Wins in Land Based Engineering Competition

SERC Level 2 and Level 3 Land Based Engineering trainees and apprentices tested their skills against each other in the annual Intercampus Competition at SERC’s Lisburn campus.

Working against strict time and quality constraints, the apprentices were required to perform a series of tasks that an agricultural tractor and machinery repair technician might expect to perform daily.   This included engine diagnostics, measurement and repair, as well as electrics, bench fitting and welding. 

First place went to David Walker (19) from Scarva, employed by GA Allen; Adam Redmond (21) from Markethill, employed by E B Tractors took second place; and Lucas Ney (17) from Banbridge, employed by Alan Milnes Tractors, was placed third.

Simon Toman, Lecturer and Coordinator of Land Based Engineering at SERC said, "All the apprentices who participated in the competition are currently employed in the industry.  The valuable experience they gain in the workplace, and consolidate at SERC, was evident throughout the competition. They clearly demonstrated their ability and competence in all the assessed areas in what proved to be a tight competition.

He concluded, “We were delighted with support for the competition by some of the main dealers for multiple brands of agricultural machinery and tractors across Northern Ireland who generously sponsored prizes and donated merchandise - raising the stakes for the apprentices.   The staff at SERC would like to thank all the apprentices' employers and Tractormatic Ltd, Deer Park Agri Services, Hunter Kane and Son, McMurray Tractors, DA Forgie Machinery, Keys Brothers Horticulture and Jonston Gilpen & Co. for their generosity and support for the Land Based Engineering delivery at SERC.”

Above, left to right) Kane Henderson, Deerpark Agri Services; apprentice Adam Redmond (second place) who is employed by  E B Services; SERC Lecturers John McCulla, Basil Colhoun and Michael Hutchinson; Stefan Jones, Technician; apprentices Lucas Ney (third place) employed by Alan Milnes Tractors; and David Walker (first place) employed by GA Allen; with Josh Donaldson, Drumhill Tractors; and SERC’s Noel O’Hare, Head of Quality and Simon Toman, Land Based Engineering Co-Ordinator at SERC.