OPEI News: Crossing the Finish Line

Row after row of metal bleachers, hot to the touch under the blazing Louisville, Ky., sunshine, filled to capacity as participants made their way through the Walker Mowers Precision Obstacle Course National Championship at the 2002 Outdoor Power Equipment Expo last week. Beginning Friday, July 19, show attendees could test their skills in a maze of twists, zero-turns and tight spaces, picking up five flags along the way. The best of the best then had their chance to compete in Sunday's finals, vying for a five-day vacation to Colorado to tour the Walker factory.

Among 170 initial participants and 75 operators who qualified for Saturday's semi-finals, Chris Ulrich of Bristol, Ga., walked away victorious, winning the trip as well as a gold-plated Walker die-cast trophy. Second place went to Tommy Cecil of Louisville and third place was won by Ryan Stutzman of Montrose, Colo.

Co-sponsored by Sellers Expositions, the event made its debut at this year's show. Bob Walker, president for the Fort Collins, Colo.-based Walker, said he hoped the event – and its participants – could look forward to a repeat performance at next year's show. "It was our first time, and overall, we were very pleased with the event," he said. "If we can continue to have the opportunity, we'd like to look at this as an annual event."

Approximately 250 show attendees turned out to watch the action on the course, filling the bleachers and further indicating that this event could be a hit from year to year, Walker added.

The author is Assistant Editor – Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at kmohn@lawnandlandscape.com.

To view the Walker Mowers Precision Obstacle Course in action, please click here: Walker Obstacle Course.

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