Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
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Linemen Mark Windsor, Gerald Gardner and Norman Tapp won the "New Service" competition and placed second in the "Overall Equipment Competition." They also placed third in the "Climbing Skills Mystery Event." The NOVEC team competed against 23 teams from electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities--including Dominion Virginia Power--and municipal power systems from
The Gaff-n-Go Rodeo competition takes place primarily atop 40-foot tall utility poles and gives linemen the opportunity to demonstrate their skills during five events The name refers to the "gaff" or metal spike that linemen attach to their boots to help them climb utility poles. Two other events involve using bucket and line trucks. All events are timed, and judges score each team according to safe and efficient work practices with points deducted for safety infractions.
"Working safely as an electric lineman requires special skills," said Skip Hollcroft, NOVEC's construction manager. "It's a physically demanding job often performed in adverse conditions. The competition allows linemen to showcase some of the special qualities needed to be a good lineman–excellent physical condition and dexterity, discipline, extensive training, teamwork and confidence. We are very proud of the hard work our team put into this competition and the results speak well of their efforts."
The
The all-day family fun rodeo, held at the