Patrick Bolton, Sam Cooper and Dave Vickers for going through to the finals from Watling JCB!
Watling JCB Leaderboard
| Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Patrick Bolton | 01:37 |
| Sam Cooper | 01:52 |
| Dave Vickers | 01:55 |
| Jack Neale | 02:12 |
| Sam Hughes | 02:13 |
| Owen Mitchell | 02:15 |
| James Covell | 02:16 |
| Simon Faulkner | 02:16 |
| Connor Wilkins | 02:17 |
| Sam Horton | 02:51 |
Congratulations to all competitors—and especially to our top performers at ECI JCB and Watling JCB.
We look forward to welcoming our top three operators back to JCB Kevin Quarry on Tuesday 14th July for their chance to win a trip to New York, as well as the title of JCB's Excavator Operator of the Year 2026!
More details on the final to follow.
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