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Held on November 2 and 3 as part of the Blackheath Rhododendron Festival in New South Wales, the roof bolting and coal shovelling titles were held over Friday night, under dark conditions to best represent the underground environment, and on the following day.
Brett Monaghan, a machine man from Springvale Colliery, teamed with Little Baz from Queensland's Crinum mine to win Friday's shoot-out division against a field of 13 pairs.
The single bolt event was a fastest time decider with teams using 2ft, 3ft and 5ft drill steels to bore and finishing with quick set chemicals to adhere the bolt into a 3.8-tonne cement block in a steel frame about 6ft from the ground.
A father-son team from Emerald - the Dellahides - finished second while Springvale deputy Paul Field and Baalbone Colliery weekend undermanager John Field finished third in the competition.
The same blocks were used for Saturday's double bolt event where the Field duo took out the title ahead of Crinum's John Whyte and Eddie Booth.
Clarence Colliery electrical engineer Peter Raines and Springvale Colliery deputy Charlie Healey finished third.
Australian coal shovelling champion Stuart Turner finished ahead of a strong field in Saturday's coal shovelling competition that saw half a tonne of 8mm coal from Clarence Colliery moved by each competitor.
Closely behind Turner were Scott McKinnon and Peter Murray while in the doubles division Turner teamed with Ian Austin to out-shovel his other partnership with Peter Murray and the combination of Eddie Booth and Little Baz who finished third.
Event coordinator Peter Cooke said the titles, which have been run as part of the festival for more than 10 years, attracted interest from the public crowd and were well supported by industry sponsors including Vought Engineering, Centennial Coal, DSI, Jim Knowles Group, Jenmar, Turners Cranes and Metro Mix.
The 2008 competition will be held on the first weekend of November.
Action from the titles:
Competitors in the doubles roof bolting competition in the starting blocks.
John Whyte and Eddie Booth on their way.
John Field and Paul Field bolt into the cement block.
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Archived article: image not displayed.
The Field team celebrates their win.
