32 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2023 TOP TECHNICIAN AND TOP GARAGE 2023 www.toptechnicianonline.co.uk REACHING THE SUMMIT Those who made it through all the various rounds of Top Technician and Top Garage 2023 found themselves at the finals in October After the prolonged warm spell that provided a pleasant epilogue to Summer 2023, the weather finally turned in the middle of October, just in time for the finals for Top Technician and Top Garage 2023. For those competing in Top Garage, taking in the businesses vying for the top spot in the five size-based classes as well as those in the BEN Workplace, Health and Wellbeing Award, as well as those up for Top Service Advisor, this was where things took the leap from the online realm to a live final situation. Delphi Academy, outside Leamington Spa was the venue for this leap into the real world. Top Technician final For those in Top Technician however, things had been real for a while. The five finalists facing the judges had made it to this point after succeeding in the live semi-final, held at the beginning of September. At the semi-final, there had been five 20-minute tasks. For the finals, the timescale is expanded to 50 minutes per task. Unfortunately for those taking part, along with extra time comes a higher degree of difficulty, and greater expectations about what they can achieve in that time. No pressure then! Those in the final five for 2023 included a mixture of competition regulars, along with some new faces who made their first appearances in a Top Tech final. Jack Richards from Millers Garage in Newbury, Berkshire was more than aware of the gravity of his situation: “This is my first final. I have mixed feelings, but I am very excited and proud to be part of the competition.“ Simon Parkinson, owner of Motolec Auto Electrical and Diagnostics in Bury, Greater Manchester was runner-up in 2021. He said: “It’s brilliant to be back. Apart from the coaching task, we have no idea what is coming up.” The most experienced participant at this stage in the competition was KIA UK’s David Weston, who has now been in three finals, and has been a regular fixture in the competiton for more than a decade. “I’m really nervous,” he revealed, “but I’m 100% looking forward to it. Every time you take part, you learn something.. It fine tunes you into getting the process right.” Judges and tasks The judges for 2023’s final included a mixture of former contestants and long-term judges. 2017’s Top Tech champ Karl Weaver was overseeing a Toyota Prius with a wiring fault, while 2013 winner and Pico icon Steve Smith was there to oversee the finalists on an emissions fault on a Citroen C3 Cactus. 2021 winner Kevin Toms was joined by 2022 finalist Oliver Hayward from Porsche GB, providing oversight on an instructional task where the finalists were the teachers, and the judges the apprentices they needed to teach. Also back was Technical Topics’ Wilf Goodman, who was looking after a non-running Volkswagen ID3, as well as Delphi’s very own David Guilfoyle, who was responsible for the Ford Fiesta task. Summing up with the finalists in the waiting area with 15 minutes until go-time, Project Co-ordinator and Head Judge Ian Gillgrass said: “There is food, there are chairs, and there are no sharp implements. Chill here for a while and then we will soon be kicking off.” Once events were fully underway on the first task, a busy quiet filled the training centre. Apart from the 10 or 20 minutes where the alarm on the Prius was roaring away while Mark was on his task. “That was my fault.” Karl revealed later, “as I hadn’t shut the bonnet properly. It was a realworld experience, as these things happen.” When the first task was over, Jack was heard to remark: “That was 50 minutes of our lives - and it went so quickly!” The day continued in much the same way, as the contestants made their way around the tasks. By the time we got to the fourth task, George Bettley from Crewe SEAT said: “So far, the day has been a bit nervewracking, but fun at the same time.” Not only was this his first time in the final, it was also his first time in the competition. “I am happy to have gotten this far, although it is stressful.” Mark Sturgess from Keen and Betts in West Sussex said: “At this point, when Above: Top Technician finalists 2023 (Left to right) L-R: Simon Parkinson, Mark Sturgess, Jack Richards, David Weston, George Bettley
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