The 9th Annual Lineworker's Rodeo Recap

The 9th Annual NEPPA Lineworker's Rodeo was held on September 17, 2015, at NEPPA in Littleton, Mass. Modeled after the International Lineworker's Rodeo, the competition is meant to display the craft of line work, with three person lineworker teams representing their respective utilities. The competition involves teams competing in a variety of line events with an emphasis placed on safety and the technical skills needed in line work. Teams can receive deductions in their scores based on violations determined by judges such as misuse of tools, unsafe work or slipping while climbing the pole. Final scores are determined after any deductions in scores and event times are used only as a tie breaker.   

This year the event included 11 teams representing nine different utilities from Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire.   The utilities represented were Braintree, Groton, Groveland, Hingham, Mansfield, Middleton, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Norwich CT and Peabody.  The competition events for this year were determined by a committee of utility representatives and were meant to represent real-life situations that the lineworkers may encounter while out in the field. The six events were 4kV crossarm changeout, 4kV isolation event, hurtman rescue, obstacle course, transformer changeout and URD terminator changeout. To see the top three teams for each event and overall winners please click here!

We would like to thank all the judges, sponsors and volunteers who are involved with the rodeo as, without your time, efforts and sponsorships, the rodeo would not be possible!   

We were also fortunate enough to expand the rodeo to 11 teams this year, and are hopeful to continue to grow this prestigious event. So, if you or anyone at your utility has any interest in participating in this event next year, we encourage you to do so!

Thank you!

Ken Stone,

Rodeo Committee Chair

Braintree Electric Light Department

To see all the pictures taken at the rodeo, please click here!