West Columbia’s Derek Cothran won the S.C. American Public Works Association Regional Backhoe Rodeo, Friday. It was presented by the Columbia Public Works Department. Cothran will advance to the State competition in Greenville in August. Cothran works in West Columbia’s  Water-Sewer Department. His  overall time was 290 seconds for three events. Second and third place went to Lexington County’s Rickie Derrick and Jamie Mack.

Backhoe Rodeo competitors exhibit their heavy machinery skills in three timed tasks. Cothran finished third the West Columbia Backhoe Rodeo May 21. First place went to Chris Cranford. That event included dropping a hanging tennis ball into six-inch pipes, and scooping an egg off the top of a dirt mound, and moving it onto a nest of pine straw and pouring a drink from a two-liter bottle into wine glasses.

Mike Bollinger won the state title in Backhoe Rodeo a year ago for the City of West Columbia.

The competition gives employees who do mundane things everyday – like digging, laying pipes, and preparing waterlines,  a chance to show off their skills,  said. I.D. Hook, who established the Backhoe Rodeo in West Columbia in the 1980s. And he still organizes it for West Columbia.